Ohhh – if you are a ceramics geek like me, you will be delighted by the new developments at the V&A Museum. Their ‘New Ceramics Galleries’ are now complete!
For the first time in a century the V&A is redisplaying its ceramics collection, the greatest and most comprehensive in the world! Extensive new galleries tell the
story of world ceramics with 3000 objects on display from the earliest Chinese pottery to contemporary ceramic art.
The central gallery shows masterpieces dating from as far back as 2500 BC, exploring the links between the world’s great ceramic traditions. Highlights include a drinking cup from Ancient Greece; Ming dynasty Chinese porcelain; 14th- century pottery from Spain; a Chinese-inspired blue and white bowl made in 16th-century Turkey; Meissen figures; Dutch Delftware ordered by Queen Mary for Hampton Court Palace; colourful, painted Japanese porcelain imported to Europe by the Dutch East India Company; teabowls rescued from an 18th-century Chinese shipwreck; and a vase painted by Picasso in the 1950s depicting the artist with his model.
Five further galleries are devoted to the likes of Architectural Ceramics and contain large scale objects such as a German 15th-century tiled heating stove and Baroque tile panels from Portugal!
Two of these rooms display my most anticipated favourites the 20th-century collections – one showing ceramics made in a factory context including objects by designers such as Susie Cooper and Clarice Cliff as well as fine tableware by Wedgewood. The other 20th-century gallery shows hand-made, unique works created in small studios by artists such as Bernard Leach and Lucie Rie.
There is also a gallery for changing temporary displays, the first of which is ‘Objects of Luxury’ showing French porcelain from the 18th century with works from
Sèvres and other leading factories of the time. Sigh!
The final gallery shows contemporary ceramics by artists including Anders Ruhwald and Martin Smith as well as a site specific installation by Edmund de Waal entitled ‘Signs and Wonders.’
Does anyone want to join me on a field trip?
Danish Ceramics
New Week
Danish Ceramics Brooches
