The Western ceramics in the collections of the Dukes of Hamilton, 1720-1920

This inter-disciplinary examination assesses the European ceramics in the collections of the Dukes of Hamilton over a number of generations. The study is based principally on the evidence found in the Hamilton and other archives, comprising both textual and visual sources. The second element that forms the foundation for the research is the connoisseurship of ceramics, both extant and those known only through documents. Evidence has revealed that the Duchesses of Hamilton play a major role in this work. A significant number of Hamilton ceramics have been newly identified and located, while their attribution, acquisition and history within the collections have been assessed and clarified.