Queen Victoria often received visitors from overseas at Osborne House, Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. On 5 August 1896, she entertained the Chinese diplomat Li Hongzhang (1823–1901) at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Li Hongzhang had travelled to Britain from China as part of a tour of Europe. Queen Victoria recorded in her Journal that she told him:

It will always be my earnest desire to maintain the most friendly relations with China & to promote commercial interests between our two countries. I hope you will enjoy your stay in England & when you return to China, that you will inform the Emperor of my best wishes for his welfare & prosperity as well as of that of his country.

The diplomat presented exquisite gifts of jade and porcelain on behalf of Emperor Guangxu (1878–1908), including this bowl with a copper-red glaze.