Ceramics Art & Craft in Australia

Ceramics or Ceramic Arts are objects that are made from clay and other raw materials used in the pottery process. Some of the most common ceramics are vases, table wares, tiles and wall decorations. Ceramic products have different natures; some were considered as a form of fine arts, others as merely decorative ornament, while a few are being treasured as important artifacts in archaeology.

One of the most commonplace and probably the most numerous among ceramic products is the vase. Ceramic vases come in different shapes, designs and sizes. Most of them are used as ornamental pieces for house and office displays. The prices of these vases depend variedly on its craftsmanship, materials used, designs and age. Age is a big determinant of the ceramics value. As a matter of fact, two of the most expensive ceramic vases in the world are believed to be created between the 14th and 18th century, and they are as follow:

• Ming Dynasty Vase. This is the most expensive ceramic vase. According to historical findings, this vase was molded during the time of King Hongwu, the founder of the Ming Dynasty. A copper red floral design serves as the outermost cover of the said vase. The 14th century vase that costs over US $10 million is currently in the hands of the entrepreneur Steve Wynn, after purchasing it on an auction.
• Qianlong Vase. This is an 18th century vase that is worth more than US $80 million. This vase is said to be in existent during the Qing Dynasty, which was ruled by Emperor Qianlong. Today, the Qianlong Vase is reported to be purchased by a wealthy Chinese industrialist and collector of vases.