Page 171 - A Re-examination of Late Qing Dynasty Porcelain, 1850-1920 THESIS

(superintendent of the imperial kilns at Jingdezhen, 1682–1756) in 1735, who wrote that

nearly 3,000 pieces of ceramic of lesser quality were shipped to Beijing for the emperor

to give as gifts. 216 This evidence establishes that while the ceramics used as gifts were

considered to be of lesser quality, they were still produced using the same imperial-grade

materials, craftsmen, and kiln workshops. Although the final outcome resulted in a

distinction of “lesser” quality, it appears that these wares were produced in a similar

fashion and resulted in ceramics that mirrored what would have been used in the imperial

household. Regardless of the ware’s quality, a ceramic commissioned by the emperor

was still seen as a possession of the emperor, meaning that ceramics produced as a result

of imperial order can be viewed as imperial objects regardless of modern scholars’

opinions regarding the quality. Additionally, the gift-giving standard Qianlong set

continued into the late Qing and became a method of porcelain distribution that can be

traced directly to Western collections.

As both a collector and an art patron, Qianlong set the tone within Eastern and

Western understandings of Chinese art collecting. It is primarily his collection that is

showcased in museum collections worldwide, which is a fact that is analyzed in a later

section. Rulers of the late Qing followed Qianlong’s collecting standards. Qianlong

served as an example of not only a fine collector but also a highly capable ruler. As a

result, individuals like the Empress Dowager Cixi cultivated a direct connection to

Qianlong by emulating his porcelain patronage. Not only did this actively create a bond

between the empress dowager and the successful emperor, but it also connected her to

Qianlong’s large imperial collection, which actively represented the power he held over

216 Wang Guangyao, Zhongguo Gudai Guanyao Zhidu (China’s Ancient System of Official Kilns)
(Beijing: Zijincheng Chubanshe, 2004), 198.
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