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
Searching for Knowledge
2024 Asian Art in London/OCS Lecture. ...
Precious Beyond Measure: A History of Korean Ceramics
This is the annual Sir Michael Butler Memorial Lecture. ...
Porcelain for Princesses: Ceramics in Japan’s Imperial Convents
The temples of Nara and Kyoto include thirteen ‘imperial convents’ (amamonzeki 尼門跡 ). Historically home to nuns from imperial, aristocratic or shogunal families, the collections these convents preserve possess unique insights for the study of court culture in Japan. Focusing on the collections of Reikanji temple (霊鑑寺) in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district, this talk will examine […] ...
