Imitation, Counterfeiting And Cultural Appropriation. Chinese Influences on European Ceramics (1560-1780)

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Globalisation of Sino-foreign Maritime Exchange: Ocean Cultures", at the 2023 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Blue on white tin-glazed earthenware was made in Europe since the medieval Muslim occupation. The early modern production passes by different styles, however, somewhere around mid-16th century the decoration of European tin-glazed earthenware started to resemble, if not clearly imitate, Chinese porcelain. European potters were widely aware of this attempt to imitate Chinese porcelain. Archaeological and documentary evidence shows that this type of blue on white earthenware started as a luxury product, sometimes reaching the same prices as porcelain, and found in wealthy contexts. However, in the first half of the 17th century the production of this type of earthenware increased and everyone was able to own such objects. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance and influence that Chinese porcelain had on the development of the European tin-glazed earthenware industry and its international importance from a social, economic, cultural, and symbolic perspective.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Globalisation of Sino-foreign Maritime Exchange: Ocean Cultures   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2023

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow