Like the ceramics he collected throughout his life, Walter C. Koerner was a survivor of turbulent times. Born in Moravia in 1889, Koerner fled his homeland shortly before the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia. After immigrating to Canada and settling in B.C., he prospered in business and became one of the University of British Columbia's most significant benefactors.

Today, the gallery in the Museum of Anthropology that bears Koerner's name is home to one of the most exquisite collections of European ceramics in North America. The Koerner Ceramics Gallery is a testament to elegance, craftsmanship, and the beauty of everyday objects. Yet it is also a reflection of the complex socio-political forces at work throughout four centuries of European history.

A lavish celebration of this impressive collection, "A Discerning Eye" highlights approximately two hundred functional and decorative wares from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century. From Italian Renaissance maiolica, still considered by many to be the pinnacle of European ceramic art; to Haban pottery created by Anabaptist craftsmen, which carries the history of religious faith and persecution; to delftware from Holland, which was inspired by the Chinese and Japanese porcelain that arrived on Dutch shores in the seventeenth century - the pieces featured in this volume document the evolution of style, technique, and culture. This book is a fascinating, comprehensive, and visually stunning tribute.

A lavish celebration of this impressive collection, Koerner Ceramics highlights approximately two hundred functional and decorative wares from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century. From Italian Renaissance maiolica, still considered by many to be the pinnacle of European ceramic art; to Haban pottery created by Anabaptist craftsmen, which carries the history of religious faith and persecution; to delftware from Holland, which was inspired by the Chinese and Japanese porcelain that arrived on Dutch shores in the seventeenth century - the pieces featured in this volume document the evolution of style, technique, and culture. This book is a fascinating, comprehensive, and visually stunning tribute.

Carol E. Mayer is Senior Curator at the Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia, where she is responsible for the world-wide collection of ceramics. She was awarded the National Award for Outstanding Achievement by the Canadian Museums Association for her research and curating of the permanent exhibition of European ceramics at the UBC Museum of Anthropology. She has contributed to books such as The Potter's Art, Made of Clay, and Hot Clay. Mayer was a co-founder of the Northwest Ceramics Foundation (NWCF), served as its first president and continues to serve as a board member. In 2005, her support for the makers of ceramics, particularly in British Columbia, was recognised by a Lifetime Membership Award from the Potters Guild of British Columbia.

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