Mughal miniatures such as this one provide an insight into the past. They are an excellent resource for gauging the material culture of the time. In this painting we see the presence of Chinese porcelain - which was noted to be used regularly during Mughal period. The use of blue and white porcelain dishes had long been in use, and Chinese even produced porcelain with pseudo-Arabic inscriptions for export to the Islamic world. Later, Chinese porcelain utensils would be displayed in niches on walls – giving rise to a signature architectural feature of the Mughals called the ‘Chini Khana’ (loosely translated as ‘Chinese niches or niches for Chinaware).

Mughals Collecting Chinese Porcelain 
Chinese and Mughal empires have existed as equally powerful yet distinctly separate entities. However, in a time when borders were not so clearly demarcated, the free flow of ideas techniques lead to more hybrid art and culture. Such was the case for the Chinese dynasties and Mughal Empire, as shown by both art and artifacts which showcase fascination for Chinese culture that has formed a deeply fascinating aspect of Mughal culture and vice versa.
Chinese designs and symbols became sought-out particularly during the reign of Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan, which spans from 1556 to 1666. This time period coincides with the Ming and Tang Dynasties, although the former marked more serious interactions between the two empires in terms of trade.

According to Ain-i-Akbari, "Akbar used to have his meals in porcelains of China”.  Another important reference from Tuzuk-i-Jahangirl, mentions. "On Thursday, the 22nd on the invitation of Asaf Khan, I went with my ladies to his house and spent the night there. The next day he presented before me his own offerings of the value of ten lakhs of rupees, in jewels, and jeweled things, robes, elephants. Some pieces of porcelain from China and Tartary were accepted". 

Porcelain pottery was used only by the nobility or ruling family. All the Mughal emperors used porcelain pottery. The growing ease of life in Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Delhi, Lahore, Hampi (Vijaynagar) and other urban centres of the Mughal empire stimulated the demand and raised a class of entrepreneurs, who organized the required long-distance caravans and crested a mechanism of distribution. 

Porcelain pottery found in excavated sites in India was in large numbers of many shapes and forms such as bowls, dishes, surahi, chilum, jars, plates and flowerpots, etc. This ware has many different designs like floral motifs, natural, landscape, fish motifs, human and animal figures. The colors used were of different hues, white surface with blue, dark blue, light blue, green, white, cream, silver etc.