Porcelain, silk and the lustrous arts of Cathay

Carried on galleons, borne by winds, porcelain, silk and the lustrous arts of Cathay

Coveted by princely collectors, precious artefacts from China adorned palaces across Europe. By the mid-18th Century, the popularity of these luxury arts from China inspired a passion for chinoiserie: the imaginative recreation of a fanciful vision of Cathay in porcelain, silver, furniture and architecture. This lecture shows these desirable luxury goods were traded from China to Europe.

Lecturer: Anne Haworth. Anne has been a lecturer and guide at the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum and the Royal Collection Trust. From 1995 to 2002, she was resident in Shanghai, China and gave lectures on the history of the China trade and European Chinoiserie to the international community.