In the Cabinet of Curiosities

A Discussion of Porcelain on the World Stage

The unique history of porcelain traverses the globe and spans nearly eleven centuries!

From ornate objects to delicate dishes, porcelain has largely become a symbol of sophistication saved for “special occasions.” Join historians Dr. Suzanne Marchand (Porcelain: A History from the Heart of Europe) and Dr. Anne Gerritsen (The City of Blue and White: Chinese Porcelain and the Early Modern World) to discuss porcelain as a global commodity. Drs. Marchand and Gerritsen explore the history of porcelain from the European and Asian perspectives, respectively, in their books published within months of each other in 2020. This special presentation will be the first time their books are brought together to showcase the broad appeal of this “white gold.”

Dr. Suzanne Marchand is the Boyd Professor of History at Louisiana State University. In addition to Porcelain, she authored German Orientalism in the Age of Empire. Dr. Anne Gerritsen is a professor in the History department at the University of Warwick, Chair of Asian Art at Leiden University, and a Fellow of the British Academy. Her work includes studies of ceramics, religion, and material culture. Dr. Gerritsen will join via Zoom from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom.  Click here if you would like to join this conversation virtually.

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