Month: January 2018

‘The Silver Age’, Hong Kong Maritime Museum

Museums

Last museum for the day was the Hong Kong Maritime Museum to see ‘The Silver Age: Origins and Trade of China Export Silver’. Some truly gorgeous pieces. Although the exhibition told an interesting story about the silver trade I did feel that it failed to engage with the objects on display in a very meaningful way.

Visited: 26 January 2018

Silver filigree trinket box in butterfly form, late 18th to early 19th century from the K.L. Leung Collection of Export Art.
Note the incredibly fine enamelling. Gilt-silver filigree octagonal silver box, late 18th century to early 19th century, from the K.L. Leung Collection of Export Art.
My favourite – a teeny tiny rabbit hook. Silver belt ornament, Han dynasty, on loan from Anthony J. Hardy.
Filigree gilt-silver hairpin in dragonfly shape, Qing dynasty, on loan from Mengdiexuan Collection.
The intricate work on these boats was breathtaking. Silver-plated model of a small police or war junk, early 20th century, Hong Kong Maritime Museum collection.
One of pair of silver figural condiments, Wang Hing, Hong Kong, c.1900, on loan from Chris Hall.
A set of Chinese silver and ceramic tableware, Qing dynasty, on loan from Cheng Xun Tang Collection.

‘Miles Upon Miles’, Hong Kong Museum of History

Museums

There were some beautiful pieces in this temporary exhibition, ‘Miles upon miles: World Heritage along the Silk Road’, at the Hong Kong Museum of History. From past experience I’ve noticed that they always provide some fun-looking public programs for kids. This time looks flash but not sure how engaging they actually were. They also have an excellent gift shop with a great book selection!

Visited: 25 January 2018

What’s not particularly well captured in this photograph is the fact that all these kids were actually doing things on their mobile phones not the multimedia on offer. Cute yurt though.
The almost compulsory ‘dress up’ and have a photo taken against a backdrop public program. Only available at certain times of the day.
There were just a few school kids going through at the same time as me.
This progressively showed the paths of the Silk Road. It was a little slow but nice to see some acknowledgement that not just one path.
Loved the action in these figures of trainer and horse. Polychrome painted horse and rider, Tang dynasty, unearthed from Lanjiagou in Luoyang, Henan, Luoyang Museum collection.
Detail in just the right places. Gilt bronze horse, Han dynasty, unearthed from Maoling in Xingping city, Shaanxi, Mao Ling Museum collection.
These camels have rather terrifying teeth. I’ve never met a camel before but they don’t have great reputations! Ceramic camels, mostly from the Tang dynasty (the two small ones at the front are from the Northern Zhou) from a range of collections including: Shaanxi History Museum, Luoyang Museum and Shaanxi Povincial Institute of Archaeology.
Booties with gradated red twill and kesi decoration, Han to Jin dynasty, unearthed from Niya tomb site in Minfeng county, Xinjiang, Xinjiang Archaeological Research Institute.
Twin-headed rooster silk pillow, Eastern Han dynasty, unearthed from Niya tomb site in Minfeng county, Xinjiang, Xinjiang Museum collection.
Can’t believe how long textiles can survive in the right conditions. Gloves stitched together from a patchwork of different silk brocade fabrics, Han to Jin dynasty, Xinjiang Museum collection.
This was so cute and I think close to life size. Gilt bronze silkworm, Han dynasty found in the Qianchi River, Shiquan county, Shaanxi, Shaanxi History Museum Collection.
One magnificent goat. Pure gold mythical beast with eagle’s beak and beast’s head from the branches of its antlers, Warring States period, Shaanxi History Museum collection.

Chik Kwai study hall, Lai Uk Tsuen, Hong Kong

Places

I’m grateful to Malcolm Oakes for not only recommending a visit here but also sending me some terrific directions to get to Lai Uk Tsuen and its hidden Chik Kwai study hall. It was also a great excuse to get out of the city into the New Territories. The study hall is believed to have been constructed by

Visited: 26 January 2018

There was also a beautiful ‘mansion’ with veggie patches adjacent to the study hall.

I really wanted to have a good poke around here but there was a man doing his morning exercises in the front yard.
This is a rather sneaky view as actually there were plenty of modern houses surrounding this mansion!
Note the use of old DVD disks to keep the birds away.