500 Cups: Ceramic Explorations of Utility & Grace (A Lake Ceramics Book) [Paperback]

Suzanne J.E. Tourtillott (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2005

In the hands of an expert ceramist, the once-simple cup can become an extraordinary work of art--as these 500 magnificent examples so beautifully prove. The exciting pieces come from an international array of artists, each with a unique perspective. The stylishly varied collection has a little bit of everything: the cups range from handbuilt to wheel-thrown, practical to sculptural, round to square. Benjamin Schulman's "Stacked Teacup Set" takes a strictly functional approach, while Heather O'Brien's "Dessert Cups on Stand" focuses on aesthetic form rather than usefulness. Annette Gates' "Espresso Shot Cups with Rubies" has a surface design of simple abstract lines and dots of glaze and jewels. Some are whimsical, others starkly conceptual. Every one is a treat for the eye.

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Lark Books; 1st edition (February 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579905935
• ISBN-13: 978-1579905934
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,995 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reference, February 27, 2005

By 

F. Carnahan "photogfr1" (Nixa, Missouri USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 500 Cups: Ceramic Explorations of Utility & Grace (A Lake Ceramics Book) (Paperback)

Like so many of the Lark books, this one is filled with, you guessed it, 500 photos. Nicely dnone I might add (I am a commercial photographer who dabbles in ceramics to keep myself sane...ish). Now I must admit that I didn't actually count the photo's to see if there are exactly 500, but I'll bet the editor did.

This book isn't a technique book, but a beautiful reference of about any imaginable ceramic cup, functional and not (some are full of holes and would hold nothing but cotton), traditional, contemporary, Japanese style, hand built, thrown, altered and, well, just about everything I have personally ever been exposed to or even heard about.

I love this book.

I find great inspiration as I turn each page.

If you are looking for references, inspiration, or just some great ceramic works, I highly recommend this book. While you are at it, check out the one on bowls. It's great as well.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A formidable tour of the art of ceramic cup-making, February 17, 2006

By 

Lamar J. Bordelon (Dallas, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 500 Cups: Ceramic Explorations of Utility & Grace (A Lake Ceramics Book) (Paperback)

Anyone who thinks there is very little difference between one cup and another would have that notion blown away by simply flipping open any page of this book. When the teacher of a local community college pottery course saw this book, she asked everyone in her classes to refer to it before beginning to design their next cup projects. It opened their minds to some of the infinite possibilities available to practitioners of the potter's craft.

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 500 Cups, September 29, 2005

By 

Margaret Biddle "Pottery Studio Owner" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 500 Cups: Ceramic Explorations of Utility & Grace (A Lake Ceramics Book) (Paperback)

Basically this book is strait up hardcore pottery porn. If you like beautifully lit photographs of pretty pottery then this book is for you. There is very little discussion of technique, functionality, or expressive intent. Just lots and lots of pictures. However, the format of all cups in this book does help show up the range of possibilites within the context of a paticular form. Overall this book has been very helpful to me for teaching ceramics, despite the limitations of technical information.