Changing current of Chinese export porcelain: from Celadon to Blue-and-White
International trade with Chinese ceramics began in the 8th century AD, mostly via the maritime Silk Road. The very popular light-green monochrome Celadon, which was conceived as an imitation of jade, was exported from the 10th century onwards. Due to the influence of Arab merchants, who preferred the more flamboyant Blue-and-White ware, the fabrication of this more recent type of porcelain increased significantly, whereas the trade with Celadon diminished. Muslim merchants played an important role in the production and sale of Blue-and-White porcelain, since they brought Persian cobalt to China and transported the finished ceramics back to the West.
