The Pilgrim Art: Cultures of Porcelain in World History (California World History Library): 11 - Hardcover

Finlay, Robert

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0520244680 ISBN 13: 9780520244689

Publisher: University of California Press, 2010

Synopsis

Illuminating one thousand years of history, "The Pilgrim Art" explores the remarkable cultural influence of Chinese porcelain around the globe. Cobalt ore was shipped from Persia to China in the fourteenth century, where it was used to decorate porcelain for Muslims in Southeast Asia, India, Persia, and Iraq. Spanish galleons delivered porcelain to Peru and Mexico while aristocrats in Europe ordered tableware from Canton. The book tells the fascinating story of how porcelain became a vehicle for the transmission and assimilation of artistic symbols, themes, and designs across vast distances - from Japan and Java to Egypt and England. It not only illustrates how porcelain influenced local artistic traditions, but also shows how it became deeply intertwined with religion, economics, politics, and social identity. Bringing together many strands of history in an engaging narrative studded with fascinating vignettes, this is a history of cross-cultural exchange focused on an exceptional commodity that illuminates the emergence of what is arguably the first genuinely global culture.

About this title

Product Description:

Explores the remarkable cultural influence of Chinese porcelain around the globe. This book tells the story of how porcelain became a vehicle for the transmission and assimilation of artistic symbols, themes, and designs across vast distances - from Japan and Java to Egypt and England.

Review:

"This book is a must read for students of world history."--Richard Foltz"Journal Of World History" (12/05/2011)

"A significant contribution to the academic field, an encapsulation of information gleaned from different fields that will serve several audiences."--Rose Kerr"Burlington Magazine" (07/01/2011)

"Enthusiastic."--American Historical Review (06/14/2011)

"Engaging work. . . . Highly recommended."-- (06/17/2011)

About this edition

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0520244680
• ISBN 13: 9780520244689
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 441