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Chinese Garden, 1854 (detail)

Asian Export Art

Asian export art reflects the complex and fascinating interaction between artistic and cultural traditions of East and West.

A 12-panel lacquer screen made for Sir John Eccleston of the East India Company and Queen Victoria's embroidered Chinese shawl are among the masterworks created between the 15th and 20th centuries. Early blue-and-white porcelain, an Indo-Portuguese Christ child encrusted with rock crystal and gems, and a superlative ivory-inlaid writing desk convey the broad scope of expression and exquisite craftsmanship in the world's most comprehensive collection of decorative art made in Asia for export to the West.

Images

Two Wrestlers, ca. 1680

Two Wrestlers, ca. 1680

Artist not identified
Asia, Japan
Porcelain
H: 30.60 cm

Museum purchase

Accession Number: E82460
Sewing Table, ca. 1830-1840

Sewing Table, ca. 1830-1840

Artist not identified
Asia, China
Lacquer on wood, ivory, silk
H: 73.50 cm, W: 61.10 cm, D: 41.80 cm

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Francis B. Lothrop

Accession Number: E82997
The China Tea Trade, 1790-1800

The China Tea Trade, 1790-1800

Artist not identified
Asia, China
Oil on canvas
H: 119.70 x 143.00 cm, W: 182.20 x 205.00 cm

Museum purchase

Accession Number: M25794
View of Canton, ca. 1750-1800

View of Canton, ca. 1750-1800

Artist not identified
China
Ivory
Accession Number: AE82856


Tusk and stand, c. 1850

Tusk and stand, c. 1850

Artist not identified
China
Ivory and wood

Gift of Mrs. William Raymond, 1961

Accession Number: E39364
Tea Warehouse, 1820-1840

Tea Warehouse, 1820-1840

Artist not identified
Guangzhou, China
Gouache on paper

Gift of Mrs. Emory W. Johnson, 1923

Accession Number: E19144.12
City of Victoria, Hong Kong, 1860-1865

City of Victoria, Hong Kong, 1860-1865

Artist not identified
Hong Kong, China
Gouache n paper

Gif of Lewis A. Laphan, 1984

Accession Number: E81235
View of Praya Grande, Macao, From the doorway on Penha hill, 1834

View of Praya Grande, Macao, From the doorway on Penha hill, 1834

Artist not identified
Macao, China
Oil on canvas
Accession Number: M17053
Fan, 1835-1850

Fan, 1835-1850

Artist not identified
China
Lacquer, wood

Gift of Miss Sarah Ann Chever, 1906

Accession Number: E9631
Trial of the Pirates at the Consoo House, c. 1830

Trial of the Pirates at the Consoo House, c. 1830

Studio of Guan Lianchang, also known as Tingua (active 1830s0-01870s)
Guangzou, China
Gouache on paper

Gift of Leo A. and Doris C. Hodroff, 1998

Accession Number: AE85592
Ewer, ca. 1580-1620

Ewer, ca. 1580-1620

Artist not identified
Gujarat, India
Mother of pearl, brass
Accession Number: AE85718

Ewer, ca. 1580-1620. Artist not identified. Gujarat, India. Mother of pearl, brass.

Platter, 1790-1800

Platter, 1790-1800

Artist not identified
China
Porcelain
Accession Number: E49440
Plate, ca.1745

Plate, ca.1745

Artist not identified
China
Porcelain
Accession Number: AE85761
Firing a Dragon Kiln, ca. 1820

Firing a Dragon Kiln, ca. 1820

Artist not identified
China
Gouche on paper
Accession Number: E81592.14
Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa sinensis flava) ca. 1823

Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa sinensis flava) ca. 1823

Artist not identified
Guanghou (Canton), CHina or Mauritius
Gouche on paper

Gift of H.A. Crosby and Grace P. Forbes

Accession Number: E80609.5
A Pair of Figures ca. 1803

A Pair of Figures ca. 1803

Artist not identified
China
Unfired Clay
Accession Number: E7097, E7098
Portable Shrine, ca. 1597

Portable Shrine, ca. 1597

Artist not identified
Japan
Lacquer, wood, gold, shell, canvas, pigment
Accession Number: AE85752
Pair of Cycad Trees, late 17th early 18th century

Pair of Cycad Trees, late 17th early 18th century

Artist not identified
Japan
Porcelain

Museum Purchase

Accession Number: AE85996
Knife Box, ca. 1801

Knife Box, ca. 1801

Artist not identified
Japan
Wood, lacquer, gold, shell, copper, silver
Accession Number: E73115
Lectern, ca. 1600

Lectern, ca. 1600

Artist not identified
Japan
Lacquer, wood, gold, shell
Accession Number: E76703
Tabernacle, ca. 1600

Tabernacle, ca. 1600

Artist not identified
Japan
Lacquer, wood, gold, shell
Accession Number: E76703
Coffepot, Late 17th century, Mounts, Late 17th century

Coffepot, Late 17th century, Mounts, Late 17th century

Artist not identified
Porcelain, bronze, gold
Accession Number: E82003
Wallpaper Panel, 18th century

