The famous blue-and-white ‘willow pattern’ has been around since the second half of the 18th century. Since its launch in China, the pattern has been copied in British pottery and has remained a prototype for porcelain exported from China.
In the early 20th century, Chinese merchants were increasingly involved in the import and export trade. When it came to exporting Chinese made goods, Li & Fung were considered a pioneer Chinese trader. The company was established in Canton by its co-founder, Fung Pak-liu, and it collaborated with different manufacturers to make a variety of items for export. Fung was a graduate of Queen’s College in Hong Kong and was educated in English under a Western curriculum. This no doubt helped him to adapt the traditional style of Chinese business to a more Western approach.
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