White Gold: A Watercolour Series on Porcelain Production

This culturally and historically significant series of 34 watercolours on porcelain production comes from imperial China of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911) and was created around 1760. It stands in the context of the then-flourishing porcelain trade between Europe and the «Middle Kingdom». The fascination with China that peaked in our latitudes in the 18th century fuelled demand for exotic luxury goods, which alongside silk included the precious «white gold». The East India companies imported the coveted goods on a large scale by sea.

Picture by picture, the individual steps — from clay extraction in the mountains to the sale of porcelain wares to European merchants — are documented in paint on paper. The detailed production processes and techniques met with keen interest in Europe, as more and more craftsmen and manufactories sought to imitate the high quality and artistry of Chinese porcelain as best they could.

The lot includes «Das Buch vom Porzellan» by Walter A. Staehelin (1965), in which all sheets are illustrated and described in detail.

Published in the highlight brochure for the Spring Auction 2023 (auction 66).