It was the best-kept industrial secret in world history. 'The Porcelain Monopoly' documents Europe's desperate struggle to solve the mystery of 'White Gold.' For centuries, China was the only source for the fragile material, which was more valuable than gold at European courts. We examine the espionage, the alchemy, and the greed that drove this trade. It is the story of a technological superiority that forced Europe into total economic dependence. Why did it take an imprisoned alchemist in Dresden to finally crack the secret? We analyze the effects of porcelain manufactories on the Industrial Revolution and how Meissen became the first high-tech location on the continent. Look into the kaiserlichen Brennöfen of Jingdezhen and the secret labs of Böttger. A fascinating account of the longing for perfection and how the search for a material spurred modern world research. Knowledge was the most valuable cargo here.