Katherine Burnett, Professor of Chinese Art History and Founder and Director of the Global Tea Institute for the Study of Tea Culture and Science at UC Davis
Art History without the Art: The Curious Case of Sino-Vietnamese Teapots before 1700
This presentation investigates the exchange of tea culture and teapots between China and Vietnam between 1300–1700, with an emphasis on the late Ming period. This is the time when steeped tea became the norm and teapots began to be a required form. Although it is well-known that China was trading tea and ceramics to other East Asian and European countries at this time, this project initiates the exploration of China’s cultural exchanges surrounding tea with its Southeast Asian neighbors starting with Vietnam. It aims to find out how Vietnam responded to this trade, especially through its own ceramic industry. Problematically, although Vietnam closely copied many important Chinese ceramic shapes and wares, examples of the teapot are curiously absent. At the same time as asking, Where are the Vietnamese teapots? this presentation also attempts to determine exactly what is a teapot (vs. a water or wine pot) in these early years, a task that turns out to be not as obvious as one might think.
The Weedon Lecture is presented in partnership with UVA's East Asia Center at The Fralin's Miller Gallery, Thursday Nov. 9th at 5 pm and will be followed by a reception including light refreshments.