Page 42 - Export Porcelain and Globakization- GOOD READ

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Pic. 19: Tea Party, Joseph van Aken (c. 1704 – 1749)

Also the decoration – still Chinese – became friendlier for Western eyes. But
surprisingly, the same applied to the imperial ware made in Jingdezhen for the court
or for Chinese clients. The Famille Rose decorated items (“fencai” or “falangcai” in
Chinese) produced for the inner Chinese market look quite similar to those exported
abroad. Of cause the quality differs – but this is not an expression of a differing
artistic view or tradition but of a highly demanding client. Another example is the
“pavilion and river” decoration (see plate 237) – imitated in the factories of
Staffordshire and Shropshire as “Willow” or Two Temple” pattern. River scene
decoration is a very common pattern in China also for the local market. Still, it has
been simplified for the European market and probably also customized according to
European “Chinoiserie” images. However, the export items are very close to the blue
and white river scene decorated pieces for the Chinese market. This is the true story of
all export porcelain. European costumers got used to Chinese décor but also Chinese
décor changed over time and became apparently more “Western”. However, the
notable thing is not that Chinese things adopted Western style and Western things
adopted Chinese style: what took place was a cross-cultural amalgamation and a new
global – or better Eurasian culture has been created.
3.2 The End of the Chinese-European Porcelain Trade
“Although having stepped down from the stage of history, the Thirteen Hongs’
spirit of honesty and pragmatism, opening up and tolerance as well as daring has
been handed over to the Guangzhou people.” (Plate in the Guangzhou Thirteen
Hongs Museum)
In the 19th century, the Chinese-European porcelain trade declined due to changing
tastes, high import taxes on porcelain and the fierce competition by European
manufacturers. The production of blue and white copies had started in Delft and the
knowledge to produce true porcelain had been acquired first in Meißen, Saxony in
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