Teapot. China, around 1680. Silver with cane-bound handle, height 16.8cm. 
 

In conjunction with the launch of Masterpieces of British Silver: Highlights from the Victoria and Albert Museum, Liang Yi Museum presents a new series of monthly talks featuring leading experts and artists in the field of silver. In May, Adrien von Ferscht, one of the world's foremost authorities on Chinese export silver, reveals new insights into this unique category of silver. 

The history of cultural and artistic exchange between Britain and China dates back centuries. Just as Chinese potters produced porcelain for British consumers from the seventeenth to nineteenth century, Chinese silversmiths also created elaborately decorated objects for international clients – as well as wealthy merchants at home. Drawing on examples of historic silver featured in Masterpieces of British Silver as well as his own years of research, Adrien examines how these fascinating works blend Western forms with Asian decoration and craftsmanship, reflecting the long tradition of cultural and commercial exchange between East and West.