December 13, 2015

"The book is... a kind of manifesto and at various points a meditation on the nature of whiteness..."

From an L.A. Times book review: "'The White Road' is an obsessive journey into the world of porcelain." The review, by Geoff Nicholson, begins:
In 1717, Augustus the Strong of Poland, a porcelain devotee associated with the Meissen facility nearby, developed a passionate need to acquire 18 large Chinese porcelain vases owned by Frederick William I of Brandenburg and Prussia. The vases were not for sale, so Augustus suggested a swap. In exchange for the vases, he would supply William with a battalion of 600 dragoon guards. The deal was accepted, the porcelain became known as the Dragoon Vases, and the battalion took the Meissen cipher — two crossed swords — as its banner.

About two and a quarter centuries later, had you been in Berlin or Warsaw, you could have gone into a store belonging to the Allach company and bought a porcelain cupid or candlestick or storm trooper, and on the underside of the base would have been the Allach mark, which Edmund de Waal tells us, "is the double lightning Sig of the SS. Cleverly, it is also the Meissen mark of the two crossed swords." The company's catalog proclaimed that white porcelain was the embodiment of the German soul. The company's factory — perhaps you're suspecting something unpleasant by now — was in Dachau....

[T]he history of porcelain, as told in "The White Road," is a constantly surprising, sometimes absolutely staggering, coming together of art, craft and commerce, politics and religion, national identity, larger-than-life characters and wild, sometimes ruinous obsession. Who knew?
You can buy "The White Road: Journey into an Obsession" here. And here's a book by Geoff Nicholson: "The Lost Art of Walking: The History, Science, and Literature of Pedestrianism."

I found that review after searching the word "obsessive," after somebody called me "obsessive," here. Was that obsessive of me? Here are "6 Weird Signs You Might Have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder." I don't have any of those weird signs, but maybe I have some unweird signs... or weird signs of my own. Must blog first thing in the morning. Thinks words may open doors to journeys of meaning. Must open doors....

23 comments:

Sebastian said...

"Thinks words may open doors to journeys of meaning." Charming quirk, especially if used to expose actual meaninglessness, but obstructs actual clarity when mistaking words for the world. Then again, you're in good company. In the beginning was etc. (Of course, no one heard that particular word. It just was. Ready to open doors to journeys of meaning.)

Michael K said...

OCD, as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is known in medicine, has a number of analogs such as "body dysmorphic disorder" and is treatable. Some treatments are surgical.

There is hope.

Bob Boyd said...

"white porcelain was the embodiment of the German soul"

Interesting. You know, in that movie 'Pottymouth II, The Ass-Chewing' the killer toilet had German accent.
I don't know if that means anything.

Static Ping said...

August the Strong is an interesting historical character. He became King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth essentially at gunpoint, then managed to passive-aggressive the country into a disastrous war which would lead to Poland's destruction by the end of century. (And also led to a myriad of "dumb polack" jokes.) He was also absurdly strong, as his name attests, breaking horseshoes with his bare hands. To complete the character, he slept with a lot of women. Some estimates say he had over 300 children. Unfortunately, his only legitimate one and the one that succeeded him on the Polish throne was an indifferent idiot who apparently would get drunk at parties and shoot people.

So, yes, of course he would be obsessed with porcelain. Why wouldn't he?

Laslo Spatula said...

I wonder if the 'Porcelain' book mentions the Phallus Chalice Porcelain Pimp Cup.

I am Laslo.

Sean Gleeson said...

"the Allach mark, which Edmund de Waal tells us, 'is the double lightning Sig of the SS. Cleverly, it is also the Meissen mark of the two crossed swords.'"

Well, I cannot figure out how Edmund de Waal is making any sense at all there. The Allach mark is not the Meissen mark. (I did an image search, I'm not a porcelain expert.) I guess I'm just not clever enough to see it.

traditionalguy said...

Nazi China. When do we get a Hummell figurine of Trump on horseback slaying the Dragon with a swastika on his shield. Now that would be a collector's item.

Laslo Spatula said...

"Thinks words may open doors to journeys of meaning."

When you are looking for the meanings of Journey:
Song Meaning & Analysis: Don't Stop Believin' by Journey

I am Laslo.

madAsHell said...

I'm guessing the book also explains the phrase....."doesn't have a pot to piss in"

Fernandinande said...

Counting in certain patterns

Uh oh. To count 7 scoops of morning coffee I do "1,7,2,6,3,5,4".
(Bonus question: What's next in that series?)

Laslo Spatula said...

"Mr. Nichols, the X-Ray seems to show the reasons for your discomfort."

"Thank Goodness, Doctor! What is it?"

"You have a porcelain figurine of a ballerina stuck up inside your rectum."

"Yeah: I suspected as much."

"I suppose there is no reason why I would need to know how it got there..."

"Well, ballerinas are graceful and romantic and pretty..."

"Okay..."

"I have OCD, Doctor, and I love -- love -- love Porcelain. Sometimes I am absolutely and completely overwhelmed by the compulsion to put Porcelain objects up my ass."

