| With the progress of China in the pottery and | | | | than European-made ones. One early effect of |
| porcelain the European nations started their hunt | | | | European research was that just as the Chinese |
| to imitate or copy the Chinese styles and designs. | | | | had copied the cobalt blue of the Persians, so |
| The Chinese made drinking-vessels, cups and | | | | they imitated the pink colour used successfully at |
| saucers and teapots popular in their own styles. | | | | Dresden. In the reign of Yung Cheng this was |
| The Chinese trade with the European in the | | | | employed extensively and completely changed the |
| potteries and porcelain wares grew quite high. | | | | prevailing tone of decorated porcelain. The opaque |
| In the reverse direction, Europeans of all the | | | | pink gave its name to the type of coloring: famille |
| nations then established in trade with China, were | | | | rose, which lasted for the rest of the eighteenth |
| sending to their agents in the East pieces of silver, | | | | century through the reign of Ch'ien Lung. |
| pottery and other articles to have them imitated | | | | The transmission of designs continued, and one |
| in the wonder material; at the same time, they | | | | popular feature was the ordering of complete |
| sent engravings and drawings to be copied as | | | | dinner services painted with the coat-of-arms, |
| decoration. These tasks were performed by the | | | | crest or initials of the European owner. |
| Chinese with great skill, and resulted in a constant | | | | Punchbowls, mugs, tea sets, and innumerable |
| flood of goods in both directions throughout the | | | | other articles were ornamented in a similar |
| eighteenth century. | | | | manner and are sought eagerly today. About |
| A further stimulus to the trade was public interest | | | | 1800, America was also importing from China, and |
| in tea drinking, and the sending of increasing | | | | there remain in the United States many examples |
| amounts of the leaf from China. The beverage | | | | of old porcelain with the insignia of their former |
| being new to the West, no drinking-vessels | | | | owners. An outstanding punchbowl given to the |
| entirely suitable were available, and the Orientals | | | | City of New York in 1802 bears a view of the |
| obligingly sent porcelain cups and saucers and | | | | city, and is inscribed with the date of presentation |
| teapots. Many of these traveled packed in the | | | | as well as the name of the Chinese artist who |
| holds of East Indiamen with the tea above, so | | | | painted it. |
| that the bilge water would not ruin the latter. | | | | By many people on both sides of the Atlantic |
| The first teapots sent from the East were made | | | | much of this eighteenth-century porcelain |
| of hard red stoneware; known as Yi-hsing | | | | exported from China is called 'Lowestoff. It was |
| pottery, and the legend quickly grew that tea | | | | given this name mistakenly a century ago, and |
| could only be enjoyed if poured from a red pot. It | | | | although the error was corrected soon |
| will be found that many of the first teapots made | | | | afterwards the name has stayed. |
| in Europe (other than those of silver) were of red | | | | European tried to copy the Chinese styles and |
| stoneware in imitation of the imported ones. | | | | designs through their missionaries and embassies |
| With the discoveries of Bdttger and the making | | | | officials. With the coming of porcelain in Europe |
| of porcelain in Europe, the Chinese monopoly was | | | | the Chinese monopoly was broken but the name |
| broken, but the novelty of having something from | | | | of Chinese porcelain still generates enough interest |
| far Cathay was sufficient to ensure a market. In | | | | among the people because the people trusted the |
| addition, the Chinese wares, in spite of the | | | | product of China in its original forms. |
| expenses of packing and transport, were cheaper | | | | |