Author(s): Ashmolean Museum

Ceramics | History | Anthropology

Pottery tells us about religion, daily life, humor, trade, sex, folklore and creativity.

Bearing the imprint of their maker more than any other crafted object, ceramics give us a unique physical link to the past, often the only evidence of long-forgotten civilizations that have otherwise crumbled to dust.

From ancient Egyptian canopic death jars to ethereally beautiful porcelain, and from lewd Renaissance novelties to sleek contemporary vessels, Around the World in 80 Pots is an eclectic journey across time and cultures. Expertly selected from the unrivalled collection of the University of Oxford's Ashmolean Museum, this compendium shows that humankind's oldest craft is the perfect prism through which to view human history.

Contents: Introduction - Selection of 80 ceramics objects - index - credits - bibliography.

Author Biography: The Ashmolean is the University of Oxford's museum of art and archaeology, founded in 1683. Their world-famous collections range from Egyptian mummies to contemporary art, telling human stories across cultures and across time. Receiving over 1 million visitors a year from around the world, the Ashmolean is one of Oxford's most popular attractions.