• Ming Dynasty porcelain
  • Porcelain was unknown in Europe until the 1500s and when the material arrived, it created a sensation. In the 16th century porcelain became the occult item amongst the very wealthy and by the 18th century its popularity spread to the middle class.
  • Porcelain replaced precious metals like gold and silver in that period. The making of porcelain was shrouded in mystery during that time and only the Chinese knew it. This exotic product, in limited supply, was accessed only by the Portuguese and the Dutch. Some of the porcelain shards excavated from Fort Kochi and Mattancherry date back to the Ming dynasty.
  • Now the Chinese are buying back their history depicted in Chinese porcelain, making it one of the most expensive arts ever to come under auction. In 2014, a tiny porcelain cup, dating back to the Ming Dynasty, fetched US$36 million (£21.5 million) at an auction in Hong Kong.