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The Early Ceramic Wares of China

Hetherington, A.L.; Hobson, R.L. (introduction)

"The object of this book is to put before those interested in the early Chinese wares, information which will be of service to them at different stages of their collecting. I have given expression to a feeling that has always possessed me during my studies of the subject, and that is the necessity of a general understanding of the history of the country if a proper conception of its art is to be obtained. For this reason I have occupied some space in setting out, in the early section of the book, the main features which mark the various dynastic epochs: I fancy that, if the historical facts there described are kept in mind, the collector will find much less difficulty in unravelling the ceramic problems which confront him. In selecting the illustrations I have followed a somewhat unusual  course. The specimens chosen, with one or two exceptions, are not the rarest and most costly examples, nor are they taken from the great National Museums. I have illustrated typical pieces of good quality in the possession of private collectors. The ordinary person, in my opinion, wants to see the kind of thing he may hope to acquire for himself. For convenience the half-tone plates have been grouped at the end of the chapters to which they relate. In each case the name of the collector to whom the specimen belongs is named. " excerpt from the preface by A.L. Hetherington, February, 1922.

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