In 1785 the Empress of China returned to Boston harbour laden with tea, cotton, silk, and spices. There were, however, many other Chinese curiosities on board in the form of artworks and artefacts, and some of these are showcased in China, America and the Pacific.

The Winterthur Library, for example, hosts a wide and varied series of Chinese watercolours that made their way to America from the East. These paintings were often created and sold in sets, and ranged from the beautiful Album of Chinese Costumes, c.1850 – c.1860 and Album of Insects, c.1850 – c.1860, to the more curious album of Chinese Paintings of Punishments of Criminals, c.1800-1900. These offered perfect souvenirs for merchant traders visiting Canton, as they were snapshots of Chinese society and culture. Characters and landscapes were portrayed with vivid colours that represented a surreal depiction of China as a beautiful, refined, artistic civilisation.