A porcelain exhibition that brings together the best of Chinese porcelain, represented by Jingdezhen, and European porcelain, represented by Mason, is on display at the Shanghai History Museum these days.

The exhibition is divided into four units: "the spread of Chinese porcelain", "porcelain fever in Europe", "the production and influence of European porcelain", and "the collision of the two porcelain cities."

Told from the two porcelain origins in Jingdezhen, China, and Mason, Germany, the exhibition recreates the development of porcelain and the impact of Chinese porcelain on the world.

Surfing News has selected some key collections, presenting Mason porcelain as "Europe's first porcelain" from the appreciation of Chinese porcelain, imitation, to the process of innovation.

Since the Tang and Song dynasties, Chinese porcelain has been sold around the world via the Maritime Silk Road.

From the end of the 15th century, due to the improvement of shipbuilding and the development of navigation technology, coupled with the expansion of the monetary economy and commerce, Western countries such as Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands sought new markets in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, creating a bustling maritime trade.

Chinese porcelain influenced and changed people's lives with its unparalleled appeal and great economic value.

After 1659, the Dutch East India Company officially began to export Ivory porcelain. Initially used as a substitute for Jingdezhen porcelain, Ivory porcelain was popular in Europe and other places at the time.

"Hibiscus" was the first mass-produced imitation product of Jingdezhen porcelain. The center of the porcelain depicts a flower pot or vase filled with flowers, which was a popular export theme at the time. Inside the base, you can see five fortune characters and nail marks.

The huge and continuous demand from overseas markets stimulated the porcelain industry to flourish, prompting the creation of custom porcelain. At that time, Europe could not fire hard porcelain. Chinese porcelain sold widely for more profit, becoming a commodity for European merchants to make high profits.

In 1635, Dutch merchants used wooden models to make wide-rimmed lunch dishes, water jars, mustard bottles, washbasins, etc. and brought them to China, asking Jingdezhen craftsmen to imitate the production. Jingdezhen potters flexibly matched the requirements of the order and produced porcelain Western household utensils.

Until the 15th century, porcelain was still very rare on the European continent. Europeans believed that this spiritual substance had magic powers and that if toxic things were placed in it, porcelain would crumble and break. As a result, Chinese porcelain became the object of pursuit of the royal family.

As a result, they began to build ceramic factories, textile factories, etc. in the 18th century, hoping to imitate China to gain economic benefits through exporting their products.

Mason porcelain is usually characterized by two blue crossed swords, and the mark used in different periods has changed. This large plate represents the trademark of Mason in different eras.

The exchange of Chinese and Western porcelain brings the two civilizations together, allowing them to learn from and appreciate each other.

Jingdezhen porcelain was once an indispensable part of European life and a model for early Mason porcelain.

In turn, Mason porcelain brought new artistic enlightenment to Jingdezhen with its unparalleled quality. Culture is enriched by exchange, and civilization is enriched by mutual appreciation.

The exchange and convergence of the two porcelain capitals have inspired the development and innovation of porcelain and have also promoted the level of human civilization.