Edmund de Waal's 'The White Road' Traces Porcelain's Global History Through Three Key Objects

Edmund de Waal's 2015 book 'The White Road: Journey into an Obsession' chronicles his global quest to uncover porcelain's origins, framing it as a pilgrimage akin to Captain Ahab's pursuit in 'Moby Dick'. The British ceramicist focuses on three talismanic objects: the Monk's Cap Ewer from China, the Tschirnhaus cup from Dresden, and William Cookworthy's tankard from England. De Waal travels to Jingdezhen province in China, where porcelain production began over 1,000 years ago, climbing Mt. Kao-ling to explore kaolin mining. In Dresden, he details the creation of the Tschirnhaus cup for Elector Augustus the Strong, who amassed 35,798 porcelain pieces by his death. The English section involves colonial American history, noting Cherokee-mined clay from Appalachia and Josiah Wedgwood's Stoke-on-Trent creamware. De Waal's narrative weaves stories of collectors, inventors, and entrepreneurs, reflecting his own obsession with porcelain's whiteness. His analysis extends to technical aspects, describing the necessary minerals petunse and kaolin, and artistic traditions like Japanese Kakiemon ware. Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, the 417-page book blends personal memoir with historical research, continuing the approach of his bestselling 'The Hare with Amber Eyes'. De Waal's writing shines in detailed passages, such as his vivid description of Kakiemon colors and motifs, connecting porcelain to broader cultural narratives.