The Way We Eat at Home

Food and food wares have always been essential items of international trade and exchange. Chinese ceramics are particularly significant in the history of global trade, fuelling obsessions, demand and design innovation in many parts in the world. From the 700s, kilns in southern provinces such as Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian and Guangdong were responsible for exporting ceramic wares to Asia, Africa and Europe. The examples of Changsha ware, Kraak ware, Zhangzhou/Swatow ware and Bencharong ware on display demonstrate China’s long history of creating ceramics to appeal to specific international markets.

A fascination for porcelain also drives the practice of renowned Korean artist Koo Bohnchang. For his video work Vessel, he travelled the world photographing ceramics made during Korea’s revered Joseon dynasty (1392–1897).

China
Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
earthenware

China
Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662–1722)
porcelain with underglaze blue decoration

Blue-and-white porcelain like this jar with exceptional quality made in China swept through Europe during the late 1600s and early 1700s. Prunus blossoms on a cracked-ice background were among the most fashionable designs.

China/Thailand
porcelain with enamel decoration

Bencharong (meaning five colours) ware was made in Jingdezhen, China, in the 1700s and early 1800s for exporting to Thailand.

China
Tang dynasty (618–907)
stoneware with applied relief decoration
under a greenish tinged glaze

Produced at the Tongguan kiln in Hunan province in central China between the 8th and 10th centuries, Changsha ware is famous for distinctive colourful paintings and figurative motifs influenced by West Asian and Central Asian styles.

China
Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
stoneware with brown glaze

This is a fine example of the utilitarian jars made in the southern provincial kilns of China for export throughout Southeast Asia. The round face on one side of the jar and the human hand on the other are unusual design features.