A celebration of the finest classical ceramic collection of the National Treasure. This edition introduces the rich and diverse ceramic creations from the extensive and encyclopedic collection of the National Treasure, which numbers around 75,000 objects housed in 250 historic properties across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

One hundred key pieces have been selected from this treasures, each contributing to our knowledge of ceramic patronage and history, revealing very personal stories of ownership, display, taste, and consumption.

The selection includes the following continental ceramics: 'Red-figure' ceramics; Italian armorial dinner services; Dutch Delftware from the Greek factory A, owned by Adrianus Kocx; Chinese Kraak ware; Dehua ware; Japanese Kakiemon and Imari styles; Meissen sculptures by Johann Joachim Kandler; dinner services attributed to Adam Friedrich von Lowenfinck; Castelli faience from the Grue workshop.

Also included are ceramics from the following porcelain factories: Doccia; Vienna; Vincennes; Sèvres; Dihl and Feulliet. English ceramics and porcelain include Delftware; salt-glaze slips; creamware; Wedgwood Black Basalt and Etruscan ware; Chelsea, Bow, Worcester, and Derby porcelain; Minton China; De Morgan and Martin ware. From America, the selection includes Pueblo ware.

Many of these are published for the first time, sometimes illustrated in their original interiors. Collectively, the selection reviews the patterns of ceramic collecting among British aristocracy and landowners over four centuries.