Abstract

This sumptuous presentation of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s wide-ranging collection of Chinese art features one hundred works in various media spanning antiquity to the present day—including Ming gold vessels, a 15th-century Buddhist temple ceiling, imperial court robes, and an 18th-century bookcase made in Canton for a Dutchman. With striking new photography and engaging and informative discussions of individual works of sculpture, painting, furniture, textiles, ceramics, metalwork, and architecture, this volume provides a fascinating look into the breadth and diversity of Chinese artistic experience and material culture. An introductory essay by Hiromi Kinoshita delves into the history of the Philadelphia Museum’s Chinese collection—begun after the 1876 World’s Fair and continuing today with acquisitions of contemporary works by Ai Weiwei and Zhang Huan—weaving together stories of intrepid and dedicated collectors, curators, and dealers. Both accessible to general readers and of interest to scholars, this book is a valuable resource for those captivated by the many manifestations of art from China. Published in association with the Philadelphia Museum of Art.