Chinese export porcelain

Chinese export porcelain includes a wide range of porcelain that was made and decorated in China exclusively for export to Europe and later to North America between the 16th and the 20th century.

It is typically not used as a descriptive term for the much earlier wares that were produced to reflect Islamic taste and exported to the Middle East and Central Asia, though these were also very important, apparently driving the development of Chinese blue and white porcelain in the Yuan and Ming dynasties (see Chinese influences on Islamic pottery). Nor are other types of Chinese wares made mainly for export to other markets covered, such as Tianqi porcelain, made mainly for the Japanese market in the 17th century.