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Chinese Ceramics: The Anthony de Rothschild Collection (2 VOLUMES IN SLIPCASE)

Regina Krahl

LIMITED EDITION OF 750 COPIES OF WHICH THIS IS 118. This catalogue of the Anthony de Rothschild collection of Chinese Ceramics designed by R.S. Atterbury has been printed in two volumes in an edition of 750 numbered copies: Copies numbered 1-10 have been printed on Kozo Torinoko paper, and Copies numbered 11-750 have been printed on a mould made paper, specially made for the catalogue at St. Cuthbert's Mill, Wells, Somerset. The text has been set in Monotype Caslon and printed at the Press at Westerham Heights, Kent. The Colour photographs were taken by Don Wood and were printed under the direction of John Parfitt at The Beacon Press, Uckfield, Sussex. The volumes were bound at The Fine Bindery, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.

"Anthony de Rothschild's collection is one of the rare collections assembled early in this century which is still intact. It documents the growing knowledge and keen interest in Chinese ceramics in England at that time, and reflects the availability of material as well as the prevalent taste. The complete collection totals over 400 pieces, of which 290 have been selected for this catalogue as the finest and most representative specimens. The collection spans about two millennia, from the first century of our era to the last. It does not represent a complete history of the Chinese ceramics of this period, but an individual selection. The main criterion of the collector's choice appears to have been glaze colour. The collection therefore represents a complete history of the brightly coloured ceramics with low-temperature lead and alkaline glazes, which appears to be unique. They are continuously represented from the beginnings, that is, from the green-glazed burial pottery of the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), through sancai ('three colour')-glazed pottery of the Tang (618-907), related wares of Liao (907-1125), Song (960-1279), Jin (1115-1234) and Yuan (1272-1367) dynasties, to the so-called fahua ceramics of the Ming (1368-1644), and porcelains with sancai, fahua, turquoise and other polychrome glazes of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). By far the strongest section are the fahua wares, of which the Anthony de Rothschild collection is probably the finest and largest in the world" excerpt from the introduction.

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