纪录片《大英博物馆世界简史》 064大卫对瓶（8）

 

So, eventually, centuries after its creation in Muslim Iran, and its transformation¹ in Mongol China, blue-and-white arrived in Europe and triumphed. Willow-pattern, the style that many people think of when blue-and-white is mentioned, was invented in England in the 1790s by Thomas Minton, and it was as much a fantasy view of China as Coleridge's poem. It was an instant success, and Coleridge may indeed even have been drinking his tea out of a willow-pattern cup as he emerged from his opium² dream.

Blue-and-white porcelain³ was the first truly global luxury product, and one that could be infinitely⁴ adapted to suit all local tastes. The David Vases, the earliest dateable blue-and-white, were made as offerings to the gods; in the next programme we're with another high-status object, also used as a means of connecting with the supernatural... it's a ritual throne from the Caribbean.

许多人一提起青花瓷便会联想到的垂柳图案，实际上是在十八世纪九十年代由英国人托马斯·明顿首创（或者应该说剽窃？）的。这种花式迅速走俏，它如同柯勒律治的诗歌一样，表现了对中国的美好遐想。

也许柯勒律治从那个关于忽必烈的元上都的幻梦中醒来之后，确实用一款垂柳图案的茶杯喝过茶呢。

1 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

2 opium   

n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的

参考例句：

• That man gave her a dose of opium.那男人给了她一剂鸦片。
• Opium is classed under the head of narcotic.鸦片是归入麻醉剂一类的东西。

3 porcelain   

n.瓷；adj.瓷的，瓷制的

参考例句：

• These porcelain plates have rather original designs on them.这些瓷盘的花纹很别致。
• The porcelain vase is enveloped in cotton.瓷花瓶用棉花裹着。

4 infinitely   

adv.无限地，无穷地

参考例句：

• There is an infinitely bright future ahead of us.我们有无限光明的前途。
• The universe is infinitely large.宇宙是无限大的。