Luxurious living in 15th-century China

/

 

The evolving relationship between the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and several museums in China comes to glittering fruition in an exhibition of artifacts from the households of 15th-century royalty in China.

"Royal Taste: The Art of Princely Courts in fifteenth-Century China," on display through Jan. 10 in the Searing Wing of the museum, capitalizes on Dr. Fan Jeremy Zhang, the Dr. Helga Wall-Apelt Associate Curator of Asian Art, and his intimate knowledge of the art of his native country. Zhang has been with the Ringling for just two years, and in that time has focused on curating the museum's growing collection of Asian ceramics and artwork, and in readying for the opening this winter of the Center for Asian Art, clad in glazed jade-green terra-cotta tiles that, sadly, cannot be seen from the streetside of the museum.

Gold hairpins in phoenix shape, Ming Dynasty. On loan from the Hubei Provincial Museum.

Gold hairpins in phoenix shape, Ming Dynasty. On loan from the Hubei Provincial Museum.

"Royal Taste" is the first major collaboration between the Ringling and major museums in Asia, said Zhang during a media walkthrough of the exhibit before its opening earlier this month. The exhibit includes more than 140 works of jewelry, art, clothing and decorative objects from recently-discovered royal tombs and a UNESCO World Heritage site, the sacred Daoist Mount Wudang, reflecting the material culture of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), which "ruled China for nearly 300 years and produced a splendid visual culture that significantly impacted Asian history," Zhang writes in the introduction to the lavishly-illustration and deeply researched hardcover catalog that accompanies the exhibit.

The Ming Dynasty may be known in general culture more for its blue and white porcelain objects than for what is seen in "Royal Taste," which focuses on the objects used in three contexts: underground burial tombs; the daily lives of princes and their families in 15th-century China, and the religious world.

Gold bracelet set, before 1411. Gold and gemstones. Hubei Provincial Museum.

Gold bracelet set, before 1411. Gold and gemstones. Hubei Provincial Museum.

Among the more stupendous objects in the collection is a 1,000-pound limestone carving that would have been the central piece of a standing screen wall protecting a palace from the eyes of curious passersby. Nearly 40 inches in diameter, it depicts a dragon flying above the waves of the ocean and is the property of the Wudang Museum. It was salvaged in 1968 when part of the temple and palaces at Wudangshan and the ancient city of Junzhou were flooded due to the construction of the Danjiangkou reservoir.

The size and weight of the object surprised the museum staff, which had to build a special cradle and wall mount to support the piece.

The exhibit also includes about a dozen pieces of porcelain from the permanent collection, donated to the museum in 2001 by Ira and Nancy Koger.

Blue and white pilgrim flask, Yongle reign. Goft of Ira and Nancy Koger to the Ringling Museum of Art, 2001.

Blue and white pilgrim flask, Yongle reign. Goft of Ira and Nancy Koger to the Ringling Museum of Art, 2001.

Steven High, the museum's executive director, said the exhibit's pieces are "fascinating materials, fascinating stories," and complimented Zhang's work in both curating the exhibit and in building relationships with the Chinese museums.

"He's brought a really terrific perspective to these pieces, and really opened a door for us to China," said High. "They invited our curator to be there, which shows a lot of trust on the part of an institution. This is our first real relationship with an Asian institution, I hope the first of many to come."

The museum's increased focus on Asian art will include permanent exhibits in the new Asian wing, and temporary, traveling shows in the Searing wing.

"It goes back to our legacy," said High. "John Ringling acquired Asian art; it just hasn't been shown."

Related programming:

Lecture: "A Brilliant Dynasty," Dr. David Robinson, Colgate University, 10:30 a.m. Oct. 24

Study Day: "A Brilliant Age: New Perspectives on Ming Dynasty Royal Taste," 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 14

Gallery Talk: "Buttons, Bracelets, and Bling: Fashion at the Ming Court," 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Nov. 19

Tai Chi Community Workshop: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Oct. 25

Youth and Family Programs: Workshops, art-making, in-gallery programs and storytime sessions throughout the exhibitions. For schedule, see ringling.org.

ROYAL TASTE: THE ART OF PRINCELY COURTS IN 15TH-CENTURY CHINA.
Through Jan. 10 at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Tickets $25, senior s $20, children $5. www.ringling.org; 369-5700.
avatar

Susan Rife

Susan Rife is the arts and books editor for the Herald-Tribune Media Group. She holds a bachelor of science degree in journalism from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She can be reached by email or call (941) 361-4930. Make sure to "Like" Arts Sarasota on Facebook for news and reviews of the arts.
Last modified: October 23, 2015
All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be published without permissions. Links are encouraged.