In his book, All About Chinese Export Porcelain in Qing Dynasty, Hu Yanxi raises some interesting and thought-provoking questions. A porcelain plate from the era of Emperor Kangxi (1661-1722) features an exquisite carriage in its center. Two stout horses pull the vehicle, while a man runs behind holding a huge umbrella to shelter the passengers inside. One of these passengers is a foreign gentleman wearing a wig and western-style clothes. His companion is a Chinese lady wearing a phoenix hairpin and dressed in traditional Chinese attire. She leans in close to the manin a display of intimacy.

This pattern raises a lot of questions. Through a close analysis of the painting techniques, it is clear that this porcelain piece is not from a Japanese or Western artist, but from a Chinese craftsman. Is it a reproduction of a real scene or just a product of the imagination? And if it is not a reproduction of history, who created the scene and why? Who are the two figures?

It is difficult to answer such questions. But hopefully, with more importance attached to exported porcelain research, more light can be shed on the rich significance ofthis fascinating craft.