The fascination with Chinoiserie (an umbrella term which covers Chinese and Japanese-influenced pieces) and oriental art in the west can be traced back to the late 15th and 16th centuries when the first examples of pieces made in China began to arrive via the silk road in the courts of Europe. These pieces caused a sensation at the time and were incredibly highly prized, affordable only to Kings, Queens and merchants with the largest fortunes of the period. A Ming dynasty... read more