Trade, taste and tea bowls: uncovering Chinese ceramics in our collections

Abstract

• Ceramic objects are useful in day-to-day life and may also be put on display, for example in people’s homes, yet they are more than just functional or decorative. They can also tell stories of manufacturing, taste and international trade. National Museums Scotland has a large and important but little-known Chinese ceramic collection. We recently embarked on a Review project to uncover some of its hidden stories.