The British Museum Book of Chinese Art

Rating:
Summary: more than a survey of one collection
Review: The British Museum has a wonderful collection of Chinese art, from the Neolithic to the early years of the 20th century, and this book uses the collection as an introduction to Chinese culture, and to the varied forms of art--bronzes, jades, pottery and porcelains, calligraphy and painting, sculpture, cloisonne, and lacquer work--that the evolving culture has produced for the past 5000 to 6000 years. The book opens with a very good but brief introduction to Chinese history and then surveys the various art forms. The color and black-and-white illustrations are glorious, and good choices have been made about the pieces to show in color (though one always wishes for more, especially in my case of Qing ceramics). The British Museum collection is featured, obviously, but the individual pieces are occasions for very clear and interesting discussions of the type of work each represents; the book in this respect is very much more than a catalog of one collection. I especially appreciate this more general information about various types of Shang bronzes or Qing ceramics, for example, and the detailed information about materials, techniques, and production. Anyone at all interested in Chinese art and culture will value this book, and it's also a book that will excite people who haven't previously been interested. Excellent and beautiful.