The History of Ceramics

HENI Talks
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The History of Ceramics brings together British art historian & curator Paul Greenhalgh and U.S. maker and academic Stephanie Rozene as they reveal the most compelling stories from this often-overlooked corner of art history.  From the very first shards that shed light on early civilizations, to stories of power, political intrigue and espionage.  Famous artists, extraordinary characters, pioneers and rebels from the world of pottery, architecture and design.  Full of revelation, insight and practical expertise, The History of Ceramics offers an alternative history to our times.

  1. 2d ago ·  Video

    The Minoans: Myth, Minotaurs and the Ceramics of Ancient Crete

    Nearly 4,000 years ago, the Minoans flourished on the island of Crete, trading across the Mediterranean and creating some of the most extraordinary ceramics of the Bronze Age. Stephanie Rozene and Paul Greenhalgh explore a world where myth and archaeology collide – from King Minos, the Minotaur and the labyrinth to the discovery of Knossos. Through monumental storage vessels, exquisite Kamares wares and spectacular octopus jars, they uncover the creativity, power and mysterious decline of one of the ancient world’s great civilisations. If you would like to see the images from this podcast, please switch to video in your podcasting app. Images in this programme: Image off map of Crete, Greece and Turkey  Terracotta vase in the form of a bull's head ca 1450 – 1400 BCE, The Met Collection Heinrich Schliemann  (1822–1890)  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/  Sir Arthur Evans 1851- 1941 at Knossos Photograph of Knossos, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh Reconstruction of Knossos  Bull-Leaping Fresco found at Knossos ,1450 BC,  Linear A inscription on a clay tablet from Hagia Triada, Crete, ca 2100 – 1450 BC  Linear B Tablet from Knossos, ca 1375 – 1350 BC  Procession fresco from Knossos; reconstructed by Émile Gilliéron from the late Minoan period, CC 4.0 Minoan pithos Storage jars at the Palace of Knossos, ca  1700 BCE Large scale Caskets “bath tubs” and storage units, c.1750 BCE Terracotta beak-spouted jar, Vasiliki ware, 2600-2200 BCE, The Met Collection Terracotta bridge spouted jar, Minoan ware, 1900-1600 BCE, The Met Collection Kamares Ware Jug, Protopalatial period (2100-1700 BCE). Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh Kamares Ware Jug, Heraklion Museum, by Wolfgang Sauber, CC Kamares wares in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion ca 1900 - 1700 BCE photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC 1.0 license Kamares wares jugs, Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, 1900-1700 BCE, CC 3.0 Octopus Flask ca 1500 – 1450 BCE,  Furman University,  3.0 Mycenaean-Minoan Ware, c. 1450, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh Terracotta jar with three handles ca 1525 – 1490 BCE,The MetCollection  Terracotta stirrup jam with Octopus Helladic, Mycenaean, c.1200-1100 BCE, The Met Collection   Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Minoans - Europe's First Great Civilization 00:00:54 Placing the Minoans in Greek History 00:02:37 Island Power: Geography and the Rise of Crete 00:04:56 The Legend of the Minotaur and King Minos 00:09:15 Heinrich Schliemann: Chasing Homer's Myths 00:11:35 Sir Arthur Evans and the Discovery of Knossos 00:13:32 The Palace at Knossos: Architecture and Bull Imagery 00:17:48 Linear A and Linear B: Decoding Ancient Languages 00:20:40 Giant Pithoi: Monumental Storage Vessels 00:24:23 Early Minoan: Vasiliki Ware and Beak-Spouted Jars 00:28:15 Middle Minoan: The Glorious Kamares Ware 00:33:47 Late Minoan: Marine Style and Octopus Jars 00:36:47 The Mycenaean Question: Trade or Invasion 00:40:51 The Bronze Age Collapse of 1177 BC 00:43:45 Legacy: The First Europeans Remembered in Clay Credits: Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Editor: Sam Bond Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

