Connections

For centuries the Chinese were the best ceramists in the world. From China, their pieces reached far-flung corners of the planet, conveying a language of colours, motifs and forms with a profound impact on the ceramic traditions across the world. Chinese ceramic production, especially their unique proprietary porcelain, also reflected a complex network of external influences shaped by global trade links. Starting in the Tang dynasty (618-906 CE), foreign glass and metallurgy travelled from Central and Western Asia to China and had a deep influence on Chinese production; Islam appeared on the spiritual scene where Buddhism, another external tradition, had been thriving for centuries. Western culture would have its own impact as European seafarers arrived and settled in the sixteenth century. Chinese ceramic pieces in the Albuquerque Collection speak eloquently of this fascinating cultural blend. In fact, most of them are the outcome of a cultural encounter driven by unprecedented global trade.  

Chinese artisans applied their unique craftsmanship to producing pieces adapted to foreign tastes. The materials, techniques and decoration of export porcelain from Jingdezhen display their origins while incorporating the tastes and preferences of global clients and consumers. Moreover, alongside aspects of taste and influence, these pieces also depict elements from everyday life that reveal the shared facets of human experience in Asia and Europe: the spiritual and religious life, the celebration of royal and political power, leisure and pleasures such as hunting, dance, music, as well as a penchant for the depiction of birds and beasts – these shared interests overcame the chasm of historical and cultural differences between East and West.