As precious as the porcelain teacups it depicts, this gift book is a hand-painted artist catalog of teacups from the Clark Art Institute’s 300-piece collection—an archive that dates back to the eighteenth century and represents the finest porcelain manufacturers of the Marie Antoinette-era, spanning from Europe to China. Artist Molly Hatch, with exclusive access to this largely unviewed collection, has painted the delicate details of each cup to create a visual treat for tea lovers and china collectors. Many of the cups are paired with archival details about their provenance and materials, making this not only a charmingly illustrated gift book but also a historically intriguing reflection on past and present. An introduction from the artist and an essay by Clark curator Kathleen Morris lend further historical context to this enchanting treasure of a book for teacup collectors.