    The Minoans: Myth, Minotaurs and the Ceramics of Ancient Crete

  2. Sep 2 ·  Video

    Bernard Leach - The Making of A Master - Part 3

    How did Bernard Leach’s ideas travel from a small pottery in St Ives to influence generations of potters around the world? In the final episode of our three-part series, we follow Leach as his influence spreads beyond Britain. We explore his relationship with American potters Warren and Alix MacKenzie, his travels across the United States, and his celebrated 1952 tour with Shōji Hamada and Sōetsu Yanagi. From Black Mountain College to the emerging American studio pottery movement, we meet artists including Marguerite Wildenhain, Karen Karnes and Peter Voulkos, and discover how a new generation embraced, challenged and transformed Leach’s ideas. This is the story of how Bernard Leach became an international figure — and how his philosophy helped reshape studio pottery for generations to come. If you would like to see the images featured in this podcast, please switch to video in your podcasting app. Artworks and images in this episode: Bernard Leach, David Leach, and students at the Leach Pottery, St. Ives, Cornwall c.1945 A Potter’s Book, by Bernard Leach, 1940 David Leach, 1911-2005 Standard Ware Bowls, Bernard Leach Pottery Dinnerware, The LeachPottery, St. Ives Michael Cardew, William Marshall, Bernard Leach, Picnicking at Cardew’s Pottery in 1970, Courtesy of Jeff Oestrich Bernard Leach at Alfred University, 1950, Warren & Alix MacKenzie, 1953, Bowl, Warren MacKenzie, c. 1969-1970 Ceramics, Warren MacKenzie, 1924-2018 Hamada, Leach, Yanagi and Wildenhain at Black Mountain College, 1952 Sōetsu Yanagi, Bernard Leach and Shōji Hamada, 1952 Black Mountain College Seminar, 1952 Vases, Margaurite Wildenhain, c. 1940’s-50’s Bottle Vase, Margurite Wildenhain, 1970 Vase, Bernard Leach, c. 1959 Shōji Hamada, c.1970 Sōetsu Yanagi, Bernard Leach, Rudy Autio, Peter Voulkos, Shōji Hamada, 1959 Covered Jar, Peter Voulkos, c.1954 Peter Voulkos kicking the potters wheel, 1952 Cup and Signed Box, Shōji Hamada Robert Rauschenberg at Black Mountain College, c.1952 Bernard Leach, c.1920’s Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Bernard Leach's Later Life and International Impact 00:01:00 David Leach and the Standard Wares: Professionalizing the Pottery 00:03:09 The Apprentice Model: Learning Philosophy and Craft 00:05:26 Warren McKenzie: The First American Apprentice 00:10:29 Leach's First American Tour: Land of Money, Speed and Gadgetry 00:13:11 The Three Musketeers: Leach, Hamada and Yanagi Tour America 00:17:05 Black Mountain College: Clash of Philosophies 00:22:59 Hamada's Magic: Improvisation and Visual Language 00:25:38 Archie Bray Foundation: Meeting the Young Peter Voulkos 00:33:10 Legacy: Bernard Leach as Big as Wedgwood Credits: Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Editor: Sam Bond Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

