China and Prussia. Porcelain and Tea

Parts of the service, mostly plates, will be on show in the Thronsaal in the museum's East Asian art division. The same room houses a contemporary artwork (Ai Weiwei's Teahouse from 2009) which forms a contrast to the porcelain. The installation spreads out around the ensemble of imperial thrones also on view in the room: masterpieces of Chinese lacquer art, dating from the mid to late 17th century.
The installation in the Thronsaal draws the visitor's attention to two central cultural specialities of the Far East, which under Frederick II formed the bridge with East Asia: porcelain and tea. The exhibition aims to highlight Prussia's relationship with China, an early chapter of the history of global trade and its impact on art.
The exhibition is being held as part of a wider series of events called 'Art - King - Enlightenment', coordinated by the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation in honour of the 300th anniversary of the birth of Frederick the Great on 24 January 2012.