Chinese Porcelain in Colonial Mexico: The Material Worlds of an Early Modern Trade (Palgrave Studies in Pacific History)

This book follows Chinese porcelain through the commodity chain, from its production in China to trade with Spanish Merchants in Manila, and to its eventual adoption by colonial society in Mexico. As trade connections increased in the early modern period, porcelain became an immensely popular and global product. This study focuses on one of the most exported objects, the __guan__. It shows how this porcelain jar was produced, made accessible across vast distances and how designs were borrowed and transformed into new creations within different artistic cultures. While people had increased access to global markets and products, this book argues that this new connectivity could engender more local outlooks and even heightened isolation in some places. It looks beyond the __guan__ to the broader context of transpacific trade during this period, highlighting the importance and impact of Asian commodities in Spanish America. Acknowledgments 8 Contents 10 List of Figures 12 Chapter 1: Introduction: A Global Commodity in the Transpacific Trade 18 The Manila Galleon Trade in the Early Modern World 23 The Guan and the Chocolatero: Why Chinese Porcelain in Colonial Mexico? 27 Jingdezhen to Puebla: A Multi-sited Narrative 32 Historical Sources: Material, Visual, and Textual 36 Chapter 2: Crafting a Global Brand: Jingdezhen and Its Artisans in the Early Modern World 46 Jingdezhen: History, Geography, and Geology 54 History 54 Geography and Geology 57 Making Porcelain for the World: Artisanal Skill and Division of Labor 60 Chapter 3: From Junk to Galleon: Commercial Activity in Manila 79 Nanyang Commerce Before the Arrival of the Spanish 84 Maynilad Becomes Manila: The Making of a Global Trade Hub 87 Commercial Activity in Manila: Marketing, Packaging, and Shipping Asia 90 Marketing Asia: The Parián, the Adornment of Manila 90 Packaging Asia: Bales and Books of Freight 95 Shipping Asia 99 Chapter 4: A Parián in the Plaza Mayor: Making Space for Asia in Colonial Mexico 113 Asia at the Fair in Acapulco 119 Asia in the Heart of the City 123 Asia on Display 130 Chocolate and China in Colonial Mexico 135 Chapter 5: Blue-and-white Chocolateros: Crafting a Local Aesthetic in a Colonial Context 146 Puebla: The Second City 150 The Making of Talavera Poblana: History and Artisanal Practice 158 The Puebla Potters’ Guild: Making and Breaking the Rules 164 Object Studies 168 Chapter 6: Conclusion: Themes from a Connected World 181 The Local and the Global 182 Artisans and Craft Knowledge in the Early Modern World 185 Asia in the Making of a Colonial Mexican Identity 186 Asia and Mexico: Then and Now 187 Bibliography 192 Index 208 This Book Follows Chinese Porcelain Through The Commodity Chain, From Its Production In China To Trade With Spanish Merchants In Manila, And To Its Eventual Adoption By Colonial Society In Mexico. As Trade Connections Increased In The Early Modern Period, Porcelain Became An Immensely Popular And Global Product. This Study Focuses On One Of The Most Exported Objects, The Guan. It Shows How This Porcelain Jar Was Produced, Made Accessible Across Vast Distances And How Designs Were Borrowed And Transformed Into New Creations Within Different Artistic Cultures. While People Had Increased Access To Global Markets And Products, This Book Argues That This New Connectivity Could Engender More Local Outlooks And Even Heightened Isolation In Some Places. It Looks Beyond The Guan To The Broader Context Of Transpacific Trade During This Period, Highlighting The Importance And Impact Of Asian Commodities In Spanish America.-- Introduction: A Global Commodity In The Transpacific Trade -- 2. Crafting A Global Brand : Jingdezhen And Its Artisans In The Early Modern World -- 3. From Junk To Galleon : Commercial Activity In Manila -- 4. A Parián In The Plaza Mayor : Making Space For Asia In Colonial Mexico -- 5. Blue-and-white Chocolateros : Crafting A Local Aesthetic In A Colonial Context -- 6. Conclusion : Themes From A Connected World. Meha Priyadarshini. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 179-194) And Index. This book follows Chinese porcelain through the commodity chain, from its production in China to trade with Spanish Merchants in Manila, and to its eventual adoption by colonial society in Mexico. As trade connections increased in the early modern period, porcelain became an immensely popular and global product. This study focuses on one of the most exported objects, the guan. It shows how this porcelain jar was produced, made accessible across vast distances and how designs were borrowed and transformed into new creations within different artistic cultures. While people had increased access to global markets and products, this book argues that this new connectivity could engender more local outlooks and even heightened isolation in some places. It looks beyond the guan to the broader context of transpacific trade during this period, highlighting the importance and impact of Asian commodities in Spanish America.-- Page 4 of cover Annotation This work follows Chinese porcelain through the commodity chain, from its production in China to trade with Spanish Merchants in Manila, and to its eventual adoption by colonial society in Mexico. As trade connections increased in the early modern period, porcelain became an immensely popular and global product. The study focuses on one of the most exported objects, the guan. It shows how this porcelain jar was produced, made accessible across vast distances and how designs were borrowed and transformed into new creations within different artistic cultures. While people had increased access to global markets and products, the book argues that this new connectivity could engender more local outlooks and even heightened isolation in some places Front Matter ....Pages i-xviii Introduction: A Global Commodity in the Transpacific Trade (Meha Priyadarshini)....Pages 1-28 Crafting a Global Brand: Jingdezhen and Its Artisans in the Early Modern World (Meha Priyadarshini)....Pages 29-61 From Junk to Galleon: Commercial Activity in Manila (Meha Priyadarshini)....Pages 63-96 A Parián in the Plaza Mayor: Making Space for Asia in Colonial Mexico (Meha Priyadarshini)....Pages 97-129 Blue-and-white Chocolateros: Crafting a Local Aesthetic in a Colonial Context (Meha Priyadarshini)....Pages 131-165 Conclusion: Themes from a Connected World (Meha Priyadarshini)....Pages 167-177 Back Matter ....Pages 179-198