Dr Baoping Li

Research interests

Archaeology, art history, and cultural heritage of China. Speciality in Chinese ceramics and its global distribution in the past two millennium, studied from various approaches, including chemical sourcing of shipwreck ceramics, reconstruction of ancient technology, and ethnographic studies of traditional potters. A holistic approach to past human societies integrating archaeology, material/visual cultures, historiography etc, to promote mutual understanding and collaboration of human kind.

Geographic areas

The areas covered include China and its neighbours with trade and diverse interactions, either next door or on the other side of the world.

Research Profile

Baoping obtained his BA and MA degrees from Peking University, and PhD from University of Queensland, Brisbane. His former appointments include Honorary Senior Research Associate, Institute of Archaeology, University College London, and Senior International Researcher, Director, Sotheby’s. He was awarded competitive fellowships by Australian Research Council (ARC) to supervise large research projects, including Australia Future Fellow based at University of Sydney; and Australia Postdoctoral Fellow based at University of Queensland.

He publishes with worldwide institutions including USA’s National Museum of Asian Art (Smithsonian’s Freer/Sackler Galleries). He also supervises translation into Chinese for database entries of the ceramics of the Sir Percival David collection, now displayed in the Sir Joseph Hotung Centre for Ceramic Studies at the British Museum (BM), and edits, proofread or translates books for institutions including the BM, and the Palace Museums in Beijing and Taipei. Baoping proofread the Chinese edition of the ceramic volume of the Science and Civilisation in China series by the Needham Research Institute, Cambridge, and has worked as a Deputy Chief Editor for Bulletin of Chinese Ceramic Art and Archaeology, Peking University.

Baoping is a founding member of the Oriental Ceramic Society Jingdezhen and Society of International Ceramic Studies; a key member for Chinese Society of Ancient Ceramics and the Asian Arts Society of Australia (TAASA); and a Senior Consultant for China Association of Collectors. As a consultant for the Oriental Ceramic Society, London, he contributes substantially to its work, including the centenary exhibition/catalogue in 2021. He is a Distinguished Professor for School of Archaeology and Museology, Shanxi University (Taiyuan), and a senior research editor for ART.ZIP and Unicorn Publishing Group in the UK.

Sponsored by: Dr Anke Hein