Page 225 - A Re-examination of Late Qing Dynasty Porcelain, 1850-1920 THESIS

patrons: Empress Dowager Cixi and, briefly, Yuan Shikai. Both rulers oversaw the

progression of porcelain within China, maintaining it as a fine art and ensuring that it was

representative of each ruler’s imperial power.

It is evident that both Cixi and Yuan Shikai had distinct aesthetics that were

achieved within their porcelain commissions, ultimately leaving a lasting legacy that

became the foundation for republic wares. These styles created the foundation for

republic wares, establishing the foundation of modern porcelain within China.

Ultimately, these collections proved a continuation of strong imperial patronage beyond

the Golden Age of porcelain, indicating a high level of artistic expression that was not

previously thought to have existed within late dynastic China and the early republic.

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