NEW YORK — Long before Europeans perfected making fine china from clay, Chinese artisans mined kaolin (white clay) to create beautiful wares. Examples of their exquisite work were first imported from China to Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries and were well received. By the time trade routes fully opened up in the 16th century, China was exporting items made specifically for Western audiences. None of those items were more desirable than Chinese Export armorial porcelain – wares bearing coats of arms.