Development history and art characteristics of Chinese armorial porcelain

Armorial porcelain is porcelain with special marks, including national emblems, imperial insignia, the heraldic emblems of nobles, armies, groups, and organizations, and even symbols of provinces and cities. Unlike the porcelain produced in European and American countries, Chinese armorial porcelain was an important export of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It included emblems and emblazonments made for European and American merchants, as well as traditional Chinese emblazonment. Its unique shape and exquisite decorations reflect China’s traditional technological characteristics, and Europe’s elegant decoration. Hence, Chinese armorial porcelain is a mixture of the cultural deposits of Chinese porcelain, and the features of European coats of arms.

Because Chinese armorial porcelain was made for nobles and the royal families of European countries, the best craftsmen and raw materials were used to produce the unique moldings, and exquisitely delicate decorations that satisfied the aesthetic tastes of Europeans.