Wallpaper Panel, 18th century

Artist not identified
China
Gouche on paper
Accession Number: E79541
Chinese Garden, 1854

Chinese Garden, 1854

Guan Lianchang, also known as Tingqua (active 1830s-1870's)
Guanghou (Canton), China
Gouche on paper

Museum Purchase

Accession Number: AE85341.20
Moon Bed, ca. 1870-1880

Moon Bed, ca. 1870-1880

Artist not identified
Ningpo, China
Asian hardwoods, ivory

Gift of Mrs. Robert W. Sarnoff

Accession Number: E80259
The Battle of Doggerbank, late 18th century

The Battle of Doggerbank, late 18th century

Sasaya Workshop
Kyoto, Japan
Lacquer, copper, gold

Museum Purchase

Accession Number: E83000
Teapot, 1680-1799, Mounts, late 17th century

Teapot, 1680-1799, Mounts, late 17th century

Artist not identified
China,
Porcelain

Museum Purchase

Accession Number: E82868
Container in the form of a Toad, Last half 17th century

Container in the form of a Toad, Last half 17th century

Artist not identified
China
Porcelain

Museum Purchase

Accession Number: AE83477
Crane, ca. 1750

Crane, ca. 1750

Artist not identified
China
Porcelain

Museum Purchase

Tray with American Shield, ca. 1801

Tray with American Shield, ca. 1801

Artist not identified
Japan
Wood, lacquer, gold, shell

Collected by Samuel G. Derby, Museum Purchase.

Accession Number: E82670
Telescope with Monogram VOC (Dutch East India Company), mid0late 18th century

Telescope with Monogram VOC (Dutch East India Company), mid0late 18th century

Artist not identified
Japan or Indonesia
Lacquer, pasteboard, gold, cotton

Museum Purchase

Accession Number: E82764
White Magnolia, ca. 1823

White Magnolia, ca. 1823

Artist not identified
Guanghou (Canton), CHina or Mauritius
Gouche on paper

Gift of H.A. Crosby and Grace P. Forbes

Accession Number: E80609.11
Tingqua's Studio, mid-19th century

Tingqua's Studio, mid-19th century

Studio of Guan Lianchang, also known as Tingqua (active 1830s-1870s)
Gouche on paper

Gift of Leo A, and Doris C. Hodroff

Accession Number: AE85592
“Birdcage” Vase, ca. 1700

“Birdcage” Vase, ca. 1700

Artist not identified
Japan
Porcelain, copper, gold, bamboo, pigment
H: 51.70 cm, dia.: 37.50 cm

Museum purchase

Accession Number: AE85720
Desk on Stand, ca. 1730

Desk on Stand, ca. 1730

Artist not identified
Asia, China, Canton
Ivory and zitan wood
H: 182.00 cm, W: 79.00 cm, D: 54.00 cm
Accession Number: E74137
Pilgrim Flask, ca. 1580-1635

Pilgrim Flask, ca. 1580-1635

Artist not identified
Asia, China
Porcelain
H: 29.50 cm, D: 8.00 cm, W: 3.50 x 15.00 x 8.00 cm

Museum purchase

Accession Number: E82416

Videos VIEW ALL

FreePort [No. 005]: Time-Lapse in the Mellon Staircase

FreePort [No. 005]: Time-Lapse in the Mellon Staircase

PEM's FreePort [No. 005] team paints Michael Lin's vivid armorial silhouettes on the Mellon Staircase and Galleries. This time-lapse video captures the complex five-week process in more than 1,500 photographs!

FreePort [No.005]: Meet Michael Lin

FreePort [No.005]: Meet Michael Lin

In an interview recorded at PEM in 2010, Michael Lin discusses his practice of appropriating floral patterns to create large-scale, public artworks that challenge the conventions of exhibition.

FreePort [No. 005]: Michael Lin

FreePort [No. 005]: Michael Lin

In Michael Lin's FreePort project, PEM's renowned collection of Asian export art is in conversation with Lin's vision of a not-too-distant reality, where the ancient art of export porcelain is seen anew as the crafting of "mass-produced, everyday objects."

Behind The Scenes: Photographing the Eccleston Screen

Behind The Scenes: Photographing the Eccleston Screen

Peabody Essex Museum, 2009

PEM staff documented how this monumental 12-panel room screen was moved and photographed to make high-resolution images available to scholars worldwide. The screen was made in the 1730s for John Eccleston, a silk merchant and director of the British East India Company. See it for yourself in the Asian Export Art: China Gallery, Level 2.

Explore The Fish, Silk, Tea, Bamboo Interactive

Fish, Silk, Tea, Bamboo Image

 

“Patience is power. With time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown.”

Silk production is a precise, time-consuming and complex process. Explore its many steps through the paintings in three albums on view nearby.  Together, these beautiful images — of cultivating silkworms and transforming thread from their cocoons into cloth — show the important role silk has played in Chinese culture for more than 5,000 years.

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