Traité des Arts céramiques

Creating a Science of Ceramics

In 1844, Brongniart published a definitive text on the ancient and modern practices of ceramics, including technology, mineralogy, and chemistry, Traité des Arts céramiques.

 

This was the first time that the science of ceramics was consolidated and made openly available to a general reading audience. He also described the history of pottery and porcelain production around the world, and discussed the archaeological finds of pottery, especially when they formed part of burial rituals. As a text on the arts, it was unprecedented.

 

Geological Time and the Arts

Importantly, as a consequence of his status as a leading geological theorist, Brongniart discussed the global production of ceramics in terms of geological time. This was a marked departure from other antiquarian and art historical discussions of the period, which were still focussed on Classical origins and a biblical time scale.

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Creating a Museum and a Global History of Ceramics

He followed the 1844 Traité des Arts céramiques with the 1845 catalogue of the Sèvres Museum, Description méthodique du Musée de Sèvres. In combination, the five volumes of these two related publications established a modern framework for the study of ceramics in all aspects, from science and technology, to history and archaeology.