Illuminating one thousand years of history, "The Pilgrim Art" explores the remarkable cultural influence of Chinese porcelain around the globe. Cobalt ore was shipped from Persia to China in the fourteenth century, where it was used to decorate porcelain for Muslims in Southeast Asia, India, Persia, and Iraq. Spanish galleons delivered porcelain to Peru and Mexico while aristocrats in Europe ordered tableware from Canton. The book tells the fascinating story of how porcelain became a vehicle for the transmission and assimilation of artistic symbols, themes, and designs across vast distances - from Japan and Java to Egypt and England. It not only illustrates how porcelain influenced local artistic traditions, but also shows how it became deeply intertwined with religion, economics, politics, and social identity. Bringing together many strands of history in an engaging narrative studded with fascinating vignettes, this is a history of cross-cultural exchange focused on an exceptional commodity that illuminates the emergence of what is arguably the first genuinely global culture.

About the Author
Robert Finlay, Professor of History at the University of Arkansas, is the author of Politics in Renaissance Venice and Venice Besieged: Politics and Diplomacy in the Italian Wars, 1494-1534.

Reviews
"This book is a must read for students of world history." -- Richard Foltz Journal Of World History "Enthusiastic." American Historical Review "Engaging work... Highly recommended." -- L. R. Hudgins Choice "A significant contribution to the academic field, an encapsulation of information gleaned from different fields that will serve several audiences." -- Rose Kerr Burlington Magazine



Book Information
ISBN 9780520244689
Author Robert Finlay
Format Hardback
Page Count 440
Imprint University of California Press
Publisher University of California Press
Weight(grams) 816g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 36mm