Chinese Porcelains in European Mounts
欧式配座上的中国瓷器

Although the practice of mounting Oriental porcelain in Europe dates at least to the late Middle Ages, the quality and quantity of mounted ceramics did not attract public interest until the middle of the eighteenth century, when chinoiserie became a fashion in Paris. From 1740 to 1760, more than any other period, a considerable amount of Oriental porcelain was set into metal mounts, generally, gilt bronze mounts designed by Europeans. By modifying their exotic character into a quasi-French appearance, mounted Chinese porcelains could be displayed in rooms that satisfied French tastes for interior decoration. The majority of the thirty-four pieces in this exhibition were Chinese porcelains mounted in Paris from 1740 to 1760, along with drawings and paintings featuring mounted porcelain.