This exquisite gift book explores the phenomenon of \'garnitures\', or matching Sets of ceramic vases.
This book brings together some of the National Trust\'s most important Sets of garnitures, showing them in their historic context, many have never been published before..
The fashion continued throughout the 1700s, with almost every ceramic manufactory producing examples, but came to its conclusion during the Arts and Crafts period, when the singular Vase became the rage and many Sets were broken up and dispersed.
As imports of Chinese porcelain ceased between 1657 and 1683, European potters at Never and Delft copied the originally exotic forms, unifying the Sets with matching patters, or with metal mounts.
The fashion began in Europe using mismatched Chinese porcelain beakers and jars.
from the 1650s such Sets were used in elite European interiors as an integral part of the decorative scheme; displayed on chimney-pieces, cupboards, tables or over doors, they \'garnished\' the interior and so enhanced the status of the owner.
This exquisite gift book explores the phenomenon of \'garnitures\', or matching Sets of ceramic vases