"So this is a reoccurring thing?"

"Oh yes. Porcelain salt shakers, Porcelain gravy boats -- at one time or another I have put them in my ass. I am compelled. I even once managed to put an entire set of Original American Colonies Commemorative Thimbles up my ass. That was on the Fourth of July, I remember that."

"But you are usually able to remove these objects on your own, I take it."

"Oh yes: you'd be surprised with what you can do with a pair of Chopsticks. Besides eating Chinese food, I mean."

"I get it..."

"The chopsticks are Porcelain, too...."

"Of course they are."

"As I said, I have OCD: what goes in must go out. What goes in must go out. What goes in must go out --"

"I understand, Mr. Nichols."

"It all started when I was a Child. We were at my Grandparents for Christmas Eve Dinner, and there were all of these wonderful Porcelain objects on the table: it was like a Fairy Tale Dream. Next thing I know, Grandma is wondering where the Porcelain Candle Holder was."

"I see..."

"I put it back on the table in the morning, like nothing happened."

"You know, I could suggest a Doctor who might be able to help you with your compulsions..."

"Yeah. I also wash my hands a lot..."

"With your compulsion for Porcelain the repeated washing of hands might not be a bad thing..."


I am Laslo.

chickelit said...

Speaking of unhealthy obsessions, I have a google alert set for the first sighting of Bob Dylan's Christmas lights in 2015. In case you missed or ignored the event in years past (I'm looking at you, Althouse), here's a link to years past.

Fernandinande said...

"Sequence", not "series". Need more coffee....

FullMoon said...

Obsession can be a good thing. I like it when I get it. Comes in six week waves for me, when on a hobby type project. 12-14 hour days, wake up thinking about it, go to sleep looking forward to it.

Doing a blog everyday is dedication. There are many "bloggers" who left there blogs hanging in the air years ago. Some comment here.

traditionalguy said...

The Clinton News Network is jumping all over Trump for criticising Scalia's arguments about the slowness of black law school applicants. They are strongly defending Scalia to make Trump look bad.

CNN has an OCD.

Shane said...

...must...reach...utility...belt!!!

Bill said...

a meditation on the nature of whiteness.

OMG I'm being triggered!!! GASP!!!

dwick said...

Althouse asks "What if this is as good as it gets?"...

n.n said...

The nature of whiteness is spectral diversity. A multiplicity of colors.

wildswan said...

Merely being themselves, not obsessive at all:
Commenters who keep pointing out that Althouse once supported Obama
Commenters who think The Left Can Do No Wrong
Commenters who spring into action at the word "eugenics" or even without it when the dread spoor is seen.
Commenters who are continually trading insults about esoteric Madison lore not understood by anyone else
Commenters who are Rabelasian; who are Caucasian; who are indignation opponents of cracker nation; climatistas, virtue signalistas, Support-Ted Cruz/ Rand Paul/ Donald Trump/-Message inserttistas

My fellow Americans, we have nothing to fear but ourselves.
And the others.
The reason for the season is a secret
But burn the flag openly.
I opened one door and a boxing glove hit my face.
Another had a convex mirror.
I fell off the building from the empty space behind the third door.
But I bounced on my head
and now
I can't keep from saying bad words (trigger warning)
MERRY CHRISTMAS
GOD BLESS US ALL EVERYONE

SeanF said...

I don't have OCD, but I do have CDO. That's basically the same thing, except the letters are in alphabetical order like they're supposed to be.

Zach said...

on the underside of the base would have been the Allach mark, which Edmund de Waal tells us, "is the double lightning Sig of the SS. Cleverly, it is also the Meissen mark of the two crossed swords." The company's catalog proclaimed that white porcelain was the embodiment of the German soul. The company's factory — perhaps you're suspecting something unpleasant by now — was in Dachau....


What is he talking about?

The Meissen mark: http://gaukartifact.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Meissen-Porcelain-Factory-Cobalt-Blue-Marks.jpg

The Allach mark:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allach_(porcelain)

No similarity.

Allach was a Munich company, whereas the Meissen manufactory is in Meissen, just outside of Dresden, Saxony. Dresden being where Augustus the Strong was from -- he famously converted to Catholocism to become eligible to be elected king of Poland.

The Meissen manufactory is well worth a visit if you're ever in the area. Incredibly intricate patterns that have to be painted by hand, where any error ruins the piece.

Zach said...

For what it's worth, the obsession with white porcelain was a genius move. Meissen was the first European competitor to the Asian imports, and the Baroque period was all about frilly, elaborate pieces of art. They made money hand over fist.

One thing that you realise when you live in Germany is how much the country was shaped by the Northern Renaissance. Instead of always jumping to the Nazi imagery, it's illuminating to think of the Germans as the kind of people who are willing to make every frill and curlique in
http://www.meissen.com/en/art-works-figurines
come out just right. In a lot of ways, that's the antithesis of the big mass marches and politicisation of everything that the Nazis wanted.