It is curious that so little information is available in connection with armorial china from any published works on Chinese or other porcelain. Except for the late Mr. F.A. Crisp's "Armorial China", which is an illustrated catalogue of his own collection, and for "Examples of Armorial China", which merely gives reproducations in colour by W. Griggs, of pieces in various collections, there is no work definitely devoted to this subject, while even these works make no attempt in any way to describe its origin and history. Yet the collection of armorial porcelain is a most interesting one, dealing as it does, not only with the manufacture and quality of the china itself, but also, by means of the armorial bearings, conveying its own date and history, and leading the student on to the fascinating study of heraldry and genealogy.--pg. 1.

Armorial porcelains comprised the output of most European ceramics factories in the 18th and 19th Centuries in response to the large quantity of armorial porcelain services that were being imported from China bearing the coats of arms and crests of aristocratic families. Whereas these armorial services have been identified and covered for most porcelain manufactories the information relevant to their production by the two relatively short-lived Nantgarw and Swansea China Works has not been addressed as a theme until now. As an integral component of the holistic forensic appraisal of porcelain, a functional and decorative artwork manifestly part of our cultural heritage and its ongoing preservation , the recording and identification of such artefacts is material for the future establishment of a database of factory production . The Nantgarw and Swansea factories only operated for a limited period in the second decade of the 19th Century and their porcelains were much appreciated for their high quality and desirability by Georgian households. Today, examples are to be found in many museums and ceramics collections and continue to excite the interest of specialists and the general public . This text provides the first comprehensive assessment of armorial porcelains from these two factories and the methodology and procedure for the identification of unknown armorial bearings and crests is illustrated; individual bearings are discussed in detail and existing incorrect assignments in the literature are re-appraised. The difficulties in attribution of armorial heraldic achievements that are only minimally depicted are considered and directions for further studies using historical documentation are invoked. This book therefore fills a currently existing gap in the ceramics literature of the 19th Century.

The East India Company at Home, 1757–1857 explores how empire in Asia shaped British country houses, their interiors and the lives of their residents. It includes chapters from researchers based in a wide range of settings such as archives and libraries, museums, heritage organisations, the community of family historians and universities. It moves beyond conventional academic narratives and makes an important contribution to ongoing debates around how empire impacted Britain. The volume focuses on the propertied families of the East India Company at the height of Company rule. From the Battle of Plassey in 1757 to the outbreak of the Indian Uprising in 1857, objects, people and wealth flowed to Britain from Asia. As men in Company service increasingly shifted their activities from trade to military expansion and political administration, a new population of civil servants, army officers, surveyors and surgeons journeyed to India to make their fortunes. These Company men and their families acquired wealth, tastes and identities in India, which travelled home with them to Britain. Their stories, the biographies of their Indian possessions and the narratives of the stately homes in Britain that came to house them, frame our explorations of imperial culture and its British legacies.

This book explores the relationship between collecting Chinese ceramics, interior design and display in Britain through the eyes of collectors, designers and tastemakers during the years leading to, during and following the Second World War. The Ionides Collection of European style Chinese export porcelain forms the nucleus of this study – defined by its design hybridity – offering insights into the agency of Chinese porcelain in diverse contexts, from seventeenth-century Batavia to twentieth-century Britain, raising questions about notions of Chineseness, Britishness, and identity politics across time and space. Through the biographies of the collectors, this book highlights the role of collecting Chinese art objects, particularly porcelain, in the construction of individual and group identities. Social networks linking the Ionides to agents and dealers, auctioneers, and museum specialists bring into focus the dynamics of collecting during this period, the taste of the Ionides and their self-fashioning as collectors. The book will be of interest to scholars working in the fields of art history, history of collections, interior design, Chinese studies, and material culture studies.

The Rough Guide to Bath, Bristol & Somerset is the definitive, full-color guide to this alluring region, illustrated throughout with striking photographs and packed with insightful information on everything from Beau Nash to Banksy, and from state-of-the-art spas to walking in the Mendips. Clear maps help you explore cosmopolitan Bristol and historic Bath, the Georgian city par excellence, while detailed descriptions of the best accommodations, restaurants, pubs, and clubs give the inside track on exactly where to eat, drink, and be merry. From the iconic cities of Wells and Glastonbury to the dramatic landscapes of Exmoor and the Levels, Somerset is covered in unparalleled detail, along with popular destinations just across the border in Wiltshire, such as Lacock, Longleat, and the unforgettable and mysterious ancient site of Stonehenge.

Full-colour throughout, The Rough Guide to Bath, Bristol and Somerset is the ultimate guide to this alluring region. With 30 years experience and our trademark 'tell it like it is' writing style, Rough Guides cover all the basics with practical, on-the-ground details, as well as unmissable alternatives to the usual must-see sights. At the top of your list and guaranteed to get you value for money, each guide also reviews the best accommodation and restaurants in all price brackets. We know there are times for saving, and times for splashing out. In The Rough Guide to Bath, Bristol and Somerset: - Over 50 colour-coded maps featuring every listing - Area-by-area chapter highlights - Top 5 boxes - Things not to miss section Make the most of your trip with The Rough Guide to Bath, Bristol and Somerset. Now available in ePub format.

Despite the tremendous number of studies produced annually in the field of Dutch art over the last 30 years or so, and the strong contemporary market for works by Dutch masters of the period as well as the public's ongoing fascination with some of its most beloved painters, until now there has been no comprehensive study assessing the state of research in the field. As the first study of its kind, this book is a useful resource for scholars and advanced students of seventeenth-century Dutch art, and also serves as a springboard for further research. Its 19 chapters, divided into three sections and written by a team of internationally renowned art historians, address a wide variety of topics, ranging from those that might be considered "traditional" to others that have only drawn scholarly attention comparatively recently.

From the genteel Georgian terraces of Bath to the wilderness expanses of Exmoor, the fully updated The Rough Guide to Bath, Bristol & Somerset provides an all-round account of this richly rewarding region, with comprehensive details of what to see, what to do and where to sleep, eat and drink. Useful context and background information accompany all the practicalities, interspersed with vivid, full-colour photos and some of the clearest maps to be found in any guidebook. Rough Guides' local experts cover high culture and street art, from the architectural glory of Wells Cathedral to Bristol's exuberant murals, as well as all the options for getting active, including cycling on the Somerset Levels and hiking in the Quantock Hills. Alongside information on the best local festivals, there are full reviews of the worthiest restaurants and the most characterful pubs. Beyond the borders of Somerset but within easy reach, The Rough Guide to Bath, Bristol & Somerset also takes in such hotspot destinations as Salisbury and Stonehenge, as well as the full-on family attraction of Longleat. Make the most of your holiday with The Rough Guide to Bath, Bristol & Somerset.