Functional Pottery: Form and Aesthetic in Pots of Purpose

Functional Pottery, the best-selling pottery reference first published in 1986, has been extensively revised and updated to include more than 250 color photos as well as hundreds of black and white photos and illustrations. Covering historical as well as contemporary pottery, this acclaimed and inspirational book presents both philosophical and practical experiences from the 43-year pottery-making career of Robin Hopper, one of North America's most recognized ceramic artists.

Perusing this book is like having a ceramic museum, art gallery, encyclopedia, and master potter at hand, teaching and inspiring at the same time. Beginning with a view of the historical development of pottery, the book presents a wide discussion on the aesthetics of form and design. Also addressed are the mechanics of making and the practical solutions to functional design in pots for eating, drinking, storage, pouring, cooking, serving, and pots for rituals and contemplation. The recent work and short biographies of 16 internationally recognized ceramic artists are showcased in the Portfolio section.