China and the West

Queen Louisa Ulrika of Sweden wrote to her mother, Sophia Dorothea of Prussia, describing her birthday present from the King :
"I was surprised suddenly to see a real fairy-land, for His Majesty had ordered a Chinese pavilion to be built, the most beautiful ever to be seen. The body-guard was dresses in Chinese clothes, and two of His Majesty's aides-de-camp as Mandarins of military rank. The body-guard performed Chinese drill. My eldest son was waiting at the entrance of the pavilion dressed as a Chinese prince, and was attended by gentlemen-in-waiting attired as Mandarins of civil rank… A chest of drawers in old Japanese lacquer was filled with different curios, among them Chinese embroideries. In the wings tables were laid : one with a magnificent Dresden service and the other with a Chinese one. When everything had been admired, His Majesty commanded a Chinese ballet…"