果酱视频官网

Brief Outline:

To some extent the history of Chinese art has been the history of reproduction. Chinese artists in all fields have paid homage to their past masters by creating imitations or replicas of their works. In the porcelain industry in recent decades, this activity has become particularly fervent and motivated by rather more mercenary rewards. Prices for Chinese porcelain have been rising very steadily and recently porcelain has become very fashionable, with objects often achieving very high prices. It is clearly a potentially very lucrative market for forgers and in the last decade the quantity and quality of fakes has risen dramatically. As a result, buyers are losing confidence in the dealers and auction houses, and museums begin to question pieces that they have acquired, or been given, in recent years.

At present the only usable test for Chinese porcelain is Thermoluminescence testing (TL). This has 3 main drawbacks: first it requires a sample of the ceramic body, thereby partially destroying the object; secondly it has a 10% plus margin of error; finally, erratic results indicate that there is a possibility that artificial doses aimed at confusing TL signals are to some extent being used by forgers. TL dating on porcelain is therefore problematic and is not considered by some as cast iron proof of authenticity.

Project Aim:

The aim of the project is to investigate the possibility that analysis can shed new light on the history, provenance and dating of certain periods of Chinese porcelain, with the implication that this can be used to develop a reliable and practical scientific test to assist in the identification of later copies. The plausibility of this leading to an industry standard test would be explored.

Sponsorship Background:

The three collections that are sponsoring this project kindly give access to their objects and, just as importantly their decades of expertise in the area:

The Butler Museum with its collection of 17th-century Chinese porcelain is recognised as the most famous and largest collection of its kind in the world. It was assembled by Sir Michael Butler GCMG (1927 -2013),  an eminent British diplomat and advisor to several UK Prime Ministers from 1960. It has been exhibited around the world and illustrated in countless publications. In 2005, it was shown at an important exhibition in the Shanghai Museum, (the first exhibition in China of 17th Century Porcelain and the museum’s first ever joint exhibition with a foreign private collection) before going on to London at the V&A Museum.  In 2021, a 576 page catalogue raissone of the collection was published written by Dr Teresa Canepa and Katharine Butler, daughter of the collector and curator at the museum.  The Butler collection of around 650 pieces is housed in a purpose built museum in Dorset.

Jie Rui Tang Collection of Kangxi porcelain has been assembled by Jeffrey Stamen based in Boston, Massachusetts focuses on porcelain from the reign of the Kangxi emperor from 1662 to 1722. In 2017 a book about this collection was published written by Jeffrey Stamen, Cynthia Volk and Dr Ni Yibin. The collection of around 300 pieces is housed in Boston. Pieces from this collection have been exhibited at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Bruce Museum in Greenwich Connecticut and a special exhibition held by Sothebys in 2016.

The Hoyle Collection of Chinese and Japanese ceramics was established in 1998 by Matthew Hoyle, based in Hong Kong and encompasses ceramics produced from the Han until the late Qing dynasties in China as well as during the Edo and Meiji periods in Japan.  Major areas of focus include17th and 18th Century Chinese and Japanese porcelain, both Domestic and Export including Armorial and Biscuit wares. A purpose built museum is currently being constructed on the Costa Brava in Spain to house the entire collection of several thousand pieces. Items on loan can be viewed at the national Maritime museums of both France and Hong Kong. Matthew is a co-founder and moderator on the world’s largest private discussion board for Oriental Ceramics   www.gotheborg.com and is also a Director and Executive Committee member of the Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong.

It is anticipated that in addition to the outstanding collections listed above, the student will also visit other major national collections, with the potential for networking with curators and conservators in these museums. It is anticipated that this project will have an advisory committee of experts that will also be able to advise the student and the project on the very latest research in the area and give guidance as to other avenues of potential research.

果酱视频官网 has recently invested in new laboratories specifically designed for the analysis of important ancient and historical objects which will be at the disposal of this project. Professor Shortland and Dr Delbey have long experience in the analysis of ceramics in general and porcelain in particular. They work regularly with the art world including major museums worldwide, the top auction houses and key collectors and collections.

Unique Selling Points of Project:

The project student will have a unique opportunity to explore the interface between analysis and art historical knowledge in key areas of Chinese porcelain. This will expose the student to the detail of both and will require a student that is as comfortable with the idea of conversing about compositional groupings as they are with aspects of the art and design or the decoration of the ceramics. The student will have unrivalled access to three world class collections and the extensive knowledge and experience of the collectors and their staff. They will be expected to be able to consider the objects as important, historical pieces, but they will also experience the world of collecting and auctions. 

Exposure to major museums and their curators, alongside the advisory committee of experts, will give the student excellent opportunities for networking in the field to improve their overall knowledge and employability.

It is anticipated that the student will gain a very wide range of transferrable skills from this project including:

• A knowledge of analysis in the art world with special reference to porcelain;
• Experience of working with very high value, historically important objects;
• An ability to work with and for a range of stakeholders with potentially different opinions and worldviews;
• An experience of working in both laboratories and museums;
• Experience of the real art world, of how objects are “valued” both intellectually and financially and how they are bought and sold.

The PhD would suit a student who might be interested in a career in a forensic laboratory, a museum or museum laboratory, in an auction house or elsewhere in the art world.

Location:

Situated close to Milton Keynes and Bedford, the Cranfield campus is situated in Wharley End, very close to Cranfield village, and is about 10 minutes from the M1 motorway.  There is rail and road access to most major airports as well as coach and train stations. Cranfield campus also has its own airport for private executive business travel.