Jessica Harrison-Hall

Jessica Harrison-Hall curates the Chinese ceramics collections of the British Museum and the Sir Percival David Collection, from 4000 BCE to the present. She is also responsible for Vietnamese art and antiquities. Her role is to research, spread understanding of and develop this material through acquisitions, publications, exhibitions, lectures and study access.

She has special interests in the material culture of later Chinese history, particularly the Song to Qing dynasties (960-1911). Her current research focuses on Ming China in the early 15th century and its relationships with the wider world.

Contact

jharrison-hall@thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
+44 (0)20 7323 8848

Current projects

• Ceramic Masterpieces
  A three-way collaborative exhibition between six curators at the British Museum, V&A and National Museum of China to open in Beijing in June 2012.

• Qing Ceramics
  Research and documentation of the Qing Dynasty pottery and porcelain for a comprehensive catalogue of the Museum's largely unpublished holdings.

Recent projects

• China: Journey to the East  
  Lead curator of UK touring exhibition (January 2009 – April 2012), which promotes knowledge and understanding of China to Key stage 2 and 3 National Curriculum (9 to 14 year olds), their families and teachers.

• Chinese Ceramics Gallery (Room 95): The Sir Percival David Collection in the Sir Joseph Hotung Centre for Ceramic Studies
  Lead curator of this display of around 1,700 Chinese ceramics dating from the third to twentieth century (opened 2009)

• Vietnam: Behind the Lines
  Curator of an exhibition of 132 artworks acquired in 1998–2001, portraying life for the North Vietnamese during the American-Vietnam War 1965–75.

Honorary positions

• Permanent Council Member of the Oriental Ceramics Society.

Recent publications

J. Harrison-Hall with R. Krahl, Chinese Ceramics: Highlights of the Sir Percival David Collection, (London, British Museum Press, 2009)

J. Harrison-Hall, Pocket Timeline of China, (London, British Museum Press, 2007)

J. Harrison-Hall, Vietnam: Behind the Lines Images from the War 1965-75 (London, British Museum Press, 2002)

J. Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics - A Catalogue of the late Yuan and Ming Ceramics in the British Museum (London, British Museum Press, 2001)

J. Harrison-Hall, Ancient Chinese Trade Ceramics from the British Museum, London, with R. Krahl, (National History Museum, Taipei, 1994)