Objects in Motion in the Early Modern World - Study Notes

Objects in Motion in the Early Modern World

Editorial Details

  • Edited by: Daniela Bleichmar and Meredith Martin

  • First Published: 2016

  • Originally Published As: Volume 38, Issue 4 of Art History

  • Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Ltd

  • Registered Office:

    • The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK

    • Editorial Offices:

    • 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148-5020, USA

    • 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2DQ, UK

  • Copyright Notice:

    • Rights to be identified as authors asserted in accordance with UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

    • All rights reserved; no reproduction without prior permission of publisher.

  • Library of Congress Cataloging

    • ISBN: 9781119217343 (pbk.)

    • Subjects:

    • Art and globalization

    • Art and society

    • Modern art themes and motives

  • Cover Image: Hans Schlottheim. The Mechanical Galleon, c. 1583, London: The Trustees of the British Museum.

Chapter 7: Chinese Porcelain and Muslim Port Cities: Mercantile Materiality in Coastal East Africa

Author: Sandy Prita Meier

  • Focus Area: The significance of Chinese porcelain within Muslim port cities in Coastal East Africa, particularly during the early modern period.

Overview of the Swahili Coast

  • Geographic Location: Crossroads of Africa and the Indian Ocean.

  • Historical Importance: Node of long-distance trade and migration for over a millennium.

  • Significant Cities:

    • Kilwa

    • Mombasa

  • Cultural Exchange: Interactions led to a unique blend of cultural practices impacting Swahili aesthetic traditions.

Socio-Cultural Dynamics

  • Waungwana (Patricians): Gathered luxury objects from overseas to demonstrate sophistication.

    • Imported items included South and East Asian art and Middle Eastern furnishings.

    • Stately monuments, richly decorated, remain in Tanzania and Kenya.

  • Porcelain as a Luxury Commodity:

    • Remained highly desired for its beauty and status representation.

    • Specific designs mimicked Arabic calligraphy.

Functionality and Materiality of Porcelain

  • Porcelain’s Role in Society:

    • Initially symbolized status, but also functioned as a material good in trade.

    • Heavy and waterproof, made for effective ballast on ships.

  • Cultural Reception:

    • Viewed through lens of mercantile mobility and Islamic cosmopolitanism; linked to global ebb and flow of trade.

Historical Context of Porcelain in East Africa

  • Timeline of Arrival:

    • 13th century: Beginning of trade.

    • 14th century: Chinese porcelain outnumbered Middle Eastern wares.

  • Archaeological Evidence:

    • Findings at Kilwa Kisawani indicate Persian Gulf ceramics were significant from as early as the 9th century.

    • Ming porcelain was influential in regions further inland.

  • Expansion of Trade Routes: Dominated by Chinese production, linked to a wider global material culture.

Transformation in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries

  • Colonial Impact: Shift in control over trade with the arrival of European power dynamics.

  • Proliferation of Porcelain: Swahili elites amassed grand collections due to newly established trade routes and increased luxury importation.

    • Interiors of elite mansions transformed; porcelain plates displayed prominently in homes.

Cultural Practices with Porcelain

  • Display Practices: Porcelain not only served decorative purposes but also reflected socio-economic status and cosmopolitan identity.

    • Display followed customs from Islamic and European contexts, such as the ‘china rooms’ in European palaces.

  • Mortaring Practices:

    • Used in mosques and tombs, connecting porcelain with sacred practices and spaces.

Nineteenth Century: Colonization and Cultural Erasure

  • Loss of Heritage: The rise of European colonialism exacerbated the removal of porcelain items from local heritage; locals displaced from economic power.

    • Notable figures, such as Lord Herbert Kitchener, capitalized on this trend by collecting porcelain.

  • Destruction of Monuments: The demand for porcelain led to the vandalization and plundering of religious sites, diminishing local traditions.

  • Cultural Memory: Despite loss, certain objects retained their significance, serving as focal points for memories of heritage.

Conclusion

  • Porcelain's Legacy:

    • Operated within the framework of commodity culture, while also embodying a rich history of interconnectivity in trade and cultural exchange.

    • Remains symbolic of both mercantile power and cultural identity in contemporary Swahili society.

References

  • Comprehensive notes and references to literature highlight the academic discourse surrounding Swahili porcelain and its implications for understanding trade, colonialism, and identity.