Page 3 - Chinese Decorative Arts: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 55, no. 1 (Summer, 1997)

Directors
Directors Note Note

t was with intense intense
t was with that opened will will show, on
that we we
and often thematic thematic
pride opened show, on a a rotating and often generously provided provided funds for the
pride
rotating
funds for the new new
generously
our new galleries spring, for basis, of metal, hard stones, and loaned loaned from
our new Chinese Chinese
this
this
for
of
hard
galleries
and
spring,
metal, jade, jade,
basis, objects objects
from their their
stones, spaces spaces
masterpieces
masterpieces
we keenly aware that the the beauty of the the lacquer, ivory, bamboo, and and wood, well as as own Very recently recently the
we were were
aware that
of
as well
as
keenly
own collection. collection.
the
lacquer, ivory, bamboo,
beauty
wood,
Irvings
Irvings
Very
art
art on on view, the the harmony of design, and textiles writing implements from made promised of several of of
of the the
view,
and textiles and and
design,
from made additional additional
harmony
of several
writing implements dating dating
promised gifts gifts
the
the underlying of this the tenth tenth through the century. the pieces illustrated here, the
the
of this enter- enter-
the nineteenth nineteenth
the
underlying scholarship scholarship
illustrated
the
through
century.
pieces
here, including including
prise raised the norm of excellence in Our presentation the Chinese Chinese brilliantly ivory brush holder
prise raised the norm of excellence in the the
Our
the
carved
carved
brush holder detailed detailed
presentation highlights highlights
brilliantly
ivory
of our collections and set
of our collections and set new new
presentation genius for adapting a wide wide range of on the cover and also page 44. 44.
a
for
presentation
of materi- materi- on the cover and also shown on shown on
genius
adapting
range
page
standards for the
standards for the future. future. Moreover, with als to functional luxury objects objects and The Irvings' remarkable commitment to
Moreover, with this this als to functional and and
and for for
The
luxury
remarkable commitment to the the
Irvings'
our
of
Asian
such
goal
opening our goal of a a grand Asian museum museum refining such techniques as casting of Asian Art has been one of the the
opening
grand
as metal metal
refining
of Asian Art has been one of
techniques
casting Department Department
within the Museum practically been and jade to highest degree. degree. major factors in our realization of
been
within the Museum has has
to the the
practically
factors in our realization of one of one of
and jade working working
major
highest
the
reached; now now only the completion During the Qing dynasty, for for- the finest Asian collections in the the country
of the
of the Arts Arts
the
reached;
for-
for
only
completion
the finest Asian collections in
During
Qing dynasty, example, example,
country
of Korea Galleries next next year remains. eign technical innovations, cloi- and is is deeply appreciated. appreciated.
of Korea Galleries
remains.
technical
cloi-
year
and
eign
innovations, including including
deeply
A "crown "crown
A jewel" of our Chinese sonne and painting, were adapted The conception and curatorial curatorial
of our Chinese reinstal- reinstal- sonne and enamel enamel
were
and
The
jewel"
painting,
adapted
conception
program
program
lation is a new third third
lation is a new floor, with four outstanding, sometimes whimsical, for Irving Galleries were were planned by by
floor, with four hand- hand- with with
for the the
sometimes
Galleries
outstanding,
whimsical,
Irving
planned
some rooms-The Florence and have
some rooms-The Florence and Herbert Herbert results. results.
James C. Y. Y.
have been been
Watt, Brooke Russell Astor Astor
Seventy-three pieces pieces
Seventy-three James C. Watt, Brooke Russell
Galleries for Chinese
selected for discussion and illustration
Irving
senior
Irving Galleries for Chinese Decorative Decorative selected for discussion and illustration in in senior curator, under the overall direction
curator, under the overall direction of of
Arts-the
Arts-the Metropolitan's first permanent this Bulletin, as a brief introduction Wen Fong, consultative chairman of the the
first
this Bulletin, as a brief introduction to to
Wen C. C.
