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M+, Hong Kong. Gift of Eastern Enamelware Factory Ltd, 2017
Eastern Enamelware Factory, Ltd. 東方搪瓷廠有限公司
Curry dish with cover 附蓋咖哩盤
circa 1964, made 1972–early 1980s
The white lid and body of this enamelware curry dish are ornamented with motifs of vibrant blue antelopes and tall grasses. Enamelware production involves firing glass particles that have been applied to a steel substrate, resulting in a vitreous surface that is durable and easily cleaned. In 1962, the Eastern Enamelware Factory, the manufacturer of this dish, moved from Hong Kong to Nigeria, where demand for enamelware was high. The government of Nigeria, which had gained independence from British colonial rule just two years prior, offered tax credits and land incentives to attract foreign investment from companies like the Eastern Enamelware Factory. The firm initially used the same moulds it had developed to produce vessels in Hong Kong, replacing the traditional Chinese decorative motifs with tropical fish, antelopes, and leopards. Over time, the company created new wares to adhere to regional eating conventions. This ability to adapt demonstrates the entrepreneurial spirit and flexibility that later drove the Eastern Enamelware Factory’s success in Nigeria.
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