"China to Order: Polychrome export porcelain
produced during the Qing dynasty 1644 - 1908 with special emphasis
on the XIXth Century"
Daniel Nadler
Collector and Author, New York
Dinner plate c. 1820 - 1850 in the "Tobacco Leaf"
pattern
Landscape decorated soup plate c. 1810 - 1820
with arms of Wight
The April meeting of the San Francisco Ceramic Circle will
be held on Thursday, 18th April in the Florence Gould Theater
at the Palace of the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, San Francisco.
Entrance is from the West terrace from 7.30pm. The lecture will
start at 8.00pm.
About the Lecture: The Chinese discovered the secret of making
porcelain. For centuries they produced wares made specifically
for export to the West, to the Orient, to the Middle East and
to wherever there existed a demand for
unique tablewares. Because of this monopoly, until it was broken
in Europe, it was worth sailing around half the globe to acquire.
Nowhere else could be found dinnerware resistant to chipping,
in such elegant shapes, and with such colorful enameling.
Continuing well after porcelain had been duplicated in the
West, Canton's enamelers remained active, producing both stock
pieces and special orders. This continued throughout the 19th
century despite natural disasters, wars and insurrections. The
variety of special-order wares is overwhelming, for diligently,
the Celestial Empire's craftsmen strove to meet the "barbarians"
demands.
About the Speaker: Collector Daniel Nadler recently published
a lavishly illustrated book: "China to Order", on polychrome
porcelain of the 18th and 19th centuries. He will talk about the
pleasures of collecting, and illustrate the beauty of many designs.
Since America only entered the China trade in 1784, he will talk
about Export Porcelains which became widespread throughout this
country in the 19th century. Some copies of Mr. Nadler's book
will be available for purchase.
Next meeting: Thursday, 16th May 2002. Subject and speaker
to be announced later
