This book presents the work of contemporary ceramic artists world-wide, whose major focus is narrative work. This means that they visually relate a story, or communicate a message, that goes beyond the merely decorative and provokes some kind of thought response in the viewer. The full diversity of ceramic works is covered, starting with the historical, such as Roman amphoras with their bands of stories that circle the pot, and ranging from vessels, plate forms and vessel-sculptures, to figurative and abstract three-dimensional works, and installation works. The reader will be left with not only a full knowledge of the rich heritage of past narrative ceramic traditions but also the great diversity of narrative works being created today.

A fascinating book, with an extensive variety of works London Potters Newletter (Oct/Nov 2006)

Matthias Ostermann is an internationally well-known ceramicist. His work appears in both public and private collections around the world. He frequently gives lectures and demonstrations, contributes to Ceramics journals and has written two other books for A&C Black, The New Maiolica and The Ceramic Surface.