Page 189 - 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

As a group of porcelain dealers, shopkeepers like Dao Zai and Coiqua played a

very important role in the enamelled porcelain trade. They bridged the gap between

traders and producers, and were a link between Canton and Jingdezhen. In other

words, their role in prompting enamelled porcelain was significant. Because of their

willingness to deal in small quantities of porcelain, the EEIC supercargoes thus had

the opportunity to place special orders. At the same time, the producers or painters in

Jingdezhen could have the chance to see and copy designs. Cross-cultural exchange

became convoluted, with shopkeepers’ participating in trade.

4.5. Conclusion

This chapter has paid close attention to the porcelain trade of the EEIC during the first

half of the eighteenth century. It introduced a contextualized framework of EEIC’s

trade environment in Canton. It also looked carefully into the extant archival records

of the EEIC concerning the porcelain business with China. There can be no doubt that

enamelled porcelain played a very important role in trade. This is the case because

enamelled porcelain represented the latest fashion and design, and could bring trading

opportunities, and opened entry to small operators. Consequently, along with the great

demand for enamelled porcelain and special ordered pieces, new supply agents started

to appear in the trade. The establishment of a specialised porcelain shop suggested

that local porcelain dealers responded to the market both quickly and efficiently.

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