Through ceramics a strong bond developed linking East and West in the Middle Ages, that was also a bridge to promote cultures between East and West. This presentation will discuss and investigate this ‘Ceramic road’ by using examples of Chinese and Japanese ceramics now in Asia, the Near East, Europe and the United States.
The presentation will focus in particular on Fustat, the old Islamic city whose ruins now lie in the southern outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, and where an enormous number of fragments of Chinese ceramics were excavated. Dated from between the 10th to 18th centuries, it is fascinating to trace the many places through which the various vases and plates had passed, and to think about the thousands of miles they had traveled.
Image | 12th Century Bowl (Wan) with Peony, Chrysanthemum and Prunus Sprays