A Comparative Study of Chinese and British Ceramic Medicine Pots in the 17th and 18th Centuries

A large quantity of Chinese ceramics was imported to Britain in the 17th to the 18th centuries, which inspired the local production of medicine pots. Through physical comparisons, literature review, and image analysis, the author explored the similarities and differences between the ceramic medicine pots of China and Britain in shape, decoration, and craftsmanship, as well as the medical traditions, production conditions, and cultural contexts behind them. Despite visual convergence the shape and craftsmanship of the medicine pots of two countries differed, reflecting asynchronous style borrowing and technological diffusion, as well as the recipient's trade-off and re-creation based on local demands.