Page 244 - The colours of each piece: production and consumption of Chinese enamelled porcelain, c.1728-c.1780

CHAPTER 6 A New Context of Porcelain Trade 1760-1770

1764 to 1788. His annual transaction with the EEIC amounted to tens of thousands of

66
dollars in value.

His business with the EEIC was curtailed in 1792, when the Company ceased to

export Chinaware as ballast, on account of the duties imposed on this article being too

67
high. Presumably, his shop also sold chinaware to other private traders, even after
68
his death in 1796. The trading history of Exchin not only represents a porcelain

dealer but also reflects a dynamic network among foreign traders, local dealers and

producers.

This report from the EEIC supercargo is of great importance to the production of

enamelled porcelain in Canton. This record shows us the communication between the

Company and the porcelain dealer, which demonstrates the participation of the EEIC

in terms of production. Although we do not know whether Exchin owns the

manufacture or not, the close location of the workshop allowed him to resolve the

problem. Exchin played a role as an agency in placing an order and then brought the

final product to the EEIC.

We do not have any further information relating to Exchin’s shop, but a porcelain

shop of the late eighteenth century that advertised its business on a hanging board was

probably similar to Exchin’s. (Figure 6-5). A vertical plaque was hung on the outside

of the shop, reading:

福源店承办洋装磁器山水人物各欵主故不悮

66 IOR/G/12/80, 2 August, 1785; G/12/87, 4 March, 1787; G/12/95, 4 May 1788.
67 IOR/G/12/110, 14 May 1795. G/12/22, 10 November, 1798.
68 IOR/G/12/116, 29 December 1796. IOR/G/12/25, January 28, 1799. IOR/G/12/128, 25 April
1800; IOR/G/12/128, 12 May 1800, p.239.
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