FOR thousands of years the human hand has taken a simple material dug from the ground and fashioned it into objects of beauty and necessity. We are, of course, talking about clay. The earliest known artefacts made from it were not bowls or tools as one might imagine, but expressive statuettes. Despite this millennia of creative endeavour, for a long time in modern society pottery was seen as a 'lesser' art form than its sculpture and painting cousins and was given short shrift by the lofty art world. However, for the past decade or so, this has been rapidly changing and we can confidently declare that the role of ceramics in fine art is no longer emerging but has very much arrived.
'Thankfully, people are finally realising the value of ceramic art and there is no better time to start a collection,' says Debra Finn of leading contemporary craft gallery Cavaliero Finn. 'Apart from it being a very accessible art form financially, collecting ceramics gives you the opportunity to engage with a diverse and dynamic art form that combines aesthetic appeal, tactile pleasure and cultural significance.' Indeed, there are few artistic areas that grant collectors such a wide breadth of areas to explore. 'Many of our collectors started with functional items - plates and cups, for example but graduated to sculptural pieces by contemporary artists. Other collections may focus on 20th century studio pottery pioneers such as Lucie Rie and Hans Coper, European ceramics from the great factories of Meissen and Sèvres, or work from specific regions such as Korea's celadonware, China's Ming dynasty porcelain and Japan's tea ceremony bowls."
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 2024 من Homes & Gardens.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 2024 من Homes & Gardens.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
A love letter to...
Nina Campbell explains why New England's Maine exerts a permanent pull on her heartstrings
A great escape
The iconic Gleneagles hotel marks its 100th anniversary this year
A PIECE OF PARADISE
This classic English garden in the Sussex countryside was a true labour of love, resulting in a place where there are stunning spaces - and vistas - at every turn
NATURAL ATTRACTION
A garden that invites wildlife in is rich in so many ways, as these diverse spaces illustrate
WILD PROSPECTS
Lulu Urquhart of Urquhart & Hunt takes a deep dive into the importance of our waterways as well as the work of nature's eco-engineer: the beaver
LIFE IN COLOUR
Around 30 years old, this country home used to be described as a white box - now it's a joyful place with fresh hues and uplifting pattern.
CALMING INFLUENCE
With its peaceful palette and carefully curated collection of antiques and modernist pieces, this handsome farmhouse is a balm for the soul
THE JOY OF...A rural idyll
This month, our columnist Joy Moyler extols the virtues of living - and working - in the countryside
Gather round
Dining spaces these days have many functions, but it is still important to make them beautiful for when they are playing host
Floral arrangement
Interior designer Sarah Vanrenen shares her wisdom on using floral fabrics and wallpapers