Dating back to the Qing dynasty (1644-1912) during the reign of Emperor Kangxi (1661-1722), guangcai wares were previously manufactured for export. The pieces, once offered as tributes by the Qing court, were popular with Europe’s aristocrats and were key to the successful promotion of traditional Chinese culture in the 18th and 19th centuries.
During the reign of Yongzheng (1722–1735), the guangcai porcelain style was developed by Yang Kuai and Cao Jun, who had come from Jingdezhen to Guangzhou to advance their careers. The duo put their expertise in making ceramics to good use. They sourced white porcelains from their hometown and painted the ware themselves, which proved very popular.