    Bernard Leach - The Making of A Master - Part 3

  3. Aug 26 ·  Video

    Bernard Leach - The Making of a Master - Part 2 - St. Ives

    How did Bernard Leach turn a small pottery in St Ives into the centre of a new ceramics movement? In the second episode of our three-part series, we follow Leach as he returns to Britain with Shōji Hamada and establishes the Leach Pottery in St Ives. We explore the challenges of those early years, the development of his distinctive approach to making, and the ideas that would eventually be captured in his influential A Potter’s Book. As Leach’s reputation grows, so does his influence. Through teaching, writing and a new generation of apprentices, his pottery becomes a meeting place for ideas drawn from East and West. This is the story of how Bernard Leach helped transform the status of the studio potter — and began building a movement that would reach far beyond St Ives. To see images of the pots being discussed on this podcast, please switch to video in your podcasting apps. Featured Artworks: Bernard Leach 1913 early Raku Vase,   The V&A Collection Photo of Bernard Leach with Shōji Hamada and Sōetsu Yanagi, 1952 St. Ives Harbour and Porthminster Beach - Cornwall – UK Cornwall - St. Ives, Back Lane - 1920's Photochrom Postcard The Leach Pottery, St. Ives, Cornwall Blueprint of “The Leach Pottery Japanese Style of climbing Kiln. Design by Tsurunosuke Matsubayashi”, 1923. Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts Grade II Listed Climbing Kiln, Leach Pottery Raku Firing Kiln Bowl, early 20’s, Bernard Leach Barbara Hepworth & Bernard Leach, 1968, St Ives Museum 1934 (relief), Ben Nicholson, 1934, Tate Shōji Hamada, 1894-1978 Tsurunosuke Matsubayashi, 1894-1932 D W & L K Elmhirst,' 1893-1970, Dartington Hall Trust Archive Two Bowls by Bernard Leach and Teabowl By Shoji Hamada Herbert Read by Mark Gerson, 1967, The National Gallery A Potters Book by Bernard Leach, 1940 Salmon Vase, Bernard leach, 1950 Slipware Plate, Bernard Leach, c. early 1930’s Early Slipware dish, Bernard Leach, c. early 1930’s Early Jar with Firing crack, Bernard Leach, c. early 1930’s, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh Charger, 1929, Bernard Leach, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh The Mermaid dish, 1670-1689, Thomas Toft, The V&A Collection A Dartington Pottery Salt Glazed Stoneware Flagon Photo of David Leach, 1911-2005 Teapot, David Leach and Charger, Bernard Leach, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh Vase, c. 1959, Bernard Leach, The V&A Collection, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh Standard Ware, c. 1941, Bernard Leach, The V&A Collection, courtesy of Paul Greenhalgh Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Bernard Leach Returns to England 00:01:30 St. Ives: A Haven for Artists and Traditional Craft 00:07:48 Building the Pottery: Early Struggles and Failures 00:14:06 Hamada's Departure and the Kiln Rebuilt 00:15:02 The Elmhursts and Dartington: Patronage and Philosophy 00:17:36 Pottery as Art: Breaking Down the Barriers 00:22:25 The Leach Aesthetic: Japanese Meets English Slipware 00:30:44 A Potter's Book: The Ceramic Bible Published 00:35:44 David Leach Takes Over: Professionalization and Production 00:36:58 Legacy: The Apprentice Model and Global Influence Credits: Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Editor: Sam Bond Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

    Bernard Leach - The Making of a Master - Part 2 - St. Ives

  4. Aug 19 ·  Video

    Bernard Leach - The Making of a Master - Part 1 - Japan

    How did an English artist in Japan become one of the most influential figures in modern ceramics? In the first of our three-part series on Bernard Leach, we explore the extraordinary early years that shaped his life and work. From his return to Japan and his first encounters with pottery to his friendship with Shōji Hamada, we discover how Japanese culture transformed Leach's understanding of what a pot could be. This is the story of the meeting of East and West — and how the ideas Leach discovered in Japan would eventually help change the course of modern ceramics. To see images of the ceramics being discussed in this podcast, please switch to video in your podcasting app. Featured Artwork: Bernard Leach and bookcase, Tokyo, 1917-1919  Bernard Leach, A Potters Book, 1940 Bernard Leach with grandparents in Japan, c. 1890 Frank Brangwyn, by Reinhold Thiele, c 1900 John Ruskin, by W. & D. Downey, 1863 William Morris by Frederick Hollyer, 1887 Leaping Salmon Vase, c.1950, Bernard Leach; Okinawa Style Teabowl, c.1970, Shōji Hamada, Oxford Ceramics Gallery Harmony in Blue and Gold, The Peacock Room, by James McNeill Whistler, 1834-1903, Public Domain Temple of Heaven, Peking, 1916, printed signature in the plate Bernard Leach 1916,  Public Domain Photograph of rural Japan, C.1900, Public Domain Early Raku Vase, Bernard Leach, c.1925 Raku Firing Kiln Portrait of Ogata Kenzan VI, by Bernard Leach, 1924 Mokko-shaped Food Bowl, by Uruno Shigekichi, 1881-1923 Cup, Ogata Kenzan, 18th Century Photo of Shõji Hamada, 1894-1978 Photo of Sõetsu Yanagi, 1889-1961 Photo of Bernard Leach with Shõji Hamada & Sõetsu Yanagi, Dartington 1952 Cup and Signed Box, Shõji Hamada Large Dish, Shõji Hamada Stoneware Bottle, Shoji Hamada Hamada’s Kiln in Moshiko, Creative Commons License, CC3.0 Unknown Craftsman, Sõetsu Yanagi , 1972 Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Bernard Leach - The Making of a Master 00:03:57 Early Life: Colonial Beginnings and Artistic Awakening 00:12:01 The Arts and Crafts Movement: Ruskin, Morris, and Moral Philosophy 00:15:15 Japan's Meiji Period: Transformation and Cultural Identity 00:18:10 Return to Japan: Teaching Etching and Finding Community 00:23:52 The Raku Party: A Life-Changing Moment 00:27:05 Training with Kenzan VI: Entering the Japanese Pottery Tradition 00:28:57 Hamada and Yanagi: The Birth of Mingei 00:30:57 Philosophical Foundations: Arts of the People 00:33:30 The Bold Decision: Sailing for St. Ives Credits: Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Editor: Sam Bond Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac

