Canton design from 300 years ago

In the late 17th century, a "Chinese craze" swept across Europe, with Chinese porcelain adorned with European individuals, families, associations, companies, or city coats of arms becoming popular on the continent. Guangcai also gained fame overseas during this period and was named "Canton design" by Westerners, once representing the manufacturing prowess of Guangdong and Chinese culture. Many years later, one of these Qing Dynasty Guangcai made its way back to Guangzhou from Europe and was housed in the Zhenhai Tower of the Guangzhou Museum. It is currently the only surviving piece of emblem porcelain with original Chinese annotations on the order, recounting the past when Lingnan craftsmanship, represented by Guangcai, served as an ambassador of cultural exchange between China and foreign countries.

清雍正广彩描金纹章折枝花卉纹盘（Tower）

清雍正广彩描金纹章折枝花卉纹盘（Tower）藏于广州博物馆镇海楼展厅

17世纪末，欧洲掀起“中国风”，大量绘有欧美个人、家族、社团、公司或城市纹章图案的中国瓷器，风行欧洲大陆，盛极一时。岭南的广彩也在此时扬名海外，被西方人命名为“Canton design”（意即广东设计），一度成为广东制造、中国文化的代名词。

多年以后，其中一件清雍正广彩描金纹章折枝花卉纹盘又从欧洲回到广州，藏于广州博物馆镇海楼。它是目前存世的唯一一件拥有中文标注原始订单的纹章瓷，向公众述说着以广彩为代表的岭南工艺如何担负起“中外文化交流使者”使命的往事。

【作者】

文/羊城晚报记者 朱绍杰 文艺

图/受访者提供