"The great age of European ceramic design began around 1500 and ended in the early nineteenth century with the introduction of large-scale production of ceramics. This book is the first complete history of European ceramic design and decoration during this period, presenting it not only in art-historical terms but also in the context of the era's social, cultural, economic, and scientific developments." "Comprehensive, engrossing, and lavishly illustrated, the book is essential reading for anyone interested in ceramics and their history."--Jacket.