The Oriental Ceramic Society
The Oriental Ceramic Society (OCS) is the leading international society for the study and appreciation of Asian art, with a special focus on ceramics. Founded in 1921, the Society has members throughout the world. Our Patron is HRH The Duke of Gloucester.
The OCS Celebrated 100 Years
Founded on the 31st January 1921 in a London drawing room, 2021 marked the centenary of the Oriental Ceramic Society.
We celebrated this occasion with our centenary exhibition, Collectors, Curators, Connoisseurs: A Century of the Oriental Ceramic Society 1921-2021.
The Society hosts lectures on all aspects of Asian art, particularly Chinese and Japanese ceramics, jades, paintings and Middle Eastern art. Lectures are held in London (usually in the Society of Antiquaries at the Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly). Evenings begin and end convivially with a glass of wine, providing a regular opportunity for members to meet one another and talk informally.
The Society also offers handling sessions of objects from museums, auction houses, private collections, as well as organises visits to public and private collections both in the United Kingdom and overseas.
Study and Appreciation of Oriental Art
Through lectures, handling sessions, tours, exhibitions and publications, the Society provides a forum for members to develop and exchange their knowledge with experts and fellow enthusiasts.
Upcoming Lectures & Events
Ceramics in Japanese woodblock prints
The talk presents ceramic wares that were depicted in Japanese woodblock prints. It will introduce the different types of wares incorporated into print designs and illustrate the large variety of settings of the vessels. Often depicted as part of accoutrements in prints of beauties (bijinga), they are also showcased in context of tea ceremony and […] ...
Weapons in Late Shang (c.1250-1050 BCE) China: Beyond Typology and Ritual
The late Shang at Yinxu is a major period, foundational to the forming of Chinese civilization and renowned for its magnificent bronze vessels. However, the even larger quantities of weapons in bronze and other materials have attracted less scholarly attention. Do they simply represent the status and military role of the deceased? Were they merely […] ...
