Earth Transformed: Chinese Ceramics In The Museum Of Fine Arts, Boston [Hardcover]

Wu Tung (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2, 2002

Although the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is well known for its extensive holdings of Chinese ceramics, many of the outstanding pieces in the collection have received little or no attention in print. This book remedies that omission. Designed for the general reader, it offers a selection of 78 objects, beautifully photographed in full color, with individual entries focusing on the aesthetic experiece they evoke and the cultural context that produced them. Featuring an essay on the history of the collection of Chinese ceramics, the book also includes brief sketches on the principal types as well as short texts about the archaeology of the tombs and kiln sites. An illustrated time line and a kiln map fill in the historical and geographical settings for nearly 5,000 years of Chinese ceramic art.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Wu Tung, Matsutaro Shoriki Curator of Asian Art and Head of the Department of Art of Asia, Oceania, and Africa, has written extensively about Chinese art. His previous works include "Masterpieces of Chinese Painting" and "Tales from the Land of Dragons."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: MFA Publications (January 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878464778
• ISBN-13: 978-0878464777
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,054,500 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Done And Well Illustrated, May 19, 2004

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Directed Energy (USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Earth Transformed: Chinese Ceramics In The Museum Of Fine Arts, Boston (Hardcover)

A very nice text for a scholar of Chinese ceramics, and or cultured individual. Covers examples from Neolithic to Qing Dynasty. All of the photos are extremely well rendered, and scaled when appropriate to show close up details of the more important technical aspects of style. Many of the pieces are shown from various angles so as not to obscure hidden structure and detail. Every item represented is provided with dimensions which makes this book a valuable reference source. The author's very disciplined selection of pieces represent as broad a perspective of relevant styles as possible for a book of it's size, and single museum souce. Highly Recommend.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost eighty objects covering 5,000 years of art history, May 7, 2002

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Earth Transformed: Chinese Ceramics In The Museum Of Fine Arts, Boston (Hardcover)

Almost eighty objects covering 5,000 years of art history are featured in this roundup of Chinese ceramics in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Not only are the objects discussed in depth and presented in full color, but a timeline, sidebars of facts, kiln maps and other detailed information makes for a treasure-trove of insight and knowledge.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From decorative pottery to Buddhist sculpture, April 11, 2002

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Earth Transformed: Chinese Ceramics In The Museum Of Fine Arts, Boston (Hardcover)

Earth Transformed: Chinese Ceramics In The Museum Of Fine Arts, Boston by Wu Tung (Matsutaro Shoriki Curator of Asian Art and Head of the Department of the Art of Asia, Oceania, and Africa) is a gorgeous, coffee-table art book filled cover to cover with more than two hundred beautiful color photographs of seventy-nine smooth, elegant, picturesque and varied examples of the art of Chinese Ceramics throughout a 5000 year history. From decorative pottery to Buddhist sculptures, each ceramic is displayed with a detailed aside informing the reader about its origin and contextual meaning. A wondrous and beautiful book of three dimensional works of art, Earth Transformed is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library ceramic art and art history reference collections.