A-Z of ceramics - A is for A-marked
Ceramic objects are often identified by their marks. Marks such as the Chelsea anchor or the crossed-swords of Meis…
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A-Z of ceramics - B is for Biscuit
'Biscuit' comes from the French 'bis-cuite', meaning 'twice baked', although the term is most commonly used for ung…
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A-Z of Ceramics - C is for China
The word ‘china’ was used in 17th-century Britain to describe porcelain imported from China. At that time Europeans…
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A-Z of ceramics - D is for Delft / Delftware
For most people, 'delftware' conjures up images of the blue and white pottery made in the Dutch town of Delft. The …
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A-Z of ceramics - E is for Encaustic
he term encaustic, literally meaning 'burnt in', is given to several quite different artistic processes. In ceramic…
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A-Z of Ceramics - F is for Flatback
Flatback is the word used for cheap earthenware ornaments modelled only on the front and slim enough to fit the nar…
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A-Z of Ceramics - G is for Grand Feu
'Grand feu', simply meaning 'high temperature firing', is a term especially applied to tin-glazed earthenwares (or …
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A-Z of Ceramics - H is for Hard-paste
Hard-paste or 'true' porcelain is so-called because its raw materials and firing temperature (1200°C to 1450°C) res…
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A-Z of Ceramics - I is for Iznik
The small rural town of Iznik nestles picturesquely on a lakeside in Western Anatolia. Here in the early 16th centu…
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A-Z of Ceramics - J is for Jiggers and Jolleys
CERAMICS A-Z Ceramics - J is for Jiggers and Jolleys Illustration of a jigger, Alfred B. Searle, 1929-30. Illustra…
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A-Z of Ceramics - K is for Kakiemon
Kakiemon is the name given to a class of finely potted Japanese porcelains painted in a distinctive palette and rep…
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A-Z of Ceramics - L is for Lustre
Lustre is a very sophisticated decorative technique in which pigment containing oxides of copper and silver is pain…
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A-Z of Ceramics - M is for Maiolica / Majolica
The term 'maiolica' was used in 15th-century Italy for lustrewares imported from Spain. It is usually said that the…
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A-Z of Ceramics - O is for Oxidation
In addition to changing clay into a hard ceramic material, the first firing of a pot transforms its appearance, dra…
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A-Z of Ceramics - P is for Palissy
Bernard Palissy (born about 1509/10, died about 1585) was a colourful and romantic character. Although patronised b…
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A-Z of Ceramics - Q is for Queen's Ware
Cream-coloured earthenwares, containing a combination of whitish clays and calcined flint, were made in Staffordshi…
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A-Z of Ceramics - R is for Repairer
The 'repairers' working in the 18th-century British ceramics industry did not, as their name suggests, mend or rive…
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A-Z of Ceramics - S is for Slipware
Since around 1900 the term 'slipware' has been applied specifically to slip-decorated ware. These are pots that hav…
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A-Z of Ceramics - T is for Transfer Printing
Transfer printing is a way of reproducing two-dimensional designs on ceramics. At its best it results in high-quali…
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A-Z of Ceramics - U is for Underglaze
Underglaze is the opposite of overglaze. It refers to ceramic decoration that lies under the glaze, which forms a p…
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A-Z of Ceramics - V is for Veilleuse
This unusual device derives its name from the French for a night vigil. It was used to keep a drink or portion of s…
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A-Z of Ceramics - W is for Waster
Wasters are the discarded remains of ceramic objects that became damaged or deformed during firing. They provide us…
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A-Z of Ceramics - X is for Xanto
Francesco Xanto Avelli of Rovigo is the most famous decorator of pottery of the Renaissance, but also the most enig…
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A-Z of Ceramics - Y is for Yellow Ware
Yellow Ware or Yellow-glaze Ware are terms usually applied to Staffordshire earthenwares of the period 1800-40, oft…
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A report on the International Symposium on the Conservation of Ceramics & Glass, Amsterdam. 2-4 September 1991
A report on the International Symposium on the Conservation of Ceramics and Glass, Amsterdam, 2 - 4 September 1991
Room 144: Architectural Ceramics
The Headley Trust Gallery contains a fine selection of tiles and other dramatic large-scale ceramics. It includes examples of architectural ceramics from the 13th century BC to the present day.
Room 137: Ceramics Study Galleries Asia and Europe
The Curtain Foundation Gallery houses the greater part of the V&A’s ceramics collection. In this room you will find Asian and Middle Eastern ceramics, and pottery from mainland Europe made before 1800.
Room 139: Ceramics Study Galleries Britain and Europe
The Curtain Foundation Gallery houses the greater part of the V&A’s ceramics collection. In this room you will find British and European porcelain, and pottery made after 1800.
Room 143: Making Ceramics
The Timothy Sainsbury Gallery forms one of two principal galleries, this large space is devoted to methods and techniques of ceramics production. The Gallery includes a functioning clay workshop, with a practising artist in residence.
Donate to the Stained Glass Appeal
We are currently working on an exciting project to conserve and re-install the original stained glass on the landings of the Manfred and Lydia Gorvy Lecture Theatre. We need your help to raise £75,000 to bring these historical features back to their former glory for us all to enjoy.
Give now
Event - Open Studio - Louisa Taylor: Ceramics Resident
Sat 04 February 2012–Wed 20 June 2012
OPEN STUDIO: Visit the V&A Residency Studios to meet ceramics resident, Louisa Taylor. Find out about her research, creative practice and work in progress.
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