This porcelain tea set was made in China around 1760, but painted in Britain. Porcelain is known as ‘china’ because for centuries this was the only place which could find the right sort of clay to make this type of ceramic. It was a highly prized because of its whiteness, translucency and strength. The same ships which brought Chinese porcelain to this country also brought other new exotic products such as tea. You will find Chinese export porcelains in the Harris collection alongside early British porcelains by manufactories such as Bow, Chelsea, Worcester and Liverpool.