A paradise for antique lovers, ShangriLa Antiques in Amsterdam collects and trades 17th and 18th-century porcelain from China and Japan. The people behind ShangriLa Antiques, Bob Montagne and Freek Pals, both studied History at the University of Amsterdam and specialised in the Dutch Golden Age. With their collection, which consists of thousands of pieces, the duo aims to represent the different periods of porcelain trade from 1600-1950. Specifically, their passion is the rarity and historical significance of Chinese porcelain decorated in Europe. The rise of Amsterdam in the 17th and 18th centuries played an important role in the production and trade in Chinese and Japanese ceramics. In the 17th century, Amsterdam became the most important trading city in the western world. During this period, the VOC (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie) was the world’s biggest trading company. The VOC started importing porcelain from China, which was more desirable than gold. As the trade evolved...