    Bernard Leach - The Making of a Master - Part 1 - Japan

  5. Aug 12 ·  Video

    Secrets of The Japanese Tea Ceremony

    In 16th century Japan, a bowl of tea could get you killed. This episode traces the birth of the Ancient Japanese tea ceremony and the aesthetic of wabi-sabi, or the art of finding beauty in imperfection. Paul and Stephanie tell the story of tea master Sen no Rikyu, whose humble, handmade Raku bowls stood in defiance of warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi's golden excess, in a tale of philosophy, political power, and two tea masters who paid for their art with their lives. To see the pots Stephanie and Paul are discussing in this episode, be sure to switch to video in your podcast app. Featured Artworks Toyotomi Hideyoshi, by Kanō Mitsunobu, 1598, Public Domain Sen No Rikyū, by Tōhaku Hasegawa,1595, Public Domain   Sen no Rikyū's Tai-an Teahouse, Kyoto, Japan, 1952   Black Raku ware tea bowl, late 16th century, The Smithsonian, CC0 Black Raku Tea Bowl, Named “Kaedegure” (Twilight by the Maples), attributed to Raku Cojiro, late 16th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain Furuta Oribe,  c. 17th Century Square Serving Dish with Bail Handle,  late 16th century, Asia Society Museum, Public Domain Sake Bottle (Tokkuri) with Decoration of Three-Leaf Arrowhead, Early 17th century, Public Domain  Credits: Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Editor: Sam Bond Sound Mix and Engineering: Joseph Little Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Secrets of The Japanese Tea Ceremony 00:01:41 Origins of Tea in Japan: From Monasteries to Cultural Power 00:03:00 The Political Tea Ceremony: Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Vision 00:05:09 Wabi Sabi: The Perfection of Imperfection 00:09:23 Sen no Rikyu: The Master Who Stripped Away Ego 00:11:17 The Tea Ceremony Experience 00:14:45 Chojiro and Raku Ware: Hand-Built Tea Bowls 00:19:47 The Death of Sen no Rikyu: When Simplicity Threatened Power 00:24:03 Furuta Oribe: A Warrior's Energy Transforms the Ceremony 00:26:17 Oribe Ware: Chaos, Asymmetry, and the Happy Accident 00:32:35 The Second Suicide: Oribe's Violent End 00:35:23 Legacy: Wabi Sabi and the Birth of Studio Ceramics

