Maneki Neko – Those Lucky Cats
We’ve all seen those jovial, happy cat figurines in Asian restaurants and shops. Sitting upright with their raised paw, smiling face, and trademark...
Nadine Waldmann 21 January 2025
#ceramics
Shadows in Japanese Culture
Jun’ichirō Tanizaki (1886–1965) was an important Japanese writer, mainly during the Shōwa period. One of the author’s most important essays...
Luciana Craciun 7 January 2025
Delftware 101—The Brilliant Face of the Dutch Golden Age
When we think of the Netherlands, a few characteristic things come to mind: tulips, windmills, orange, cheese and painted clogs to name but a few.
Giordana Goretti 23 December 2024
The Fascinating Ceramic Tile Art of the Anatolian Seljuks
The ceramic tile art of the Anatolian Seljuks dazzled with its mystical turquoise hues, fantastical creatures, and figural depictions. So, who were...
Marga Patterson 23 December 2024
Not So Dark After All: Greek Designs from the Dark Ages
Despite lasting only a century (c. 1100-1000 BCE), the dark ages in Greece were an era of material poverty, cultural isolation, and artistic decline.
Lauren Dorsey 23 December 2024
Art and Ritual: Culture of the Enigmatic Moche People
The Moche were an ancient, Indigenous people of Andean Peru. They are considered to be one of the most influential civilizations of the ancient...
Marga Patterson 23 December 2024
The Charm of Colorful and Shiny Italian Maiolica Ceramic Wares
Maiolica ceramic wares are exquisitely decorated and vibrantly colored handmade artworks made popular during the Italian Renaissance. Their timeless...
Marga Patterson 23 December 2024
Beautiful Chinese Porcelain in Dutch Still Lifes
Chinese culture has always been an object of European fascination – in art history, we see it in paintings, ornaments, architecture, fashion, and...
Nicole Ganbold 26 November 2024
The Artistic Totality of Portuguese Azulejos
Azulejos are a major part of Portuguese history and cultural heritage. These hand-crafted tiles have created such a dynamic presence over the...
Marga Patterson 9 September 2024
Born of Fire: Ancient Roman Glass
Ancient Roman glass objects were functional and decorative beauties. Roman glass artisans experimented with glass-making techniques and applied...
Marga Patterson 2 August 2024
Ancient Greek Pottery: 4 Ways To Decipher Non-Greeks from Greeks
There is a plethora of Ancient Greek pottery pieces to dive into when discussing Ancient Greece and Ancient Greek citizens. Similarly, there is a lot...
Rachel Witte 25 July 2023
Valentine Schlegel: Sculptor of Organic Abstraction
Sculptor, ceramist, artist, and teacher. Valentine Schlegel (1925–2021) was a headstrong individual with fervent, creative independence who carved...
Marga Patterson 23 May 2023
