A Comparative Study of the Aesthetics of Chinese and Russian Teaware of the 18th-19th Centuries

This study focuses on the artistic and aesthetic characteristics of Chinese and Russian teaware of the 18th–19th centuries in the context of intercultural interaction. The study encompasses the processes of form, ornamental design, material and technological solutions used in tea ware in the two countries, examining it as a material medium for cultural exchange within the framework of trade relations along the "Great Tea Road." The primary focus is on identifying the mechanisms of mutual influence between aesthetic systems through the analysis of specific artifacts represented in the museum collections of the Hermitage, the National Museum of China, and the Palace Museum. The methodological framework of the study integrates art historical analysis with artistic design tools. The study utilizes a method of analyzing historical sources to systematize trade and diplomatic documents, a comparative analysis to compare the plastic, ornamental, and technological solutions of teaware, an iconographic method to decode cultural symbols in decoration, and a materials science approach to study the influence of technological exchange on the formation of artistic styles. The chronological framework is defined by the heyday of the tea trade between China and Russia, when artistic exchange went through a full cycle from direct import to localization. The scientific novelty of this work lies in its study of the processes of aesthetic interaction between Chinese and Russian teaware as specific artifacts, which fills a significant gap in academic research traditionally focused on local aesthetic systems. The study demonstrates that Chinese teaware, with its aesthetic of natural restraint, influenced the development of Russian porcelain production and form-making, while Russian metalworking techniques and enamel art contributed to material and technological innovations in the Chinese tradition. Mutual creative dialogue shaped a synthetic artistic style that enriched both cultural traditions. The research findings have methodological implications for contemporary design, highlighting the need to preserve cultural identity while creatively absorbing intercultural influences through a model of equal dialogue and the flexible transformation of traditional techniques.