Oriental imprints on the plate: the different attitudes of Chinese daily porcelain in the Middle East and the West

Oriental imprints on the plate: the different attitudes of Chinese daily porcelain in the Middle East and the West

When a blue-and-white porcelain platter is filled with Persian-style pilaf, and when a set of bone china tea ware is placed on a Parisian afternoon tea table, Chinese daily-use porcelain is embedding itself into the daily lives of families in Middle Eastern and Western countries in various forms. Behind this phenomenon lies the collision of culinary cultures, the resonance of living habits, and more importantly, the harmonious response of millennia-old ceramic craftsmanship that transcends mountains and seas.

🛒On Middle Eastern dining tables, the prestige of Chinese everyday porcelain is primarily reflected in its size. During local family gatherings, the custom of sitting together and sharing a meal makes large blue and white porcelain plates, over 30 centimeters in diameter, the undisputed centerpiece.

A complete Chinese tableware set often includes more than a dozen items: 8-inch small plates for salads, 10-inch medium plates for steaks, and 13-inch large plates for main courses like roast turkey. There are even specialized saucepans, bread plates, and dessert bowls, each serving a specific food and occasion. Dehua white porcelain coffee cups are a common sight on breakfast tables in suburban London. Their thin body conducts heat quickly, keeping the coffee at the perfect temperature, and their curved shape, the result of countless ergonomic tests, perfectly fits the fingers. 

Middle East:

Large plates and bowls are highly sought after: Middle Easterners tend to eat together and enjoy their food with their hands, resulting in a high demand for large plates and  bowls.  Large blue-and-white porcelain plates produced in China are popular because their white porcelain body is durable, making them suitable for large plates and bowls. The blue hue of the blue-and-white porcelain appeals to the desert peoples' preference for blue, making them highly sought after. For example, large Chinese celadon-glazed plates and other porcelains were often used at royal banquets held by the Sult

Wsetrn countries:

Sets of tableware are widely used: Western countries practice separate dining, resulting in diverse demand for set dishes. Chinese porcelain exports include oval and round plates of various sizes, used for pre-dinner snacks and appetizers; 13-inch large and 10-inch medium plates for main courses, which are then divided into smaller 8-inch plates for individuals; 6-inch condiment plates, large soup bowls, and 8-10-inch soup basins. Dessert plates and bowls are also used after meals.

Coffee and tea sets: Europeans enjoy coffee and tea, creating a significant demand for these sets. Chinese-made ceramic coffee sets, teapots, and teacups are favored by Western consumers for their exquisite craftsmanship and diverse designs. Some Chinese-style tea and coffee sets are modified with metal fittings upon arrival in Europe, making them more suitable for European usage.