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Foreign Colors: The Nesbitt Collection of Chinese Export Porcelain 1800-1850

The stunning book highlights the most significant private collection ever formed of Chinese porcelain made for export in the first decades of the nineteenth century. Illustrated with beautiful new photography, it showcases more than 300 pieces.

 

Drawing from the most significant private collection ever formed of Chinese porcelain made for export in the first decades of the nineteenth century, this lavishly illustrated book explores the high quality, richly enamelled wares too often overlooked by studies focused on the eighteenth century China trade. 

 

Made at a time when the nature of East-West trade was changing, when the European trading companies were no longer importing large quantities of Chinese porcelain and the enamelling workshops of Guangzhou were, instead, selling to private traders from Europe, India, the Middle East and the new nation of America, this material reflects the captivating cultural interchange the trade inspired with its blend of Western forms and wholly Chinese decoration. 

 

Foreign Colors is the first book to provide a scholarly framework for the dating and classification of these wares and to separate them from the poor quality export material made in the second half of the century. It will be a revelation to those who have previously dismissed all nineteenth century export porcelain production.

Foreign Colors: The Nesbitt Collection of Chinese Export Porcelain 1800-1850

£75.00Price
  • By Becky MacGuire

    October 2026

    Published by Ad Ilissvm

    ISBN: 978-1-915401-26-7

    Hardback, 280 x 245 mm

    272 pages, approx 200 illustrations

    £75 / €80 / $90

  • About the author

    Becky MacGuire is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and the Study Centre for the Fine & Decorative Arts at the Victoria & Albert Museum. She was the longtime Asian export art specialist at international auction house Christie’s.

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