| Chinese porcelain has always been highly prized | | | | and European ceramicists could not figure out how |
| throughout the world, especially because it was | | | | to mimic the strength and cobalt colors. |
| the first and arguably still is the highest quality | | | | After decades and decades, European ceramics |
| porcelain in the world. The Chinese city Jingdezhen | | | | makers finally tapped into the Chinese secrets |
| in Jiangxi Province has long been known as the | | | | and began to successfully duplicate the styles. At |
| Chinese "capital of porcelain", for it was here that | | | | first, the colors and strength of Chinese ceramics |
| the seemingly magical kaolin clay was found and | | | | were the biggest influences on Western ceramics. |
| Chinese styles of porcelain, particularly the | | | | Over time, European makers tried implementing |
| beloved blue and white porcelain, were perfected. | | | | their own styles and designs onto the pots, but |
| The first exports of Chinese porcelain reached | | | | they found that people preferred the exotic |
| Europe as early as the 14th century, when it was | | | | scenes from Chinese vessels, and so found ways |
| so rare as to be highly sought after by elite | | | | of copying these styles to maintain the exotic |
| members of society, mostly government officials | | | | look and collectability of their ceramics. |
| and rulers. It wasn't until the 1600s, when China | | | | Chinese influence on Western porcelain, then, can |
| became more open to the West for exportation, | | | | be seen in the colors (particularly blue cobalt and |
| that Chinese porcelain began to make its way to | | | | white) and durability (from use of kaolin clay), as |
| Europe in larger quantities. It was an instant hit, | | | | well as in the exotic scenes depicted in the |
| especially among the people of Germany and | | | | decoration on the outside of the porcelain pieces. |
| England where it first arrived. | | | | Furthermore, it was directly because Chinese |
| Immediately, European ceramics makers began | | | | porcelain became such a collectors' item in Europe |
| trying to copy Chinese porcelain, but found that | | | | that European furniture makers began creating |
| its incredible durability and unique blue and white | | | | "china cabinets" for displaying the vessels, and |
| colors were not easily duplicated. Most European | | | | these quickly became a staple furnishing in most |
| clay was not as strong as the Chinese kaolin clay | | | | Western homes. |