Traces of China II: Porcelain – the journey of 'white gold'

Russell Beard embarks on an extraordinary journey tracing the legacy of "white gold" from ancient China to modern Europe. This captivating episode explores how porcelain became one of the world's first truly global commodities, sparking centuries of cultural exchange, innovation, and artistic collaboration.

The story begins in Jingdezhen, China's legendary porcelain capital, where vast kaolin clay deposits fueled production for nearly a thousand years. As trade routes carried these luminous ceramics westward, European nobility became obsessed with unlocking their secrets. In 18th-century Meissen, Germany, alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger was literally imprisoned until he could recreate the formula, ultimately establishing Europe's first porcelain factory.

Russell meets historians, master craftspeople, and contemporary artists who reveal how this ancient craft continues to evolve. From Meissen's famous crossed swords trademark to Britain's development of bone china, each innovation tells a story of cultural adaptation and exchange. The episode showcases how the iconic blue and white aesthetic became a universal visual language.

Contemporary artists like Felicity Aylieff and Lin Wang demonstrate porcelain's enduring relevance, creating art and installations that bridge East and West. Their work proves that porcelain remains more than a material—it's a medium for dialogue, carrying stories of identity, migration, and connection across continents and centuries. This fragile yet eternal art form continues to unite cultures, embodying how global exchange shapes our shared heritage.

Traces of China demonstrates how Europe's fascination with Chinese aesthetics spawned entirely new artistic movements and styles. 

From Versailles to Venice, this cultural exchange has created an enduring legacy that continues to evolve, inspiring new generations of artists and designers. 

These influences continue to reach into every corner of contemporary Europe – whether it's eating a meal off a blue and white porcelain plate, sipping a revitalizing cup of tea or gazing at the vibrant patterns of luxurious silk fabrics - the power and influence of Chinese art and tradition remains today, hidden in plain sight.