Collecting China

A kind reader recently told me how much they've enjoyed my latest columns on art and yachts. Encouraged, I ventured: "Well I hope you'll enjoy the next one too – it's about China". "Ah, china," he said. "Does that mean the government is dropping import tax on porcelain too?"

You couldn't make it up. But no, dear reader, I will not expounding on the market in Meissen, the rally in Royal Worcester or the capital gains in Capodimonte – although coincidentally a week off in Naples beckons in October. Instead I will offer you some thoughts on China, the country.

In August 2012, under the title "BRIC and back", I wrote about the phenomena of the so-called "BRIC" grouping of countries – namely Brazil, Russia, India and, of course, China – which then became "BRICS" with the inclusion of South Africa in 2010.