Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware: "The Art of Living : Stationery and Tea Accessories of the Chinese Literati"

Overview

  • Date
    2023.08.022024.09.30
  • Venue
    1/F, Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, 10 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, Hong Kong (inside Hong Kong Park)
  • Fee
    Free
Since the Ming dynasty, Chinese literati had developed a taste for a more sophisticated lifestyle. They became interested in collecting and appreciating the tools and objects used in their scholarly life. In this exhibition, ancient Chinese stationery items, accessories and tea ware made of bamboo, jade, inkstone, as well as zisha (purple clay) will be shown, including selected collections from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Visitors will be able to take a glimpse into the everyday life of traditional Chinese literati. In addition, the exhibition will also introduce the utensils and setup of a Chinese tea ceremony in an interactive manner, based on the theme of tea-tasting activities that were often seen in ancient literati gatherings. We hope to explore the close relationship between the utensils used by literati and their lives through the exhibition, as well as the traditional Chinese cultural heritage reflected.

Audios

Playlist

Paused
  • Incense-burner carved in the round101Incense-burner carved in the round
  • Perfume holder carved with crab in lotus pond in openwork102Perfume holder carved with crab in lotus pond in openwork
  • Jade wrist-rest carved with bamboo design103Jade wrist-rest carved with bamboo design
  • Seal paste box of mythical animal shape104Seal paste box of mythical animal shape
  • Water dropper in form of ancient bronze vessel105Water dropper in form of ancient bronze vessel
  • Brush pot in tree trunk form decorated with gardenia branch in relief106Brush pot in tree trunk form decorated with gardenia branch in relief
  • Washer of lotus shape107Washer of lotus shape
  • Teapot of gourd shape with prunus painted in famille-rose enamels108Teapot of gourd shape with prunus painted in famille-rose enamels
  • Teapot painted in famille-rose enamels with domestic scenes109Teapot painted in famille-rose enamels with domestic scenes
  • Pair of teacups and covers with prunus spray and poems design in opaque enamels110Pair of teacups and covers with prunus spray and poems design in opaque enamels
  • Rhinoceros horn cup carved with mantis and butterfly design111Rhinoceros horn cup carved with mantis and butterfly design
  • Teapot of six-lobed shape with overhead handle and moulded figure design inside reserved panels in white glaze, Dehua ware112Teapot of six-lobed shape with overhead handle and moulded figure design inside reserved panels in white glaze, Dehua ware