Colors and Contrast: Ceramic Traditions in Chinese Architecture

Ancient Chinese halls are celebrated for their majestic rooflines. However, the visual impact of these structures comes chiefly from their ceramic ornament. Clarence Eng cogently argues that these important ceramics be studied in their own right. He introduces the aesthetics, history and technology of Chinese architectural ceramics, demonstrates that similar levels of skilled expertise were applied both to glazed and unglazed ornament, and describes their contribution to structures designed primarily to delight the viewer, such as screen walls and pagodas.