As my first post, I want to ask you guys, which civilization's ceramic (pottery, porcelain) art is your favorite and why? And what's so special about them?
I'll list some candidates, but you're very welcome to name yours and discuss and post pictures:
Egypt
Egyptian ceramics are probably the oldest in the world. Egyptian ceramic artists used steatite to make vases and funerary objects. Egyptian mythology are often represented on their ceramic-ware and they are a potent symbol of this ancient civilization.
Greece
Pottery has always been an important part of Ancient Greek civilization, and they are one of the oldest in the world. Neolitic period's pottery-wares dates back tens of thousands of years. Greek pottery is known for the painted figures on their objects, and since very few greek painting survived, they are the greatest reminder of what Greek society was like during ancient period.
China
China is an obvious candidate for great ceramic art since not only Chinese ceramics are among the oldest, they also developed the "art" of "porcelain" and several other influential ceramic styles.
Rome
The most representative ceramic ware of ancient Rome is argubly the red-figure pottery which was adapted from the Greek ceramic-ware.
India
Indian ceramics are very ancient, and various pottery-wares from the Indus Valley civilization can also be found.
Persia/Iran
Iranian pottery are also ancient and pottery vessel founded dates back to the neolithic period that spans millennia.
Islam
Islamic pottery are heavily influenced by various civilization's ceramic art due to the many regions Islam had spread across and Muslims had conquested.
Western Europe
European ceramics after the Renassiance to the Industrial Revolution often intimated the high-prized Chinese porcelain which were introduced along the China Trade. Chinese Blue-and-white wares became extremely fashionable, and various factories set out to create their own version of it, such as Delftware.
America
Cultures in the American continents have long been crafted beautiful ceramic wares, best examples are the illustrious Mayan ceramics which used various clays and minerals to create chips.
African pottery (except Egypt)
African pottery is as diverse and various as the continent itself and has strong ties with folk art traditions like many culture. The ceramic ware from places such as Zambia and Morocco have all been exported to the west, however, generally they are not very well-understood.
Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand...
The ceramic ware in the far-eastern regions are also renowned for their beauty and style. Japanese ceramics is known for the variets (i.e. Shino wares, Kakiemon pottery), and the Jomon pottery of the Neolithic period is reportedly among the oldest pottery in the world!
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