Early Meissen Porcelain: The Wark Collection from The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens

This book presents the Meissen porcelain collection of Ralph Henry Wark (1901-1984(?))which is situated at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Jacksonville. Wark, born in Berlin, was a lifelong collector of Meissen porcelain. Miraculously spared during the bombing of Hamburg in 1943, the collection was transferred to Baltimore after World War 2. There are 698 items cataloged in this book.The Meissen porcelain on view dates from some of the earliest examples (i.e. from 1710)and covers the subsequent 40 years of manufacture. While I don't profess to any authority on the subject, the works are highly attractive and appear to be of superior quality. I compared this catalog with a similar publication (also from D.Giles)documenting the Arnhold Collection. The book covering the Arnold Collection is of a similarly large size, equally well printed and presents Meissen porcelain from the same era. It is however far more expensive and many of the items are unannotated. All the porcelain in the Wark collection volume are well described.The book under discussion is magnificently printed with high standard paper and excellent and generously sized color reproductions. At the present Amazon price of $70 it is an absolute bargain and should be snapped up by porcelain enthusiasts.

It's really a beautiful book, I purchased it as a gift but I shared it with gift receiver and I enjoyed it so much, with all these beautiful and amazing pictures. I do recommend this book to all Meissen Porcelain lovers.

Wonderful reference for anyone who loves early Meissen works of art ( and could never afford to buy such wonderful pieces even if they were available for sale) - clear detailed fantastic photography.

Excellent

I agree this is a very well published and edited book - the pictures are perfect and the commentary informative and well written.The only 'however' is the collection itself.Missing are bigger, more luxurious pieces - candelabras, clocks, tables.Three quarters of the presented collections are plates, cups, teapots - beautiful tableware it is, but there is more to the fame of the Meissen porcelain.