Chinese Ceramics: A Design History

Stacey Pierson (of the School of Oriental and African Studies) injects humour into her writing, making it a joy to read even for non-academics. It's very informative, and well laid out, with the focus primarily on Imperial Chinese ceramics and the trade throughout the (mostly) western world. There is an introduction to the topic (from the neolithic to the modern day), followed by chapters on production, aesthetics, consumption, trade and finally a discourse on Chinese ceramics in the modern world. The bibliography is good, drawing on both English and Chinese language sources.