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Inspiration from the West ── Creative Interpretation as Reflected in Qing-Dynasty Canton Enamelled Copperware

Date:	2026/10/25 (Sunday)
Time:	10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Venue:	Hong Kong Central Library (Lecture Theatre, G/F)
Moderator:	Dr. CHAN Kwun Nam, Phil Painting and Calligraphy Curator Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Speaker:	Professor WAN Chui Ki, Maggie Associate Professor Department of Fine Arts, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Organiser:	Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Public Libraries and the Institute of Chinese Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Remarks:	Lecture will be cancelled if Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 8 or above or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is in force at or after 8:00 am.
Enquiry:	Promotion and Programming Unit, Hong Kong Central Library (Monday to Friday: 9:00a.m. - 1:00p.m.; 2:00p.m. - 5:30p.m.) Telephone: 2921 0285 The Institute of Chinese Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Telephone: 3943 7382

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, China witnessed a flourishing export trade. As a major trading port, Guangzhou not only received a large influx of foreign merchants and imported goods, but also absorbed new technologies and decorative styles, actively participating in the production of innovative products. It was during this period that Canton enamelled copperware emerged as one of the most highly prized and sought-after items in the market.

Workshops in Guangzhou applied enamelling techniques introduced from Europe to China in the early Qing dynasty to their copperware. Craftsmen painted and assembled a variety of decorations that blended exotic motifs with local visual elements, producing unique and novel items. On the enamelled copperware, stylish Western figures and classic Chinese settings were paired with patterns and borders drawing from both Chinese and Western cultures, creating fashionable items greatly admired in that era. Moreover, the production of basse-taille enamel copperware, featuring gold and silver foils placed beneath, between, and above layers of transparent blue and green enamel, was particularly representative. This technique can be seen as a reinterpretation and reinvention of the shiny decorative effects favoured in the West, achieved through local craftsmanship. This lecture will introduce the innovative decorations and techniques of Canton enamelled copperware from the Qing dynasty, exploring how Guangzhou artisans drew upon traditional techniques, applied their creativity, and responded to cultural stimuli from the West as well as market demands of the time.

Conducted in Cantonese. Free admission by reservation. First come, first served. Registration for the talk: Please visit https://cloud.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk/webform/view.php?id=13735688 for registration. Seats are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

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Inspiration from the West ── Creative Interpretation as Reflected in Qing-Dynasty Canton Enamelled Copperware

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