CA Book Publishing – serie

This exhibition catalogue features 20 exquisite pieces of Chinese works of art, with the majority dated from the Song dynasty. Exhibited items include a Neolithic period pottery bottle; Machange-type Neolithic Period jars; Northern Song to Jin Dynasty June ware of Li-type tripod censer; a bubble-bowl with blue glaze and splashes; Northern Song Jun-type sky blue-glazed plate with everted rim and rose-purple splashes, Qingliangsi Ware; a celadon glazedlobed candlestick, Longquan ware; a sky-blue glazed ware dropper carvedwith peony design, Yaozhou Ware; a persimmon-red glazed saucer, Ding ware; white glazed small cup, Xing ware; paper-mallet vase with iron-rust splashes, Cizhou ware; porcelain child-shaped pillow, Changzhiware.Text in English and Chinese.

The Chinese title of this book reads “The Profound Reflection of Brushpots: A Collector’s Enlightenment” literally, citing reference to the book Imperial Profound & Reflective Encyclopedia commissioned by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, and The Collected Works of Long Ying, published during the reign of Emperor Wanli, Ming Dynasty. The word “Profound” was chosen meticulously to highlight the breadth and variety of the brush pots collected, and the proposition of their illustrations. The author’s intent to make this book an encyclopedia of brush pots was fairly explicit. On the other hand, “reflection” comes from a mirror, which shows how you look and who you are. It represented the collector’s experience in soul-searching and self-reflection during his journey of art appreciation. Text in English and Chinese.

These 100 examples, from various Neolithic cultures throughout the region known today as China, are described in this catalogue by the collector himself, focusing on their design and engineering ingenuities and their artistic merits. After a 50-year career in consumer product design, author Ronald W. Longsdorf applies the principles of that discipline to these marvellous pots. Thisis the only book currently available in the market for collectors who wish to study Neolithic ceramics from China from this exquisite collection. It includes lots of information and comparisons from other pieces in museums.Text in English and Chinese.