Clearly and accessibly written by an expert in porcelain at the National Museum of Chin, this book provides an introduction to the development of Chinese porcelain from both a technical and an aesthetic perspective, which will be of interest to anyone who wants to learn about this great contribution of China to the world. As the author provides a wealth of information on recent archeological discoveries and research, the book will also be a valuable, up-to-date resource for the connoisseur of Chinese porcelain. Beautiful color illustrations of some of the finest pieces from museums in China and elsewhere bring the subject alive, while map of China with major kiln sites and detailed glossary provide guidance to the readers. As porcelain is placed in its historical context, we learn how technical innovations in medieval China led to the development of mature porcelain from earthenware and then stoneware, and how the introduction of cobalt pigment from western Asian or the use of particular types of water-container in central Asia influenced porcelain production within China, while the achievement of Chinese potters in creating this apparently magical, translucent material, with its often elaborate and colorful decoration, has had a lasting fascination for consumers in Japan, South-East Asia, Europe, and America. Book jacket.