Chinese
Export Porcelain & Decoration stylesThe following are some of the
major Chinese export porcelain types and decorations with foreign or
religious
motifs.
Go to Ancient China Trade Chinese export porcelain for Europe
Some ancient Kingdoms in South East Asia and South Asia (Sri Lanka) maintained contact with the Chinese court over extended period of times, resulting in the export of ceramics and other products from China to these. One of these was the yet relatively little known kingdom of Tondo, in Luzon (Philippines) which was able to trade with China even during the Ming sea prohibition. Straits export (Peranakan or Nyonya porcelain) Peranakan porcelain was made exclusively for the Baba Nyonya on both sides of the Malacca straits. The Baba Nyonya were early immigrants who emigrated to the Malacca straits area during the 14th and 15th centuries. Influenced by Malay culture theiir descendants developed an unique local Chinese culture. This also resulted in an especially colorful style of porcelain. In the 19th century they began ordering Chinese porcelain custom-made according to their unique tastes for their festivities and ceremonies. Bleu de Hué Hué was the old capital of what is now Vietnam. The name Bleu de Hue means a type of underglaze blue porcelain with largely Chinese motifs, made for the court or nobility in old Vietnam. Middle Eastern Export Actually, the indirect export to the Middle East began vert early, long before a direct trading routes on land or sea were established. Ceramics exports to the Persian gulf area by sea began during the Tang and Song dynasties when longer sea voyages became feasible. Export to Japan A less known export ware is the Chinese porcelain exported to Japan. The fact that Japan for a time completely replaced China as the main porcelain supplier to Europe seems to have obliterated the fact that it imported porcelain from Chinese kilns as early as the Ming dynasty. Some items exported to Japan show Chinese character marks specifically for the Japanese market. For example:
Decoration and Religious MotifsMany items intended for a specific clientele had specific pictorial or character decorations styled for the target area or recipients.Islamic Decorations Islamic decorations were intended either for Central Asia or the Middle East. Some such decorations contain include characters or writings in a Middle Eastern language. Buddhist Decoration Buddhist decorations consist usually of Buddhist symbols or images, often contain lotus flowers, and may also contain characters or writings in Sanskrit, scriptures, etc.. Go from Chinese Export Porcelain to Home |
