Archaeologists heavily depend on ceramics, both prehistoric and historic, to identify and date cultural deposits. They are virtually indestructible, retaining designs and colors centuries longer than most materials. As the 18th century progressed an increasing number of English and colonial Americans, both city dwellers and rural folk, came to use and possess blue and white Chinese porcelains, a commodity that was affected by the vagaries of style and fashion.
In this copiously illustrated volume, authors Madsen and White provide a comprehensive guide to the identification and manufacture dates of export Chinese porcelain. They also offer a broad overview of the industry and context information for the most common styles. Motifs are dated by using information from shipwrecks from the 17th through 19th centuries, well-dated archaeological assemblages such as that from Williamsburg, Virginia, and museum collections. This volume is an indispensable handbook for collectors, students, and historical archaeologists, and it is also a notable study of an important art form.