Metropolitan's
consultative chairman of
permanent
Fong,
of such works. Like
Chinese decorative arts. We We
of Asian Art. Denise
display
display of such works. Like the the redesigned Chinese decorative arts. hope this pub- Department Department Leidy,
this
of Asian Art. Denise P. P.
redesigned
pub-
hope
Leidy,
these rooms are are
lication will will
to see the the
paintings these rooms propor- lication encourage you you to see associate curator and and administrator, and and
associate curator
paintings galleries, galleries,
encourage
propor-
administrator,
in the
tioned in accordance with classic Chinese Chinese
tioned in accordance with classic objects in the new new galleries, where their Wai-fong Anita Siu, curatorial curatorial assistant,
where their exu- exu-
Anita
galleries,
objects
Siu,
Wai-fong
assistant,
architectural
architectural and utilize spirit and fine fine craftsmanship will also participated They
and
and utilize ceramic ceramic berant berant
in the
also
will
in the installation. installation.
principles
principles
spirit
craftsmanship
participated
They
soft wood wood
tones, and earth colors
and
hours
tile,
tile, soft tones, and earth colors that that provide many many hours of of appreciation and along with James Watt Watt provided texts
texts for for
provide
appreciation
with James
along
provided
the works and create an atmo- atmo-
A section of the the
A section of
Galleries this Bulletin. The new new
enjoyment.
complement
were
complement the works and create an enjoyment. Irving Galleries this Bulletin. The galleries were
Irving
galleries
of
in which to view them. them. will be devoted to the the
of
sphere of in which to view will be devoted to permanent display display of designed Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo Dinkeloo
sphere serenity serenity
Kevin Roche John
permanent
designed by by
State-of-the-art has been used the Bishop Collection of and Associates, who closely with
State-of-the-art
has been used in in
the renowned renowned
technology
Collection of Chinese Chinese and Associates, who worked worked
with
technology
Bishop
closely
the design of flexible adjust to the the jades, to the Museum in members of Design
the
of flexible cases that cases that
to
members of our our
adjust
design
jades, bequeathed bequeathed
Design Department: Department:
to the Museum in 1902. 1902.
environment
no
Florence and Herbert Herbert
whose
L.
objects
right environment for for objects no Florence and Irving, whose Jeffrey L. Daly, chief chief designer;
right viewing viewing
Jeffrey
Daly,
Irving,
designer; Sophia Sophia
matter what their
matter what their size and size and shape; pure pure water- longstanding of our Asian collec- collec- Geronimus, graphic designer; and
water-
of our Asian
Geronimus, graphic designer; and Zack Zack
longstanding support support
shape;
white glass that of of tion funding for the South and and Zanolli, Museum Museum
tion included included
that
white nonreflective nonreflective
for the South
glass replaces replaces
lighting
Zanolli,
funding
lighting designer. designer.
Southeast Asian Asian
galleries and donations of of
greenish cast, vastly improving viewing expe- expe-
greenish cast, vastly improving viewing Southeast galleries and donations
rience. These These
rience. beautifully appointed numerous works of art, have have again very very Philippe de Montebello, Director Director
numerous works of art,
again
beautifully appointed spaces spaces
Philippe de Montebello,
of the Lila Acheson Wallace Fund for The The
This
This publication was made made possible through the the generosity of the Lila Acheson Wallace Fund for Metropolitan Museum of Art established by the cofounder
was
Museum of Art established by the cofounder of of
generosity
possible through
publication
Metropolitan
Reader's
Reader's
Digest
Digest
Museum Art Bulletin, Summer 1997. Volume LV, Number I (ISSN 0026-1521). Published Published
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Museum of Art,
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ivory brush
See p. 44. Back cover: Detail of
On ivory brush holder of the holder of the Qing See p. 44. Back cover: Detail of bamboo brush holder of the bamboo brush holder of the Qing dynasty. dynasty. See p. 50. Page 72: Detail
On the cover: Detail of the cover: Detail of
Qing dynasty. dynasty.
See 50. Page 72: Detail of of
p.
Qing
dish
See
from the Yuan to the Yuan to
lacquer dish dating from early Ming dynasty. Ming dynasty. See 68 68
lacquer
dating
p.
p.
early
Museum
Coscia Jr. of
Metropolitan
Photograph
Photography by
Photography by Joseph Joseph Coscia Jr. of The The Metropolitan Museum of Art of Art Photograph Studio Studio