More than 3,000 years ago, proto-porcelain just looked like bronze ware. Later, porcelain glazes became more varied. Down south, celadon took the show, and up north, white porcelain was the star.

Then around the year 1,000, there was an explosion of porcelain styles. Big five kilns where porcelain items were produced – Ru, Guan, Ge, Jun, and Ding – each had their unique attributes. Fast forward to the Yuan dynasty (1271 to 1368), blue and white porcelain prevailed. More colors then joined the show and China's porcelain history became exceptionally colorful.

Porcelain was among the earliest customized luxury goods that traveled between borders. Back in the Qing dynasty, Europeans began customizing their family crests on porcelain. And the European style even affected how some Chinese porcelain looked.