![Jar An ovoid-shaped Chinese Ming period porcelain jar painted in rich blue around the sides with two five-clawed dragons among clouds and with rocks and waves below. Round the shoulder a stylised shou (long life character) seems to grow out of the lotus scrol](https://cmsadmin.rct.uk/sites/default/files/365513-1361871614.jpg)
East Meets West
Extraordinary Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Royal Collection
Set of cups
cups late 17th-early 18th century; enamels early 18th centuryRCIN 58921
On arrival in Europe, Asian porcelain wares were sometimes over-decorated to make them more appealing to Western buyers. These white Chinese cups have been painted in red, yellow, blue and green enamels to mimic the fashionable 'Kakiemon style' of high-quality Japanese porcelain made at the time. Numerous workshops in Holland and England were established to over-decorate blue-and-white porcelain with more colourful enamels in this way.