    Secrets of The Japanese Tea Ceremony

  6. Aug 5 ·  Video

    Bernard Palissy - Obsession, Faith and Myth

    Bernard Palissy was an artist, scientist, inventor and one of the most extraordinary figures in the history of ceramics. Driven by religious faith, a fascination with nature, and an obsession to discover the secret of white enamel, he devoted years to relentless experimentation, sacrificing his fortune, and burning almost everything he owned in pursuit of perfection. In this episode Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene uncover the remarkable life of the French Renaissance potter whose distinctive rustic wares transformed European ceramics.  Featured Artworks: Self Portrait in Faience, Bernard Palissy, 1862  Rustique figuline, attributed to Bernard Palissy, French c.1560, J. Paul Getty Museum. ‘Rustique Figuline’ Dish with a white background, Bernard Palissy, c. 1550, National Ceramic Museum Maiolica Plate, Italian, ca. 1500, The Met Collection, Public Domain Bowl, Majolica, Italian, 1480-1500, The V&A Collection Dish, Bernard Palissy, 17th century, The Met Collection, Public Domain Plaque depicting Bernard Palissy, Multiple Artists and Makers, 1846, The Met Collection, Public Domain Pilgrim Flask, Bernard Palissy, 1556-67, The Met Collection, Public Domain Still-life platter, Bernard Palissy, c. 1550, Dish, Bernard Palissy, c. 1580,  Moule, Fragment, 16th century, Musee du Louvre Grenouille de fontaine, Atelier de Bernard Palissy, 1565-1610, Musee du Louvre Château de la Bâstie d'Urfé, France, 1550 Henry II, King of France, François Clouet, 1559 Catherine de' Medici, François Clouet, c. 1560 Fontaine en forme de dauphin, 1600-1650, Musee du Louvre Ewer, Saint Porchaire Ware, c. 1550, The Met Collection, Public Domain Mould of Palissy Basin, Musee du Louvre Tazza with cover, Mid 16th century, The Met Collection, Public Domain La Nourrice, Guillaume Dupré (unconfirmed), c. 1640, The Met Collection, Public Domain Plate, Manner of Bernard Palissy, Late 19th century, The Met Collection, Public Domain Platter, Follower of Bernard Palissy, Last Quarter 16th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain Platter, Manner of Bernard Palissy, 2nd half of 19th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain Round Plate with Lobster, Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, 1889, The Met Collection, Public Domain Turkey, Bordallo Pinheiro Factory,19th Century Artichoke Jar, Bordallo Pinheiro Factory Cabbage Ware, Bordallo Pinheiro Factory Round Dish with Lobster and Shells, Thomas Victor-Sergent, 1870-80, The Met Collection, Public Domain Large Basin with Snake, Ferns, and Bark, Charles-Jean Avisseau, C. 1850-55, The Met Collection, Public Domain Credits: Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Editor: Sam Bond Sound Mix and Engineering: Joe Little Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Bernard Palissy - Obsession, Faith and Myth 00:02:13 A Troubled Age: France in Religious Turmoil 00:04:24 Early Life: The Self-Taught Rustique 00:12:08 The Catalytic Moment: Falling in Love with a Cup 00:17:07 Obsession and Sacrifice: Burning the Floorboards 00:20:03 The Rustiques Figulines: Nature Cast in Clay 00:24:18 Royal Patronage: Catherine de Medici and the Court 00:26:16 The Saint-Porchaire Mystery: A Lost Attribution 00:29:20 Public Intellectual: Lecturer on Science and Nature 00:30:54 Dangerous Faith: The Huguenot Who Wouldn't Hide 00:32:41 The Bastille: A Tragic End 00:33:22 Legacy: From Sons to Revival 00:34:33 Attribution Challenges: Real, School, or Revival? 00:39:37 Eternal Inspiration: Palissy's Enduring Impact

    Bernard Palissy - Obsession, Faith and Myth

  7. Jul 29 ·  Video

    The Ming Dynasty - When Porcelain Became Power

    This week Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene explore the extraordinary ceramics of the Ming Dynasty, the period that established China as the world's greatest producer of porcelain. From the famous blue-and-white wares of Jingdezhen to magnificent imperial commissions and the global trade that carried Chinese porcelain across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, we uncover how Ming potters achieved levels of craftsmanship that have rarely been surpassed. We also discover how these exquisite objects became symbols of wealth, power, and cultural exchange, inspiring generations of potters around the world. Emperor Hongwu (21 October 1328 – 24 June 1398) – Public Domain Monks Cape Ewer, 1368-1644, The Met Collection, Public Domain Bowl with Chrysanthemums, late 14th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain Porcelain Plate with Animals, mid 14th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain Jar with Dragon, 1426-1435, The Met Collection, Public Domain Bowl with Pomegranates, lotus scrolls, and chrysanthemum Petals, early 15th century, Public Domain Flask with Medallion, early 15th century, The Met Collection, Public Domain Credits: Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Editor: Jim Fuller & Sam Bond Sound Engineer and Mixer: Joe Little Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: The Ming Dynasty - When Porcelain Became Power 00:02:36 The Rise of Emperor Hongwu: From Peasant to Power 00:14:19 Technical Mastery: Copper Reds and Chrysanthemum Bowls 00:16:38 Infrastructure and Imperial Ambition: Building the Ming Empire 00:23:00 Emperor Yongle and the Golden Age of Blue and White 00:21:06 The Dragon Jar: Symbolism, Status, and Visual Mastery 00:28:11 Islamic Influences: Cross-Cultural Design and Pattern 00:33:13 The Great Voyages: Porcelain as White Gold 00:36:47 The Inward Turn: Crisis, Capture, and Conservative Retreat 00:41:54 Legacy: Jingdezhen and the Story Written in Glaze

