Page 179 - The colours of each piece: production and consumption of Chinese enamelled porcelain, c.1728-c.1780

CHAPTER 4 Early Eighteenth-century EEIC Porcelain Trade in Canton 1729-c.1740

fashionable and of the latest style. Amongst more than 3,300 pieces of armorial

porcelain of the eighteenth century, illustrated in Howard’s two volume studies, most

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of them were enamelled wares.

Moreover, there was a great demand for fine ‘China ware’ from private trade.

Private trade increased exponentially, although it was still probably less than five per

cent of the total orders. Porcelain painted with desirable designs was transmitted and

purchased by the Supercargoes. They preferred to buy pieces in small quantities, but

of high quality. The ready for departure pieces stored in the Hong merchant’s

warehouse could not meet the requirement of ‘function as sets’ or ‘fashionable

decoration’. As soon as enamelled porcelain became available in the market, the

supercargoes preferred to buy them, rather than blue-and-white wares, because

enamelled wares were designed after the latest fashion and enamelled wares could be

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sold five times more in price than blue and white pieces. Figure 4-3 shows the

comparison price between enamelled and blue and white porcelain of cups and

saucers. Although it fluctuated and was in general decline, we see that enamelled

porcelain was always more expensive than blue and white in cups and saucers.

Similar patterns could be found in other items, such as tea-pots and plates.

23 David S. Howard, Chinese Armorial Porcelain, vol.1 (London: Faber, 1974). And the second
volume, Chinese Armorial Porcelain, vol.2 (Wiltshire: Heirloom Howard Limited, 2003).
24 Geoffey A. Godden, Oriental Export Market Porcelain: and its influence on European Wares
(London, Toronto, Sydney, New York: Granada, 1979), p.203.
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