colour scheme
Purpose of research
The purpose of the research into the Chinese and Japanese ceramic collection at the RAMM is to expand the interpretation of the collection, and assess its relative significance in terms of other Oriental ceramic collections in the UK such as: City Museum and Art Gallery Bristol, Museum of East Asian Art Bath, The British Museum and The Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
The collection, which holds approximately 150 pieces (some of which are sets), covers a vast time period of almost seven hundred years (A.D.13th century - 20th century). With appropriate management, the collection can provide an insight into the evolution of styles and techniques developed over the centuries. The collection is eclectic; however its strength lies in Qing dynasty export ceramics.
Interpretation of the ceramics has revealed several avenues in which the collection can be utilised in terms of educational needs.
From an ethnographical/art historical perspective the ceramics can provide an insight into elements such as:
Chinese symbolism,
Trends in fashion and trade
Political and economic factors both internally and externally and how they affected the production of ceramics.
Vase by Taizan Yohei
