Luís U. Afonso will speak on: Before the Dutch:  16th century Portuguese porcelain imports

 

This talk discusses the reception and consumption of Chinese porcelain in Renaissance Iberia following the establishment of the Cape Route in 1497-9. It will show that by the mid-sixteenth century Chinese porcelain was already an inexpensive luxury to the upper and middle-upper segments of the urban population, who used these wares on a daily basis. This conclusion is largely based on Portuguese archival sources and data taken from archaeological excavations conducted in Portugal and former Portuguese Morocco. However, higher availability and affordability did not imply homogeneous consumption behaviour regarding Chinese porcelain. In fact, five major complementary consumption patterns can be differentiated in sixteenth-century Iberia: 1) porcelains as prized collectibles due to their expensive silver mounts;2) porcelains as diplomatic gifts and pious offerings; 3) early chine de commande; 4) glass and porcelain chamberscontaining hundreds of porcelains; and5) porcelains as lavish tableware used on a daily basis.