The Baur Collection, Geneva, Chinese Ceramics Volume Three: Monochrome-Glazed Porcelains of the Ch'ing Dynasty by Ayers, John - 1972

Collections Baur-Genève, Switzerland, 1972 Book. Good. Hardcover. 1st Edition. English and French text; Hardcover (cloth with dust jacket); 24 x 29 cm; 2.3 Kg; 266 pages (introduction of 22 pages followed by an extensive catalogue with black and white and colour illustrations, each with caption).; OUT OF PRINT. LIMITED EDITION OF 1100 COPIES, 50 DELUXE COPIES IN LEATHER NUMBERED FROM I to L; 1000 STANDARD COPIES IN CLOTH NUMBERED FROM 1 to 1000 AND 50 COPIES RESERVED TO EMPLOYEES, OF WHICH THIS IS NUMBER 188.; Signs of wear in the dust jacket, with some yellowing on spine and some peeling of the laminated layer of the dust jacket on the top and bottom of the spine and also on the top of the front and back cover. The dust jacket is now protected with a clearcover. The outside text block shows some yellowing. The interior is in very good condition, apart from an old bookseller sticker glued to the front free endpaper and a tiny mark on the bottom right of one page (bent in the past).; When the Baur Collection museum opened in 1964, few people were aware that this private museum housed one of the most important collections of Chinese ceramics in Europe.; "In these last two volumes of the catalogue therefore our scope will be found limited almost entirely to wares produced during the reigns of K'ang Hsi (1662-1722), Yung Chêng (1723-1735), and Ch'in Lung (1736-1795). But few periods have been more prolific in invention: and to all lovers of Chinese porcelain these are familiar and evocative names calling to mind a succession of styles of unusual brilliance.(.) The present volume is devoted exclusively to the porcelains with monochrome glazes. (.) Their representation in the Baur Collection is one of quite exceptional richness and strengh. Shown here (with relatively few lacunae) is the full gamut of tones and colours that the 18th century potters of the Ching-tê-chên were able to devise, while some of the rarest and most prized effects are present in generous measure. Outstanding among the latter are the "peachbloom" pinks, pale "clair-de-lune" blues and much favoured soft celadon greens, the development of which seems to belong especially to the period about 1715-1745. This part of the collection may therefore be said to offer much of unusual value both to the student, and to the casual visitor." excerpt from the introduction by John Ayers, Keeper at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1972. .