Blue and White Porcelain

Blue and white porcelain is an old favorite.  Like many of my interior loves, it's extremely versatile and is just as home in a formal, traditional room as in a fresh, laid back setting.  It even has a stand out place in modern schemes.  While it's commonly thought that using blue decoration on white porcelain was a technique that originated in China, the technique actually began in the Middle East in the 9th century. The Chinese weren't far behind, though. Cobalt-blue pigment was excavated from Iran and exported to China as early as the 9th century as well.  These days, it's easy to lay your hands on mass produced knock offs, though antiques remain precious.  Here's a brief celebration of some standout moments for blue and white porcelain collections.