Vessels of culture

An exhibition at the Palace Museum reveals rare artifacts from ancient China's international porcelain trade. Wang Kaihao looks at how they connect the country to the world.

Ancient Chinese porcelain bearing European families' emblems are a rare sight - especially those created in styles otherwise not found in the country. The ongoing exhibition, Treasure of the Trade: Ming-Qing Export Porcelain from Shanghai Museum and the Palace Museum, offers visitors to Beijing's Palace Museum a glimpse into ancient China's international porcelain trade - a massive historical industry about which little is known.

On show are 106 pieces from the two museums, 81 of which are from the Shanghai Museum. The show will run until March 15 and later go to Shanghai.