Chinaman (porcelain)
Market-Place, Norwich
Has just received from the India Company's Sale a large and regular Assortment of useful and ornamental China, Japanned Tea Boards, Waiters, Toilet and Card Boxes, the best India Soy, Fish and Counters, Fans, etc, etc. which will be sold at the present London Prices. He has also a large Parcel of useful China from Commodore JOHNSTONE's Prize Goods taken from the Dutch, which will be sold cheap.
He is lately returned from Staffordshire with a very large and elegant Assortment of that much improved Manufactory, particularly some compleat Table Services, after the Dresden Manner and from their Patterns; and in consequence of his frequent Attendance on that Manufactory, he will be able to supply his Warehouse in Norwich immediately with every new and improved Pattern.
The above Goods, with all Sorts of Glass, Stone, Delft, and Earthen Ware, will be sold Wholesale and Retail upon very low Terms.
N.B. All Wholesale Dealers will meet with very great Encouragement for ready Money.
A chinaman is a dealer in porcelain and chinaware, especially in 18th-century London, where this was a recognised trade; a "toyman" dealt additionally in fashionable trifles, such as snuffboxes. Chinamen bought large quantities of Chinese export porcelain and Japanese export porcelain landed by the East India Company, who held auctions twice a year in London. The traders then distributed chinaware throughout England.
Imports from China declined at the end of the 18th century. Domestic production by the English potteries became large and the manufacturers, such as Mason and Wedgwood, became successful and supplied their own retail businesses.