    The Ming Dynasty - When Porcelain Became Power

  8. Jul 22 ·  Video

    The Tang Dynasty - Treasures from the Tomb

    This week Paul Greenhalgh and Stephanie Rozene explore the remarkable ceramics of the Tang Dynasty, one of China's greatest periods of artistic innovation. We venture down into the depths of their magnificent tombs and discover the wonders of their funerary wares. Ceramics creations that capture life in the Imperial Court from dancers, polo players, concubines, warriors and magnificent horses. These treasures open a window into a golden period of Chinese history but also show how the Tang potters transformed the art of clay and influenced ceramic traditions around the world. FEATURED ARTWORKS IN THIS EPISODE: Emperor Li Yuan, 618-626, unknown, Public Domain Excerpt from the handscroll Viewing the Pass List, c. 1540 by Qiu Ying Tang Court Playing Polo, 706AD, Public Domain Cosmetics Box, 8th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain Figure of a Horse, 700-750, The British Museum, Public Domain Amphora, Late 7th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain Covered Jar, 8thcentury, The Met Collection, Public Domain Set of Ten Entertainers and Two Dancers, 618-907, Miho Museum, Public Domain Camel and Rider, 701-750, Art Institute of Chicago, Public Domain Horse and Rider, early 8th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain Camel with Musicians, 723, National Museum of China, Public Domain Horse with Lead Glaze, 728, The British Museum, Public Domain Seated Court Lady, 8th Century, the Met Collection, Public Domain Female Attendant, Mid 7th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain Female Attendant, 7th-8th Century, The Met Collection, Public Domain Seated girl holding Mirror, first half 8th Century, Art Institute Chicago, Public Domain Polo Player, ca. 618-907, Public Domain Young Female Polo Player,  early 8th Century, Musée Guimet Female Polo Player, c. 750, Musée Guimet For more great art content visit www.heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@HENITalks Credits: Hosts: Paul Greenhalgh & Stephanie Rozene Editor: Jim Fuller & Sam Bond Sound Engineer: Joe Little Executive Producer: Emma Cahusac Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Tang Dynasty - A Golden Age of Chinese Ceramics 00:00:35 Context: From Terracotta Warriors to Tang Dynasty 00:01:33 The Tang Renaissance: Arts, Innovation, and the Birth of Porcelain 00:07:27 Emperor Li Yuan and the Reunification of China 00:09:40 Cosmopolitan Influences: Turkish Origins and Foreign Ideas 00:10:27 The Qianling Mausoleum: Royal Graves and Funerary Traditions 00:16:37 Craft and Technique: How the Figurines Were Made 00:18:58 Sancai Glaze: The Three-Colour Ceramic Revolution 00:22:10 Masterworks: The Covered Jar and Ewer 00:24:00 Ten Musicians and Two Dancers: Capturing Movement in Clay 00:25:44 Colour Theory and Cultural Openness in Tang Art 00:26:47 The Silk Road and Sea Trade: Expanding Horizons 00:28:02 Camels and Foreigners: Depicting a Cosmopolitan World 00:29:07 What Makes a Tang Dynasty Piece? Poise, Pride, and Individuality 00:30:36 The Camel with Five Musicians: A Traveling Band 00:33:10 Heavenly Horses: The Prized Steeds of the Tang Dynasty 00:37:17 Court Life and Leisure: Snapshots of Tang Society 00:39:43 Women Playing Polo: Sport, Warfare Training, and Social Inclusion 00:40:55 Equality and Sophistication: Women in Tang Society 00:42:11 Conclusion: Windows into the Tang World

    The Tang Dynasty - Treasures from the Tomb
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About

The History of Ceramics brings together British art historian & curator Paul Greenhalgh and U.S. maker and academic Stephanie Rozene as they reveal the most compelling stories from this often-overlooked corner of art history.  From the very first shards that shed light on early civilizations, to stories of power, political intrigue and espionage.  Famous artists, extraordinary characters, pioneers and rebels from the world of pottery, architecture and design.  Full of revelation, insight and practical expertise, The History of Ceramics offers an alternative history to our times.

Information

  • Creator
    HENI Talks
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © HENI 2026

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