Ceramic sculpture is a timeless art form that can be seen in almost every culture around the world. They have been used to create everything from dishes to houses for thousands of years, and one of the most popular ways they are still being made today is through ceramic sculpture. The history of this art form goes back centuries, but it has continued to evolve as more artists come up with new techniques and ideas.
The earliest pottery vessels date from East Asia, with discoveries in China and Japan, which were still linked by a land bridge at the time, as well as some in what is now the Russian Far East, providing many between 20,000–10,000 BCE despite the vessels being simple utilitarian tools. At Xianrendong Cave in Jiangxi province, prehistoric pottery shards dating back 20,000 years were discovered. Mobile foragers who hunted and gathered their food during the Late Glacial Maximum created ceramic containers long before the advent of agriculture. Many of the ceramic fragments had scorch marks on them, suggesting that they had previously been used for cooking or storage.
During the Third Millennium BCE, people started making pots according to a method known as “coiling.” This process, which molded clay into a long strand that wrapped around it to form smooth walls, was first used to make early pots during this period. The potter’s wheel arrived in the New World too late for European explorers; it wasn’t discovered there until they arrived. Embossing was used to decorate the clay, which started as geometric but often incorporated allegorical designs from the beginning.
The history of ceramics in the Middle East begins with an early, preliterate Neolithic culture that produced pottery at the cusp of the Uruk period (4000 to 3000 BC). Archaeological evidence tells CeramicSculpture.com readers that this region is where ceramic making began -in fact, it was here that humans first started using clay as a raw material for pots and other containers.
Ceramic sculpture has come a long way since its inception. Today’s ceramic artists use a variety of techniques and styles to create unique pieces that are both beautiful and functional. Some artists use traditional methods while others incorporate modern technology into their work. Regardless of the technique or style used, ceramic sculpture remains an important part of our cultural heritage.
