Clay mud is the body of Mother Earth and with the use of this mundane substance, which myth has it man is also made from, potters, sculptors and artists have for thousands of years sought to find ways to please our senses by making things with it.
Whether baked into a bowl or a teapot, poured into a pavement of mosaic, or sculpted into a statue with spiritual meaning, ceramics long have had an infinite bond with the human experience.
Here are three books that are invaluable to anyone interested in learning more about ceramics as art, craft, decorative object or how they’re incorporated into interior design.
“Ceramics: A World Guide to Traditional Techniques”
By Bryan Sentance
Thames & Hudson, 216 pages, $45
This is a survey of traditional ceramics on a worldwide scale, from Anasazi Native American bowls to Zulu beads, quite an undertaking given the amount of material covered. Any questions you might ever have about the excavation and preparation of materials, forming techniques, prefired decoration, firing, glazes, use and function and ever so much more, can be found in this large hardcover book. Besides being comprehensive, the photography is spectacular and the images are on a large scale.
“The Complete Mosaic Handbook: Projects, Techniques, Design”
By Sarah Kelly
Firefly Books, 320 pages, $35
Even the most novice of crafters will be tempted by the projects illustrated in this book. In more than 530 color photographs and illustrations, the author features the work of 24 internationally renowned mosaic artists, working in a wide range of styles. Some use classic glass and ceramic tiles, others use broken dishware, seashells, odd buttons, mirror shards and more. There also are how-to sections that light the way for 26 projects ranging from beginner to advanced skill levels. As well-executed as these chapters are, the most riveting is the first chapter on the history of mosaics. The lavish illustrations range from the wall mosaics excavated in the ancient city of Herculaneum, Italy, frozen in time when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79, to murals with revolutionary messages by the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, to the more liberated architectural expression of Barcelona artist Antoni Gaudi.
“1000 Tiles: Ten Centuries of Decorative Ceramics”
Gordon Lang, general editor
Chronicle Books, 320 pages, $29.95
For many centuries, decorative tiles have graced homes — from palaces to humble huts. This softcover book documents 1,000 years of the development and output of this craft. A number of expert authors have been called in to cover fire glazing to relief molding. But the top treat is the 1,000 color images of everything from centuries-old calligraphic tiles to works by contemporary tile artists. This book also can be a great resource if you are doing detective work on the vintage tiles in the bathroom or kitchen of an older home. If you have been wondering whether they were made by the Rookwood Pottery, the Grueby Pottery or some other manufacturer, this compendium may provide answers. Because they are easily obtained and relatively inexpensive, tiles are ripe for collecting.
