Page 195 - A Re-examination of Late Qing Dynasty Porcelain, 1850-1920 THESIS

were not curated by a Chinese connoisseur. Illustrations of the Crystal Palace even

depict the variety of Chinese porcelain on display, allowing this study to identify the

majority of the wares exhibited as export porcelain. Photographs taken during the

exhibition make it possible to identify distinct pieces of porcelain (Figure 74). In one

example, two slightly smaller vases flank a large porcelain vase. Compared to earlier

porcelain collected within Britain, these examples appear more Western in style. They

display the styles associated with the famille rose color palette and the opulence of the

Golden Age of Qing porcelain. After analyzing the styles documented at the exhibition,

it is clear that the majority of the vessels were what was being produced at the time rather

than wares that were considered appealing to a traditional Chinese collector. The wares

displayed at the Great Exhibition of 1851 were still not of the same styles, quality, or

aesthetic as those found within imperial Chinese collections. The evident difference

highlights the effect of material culture within both China and the West. While China

ascribed specific values to certain types of wares, the West viewed porcelain from its

distinct cultural background, allowing different vessels to achieve popularity.

The Great Exhibition was followed by a steady stream of exhibitions held within

London that explored the range of porcelain found within China. The trend of Western

porcelain collecting and orchestrating displays continued with the Paris Exposition

Universelle in 1855 and the London International Exhibition of Industry and Art in 1862.

By 1873, at the World’s Fair in Vienna, a change occurred in the display of Chinese

objects in that this was the first exhibition in the West that was authorized by the Chinese

government, indicating approval from Cixi. This exhibition included numerous art

forms, but one area that was highly appreciated by the public was the display of Chinese

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