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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
Footed bowl 圈足碗
circa 1965, made 1972–early 1980s
The body of this footed bowl is decorated with a repeating floral motif in highly saturated red-, yellow-, and green-coloured enamel. A blue border below the rim of the bowl is punctuated by decorative motifs that resemble inverted white spades. The bowl is mounted on a blue enamelware base that flares out at the bottom. 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 bowl, 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 Limited. 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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