European Museums and Palaces: Chinese Art and Culture Analysis

This essay investigates the significance of Chinese and Chinese-style objects displayed in European museums and palaces from the 16th to 18th centuries, offering insights into how these displays shaped the European image of China. It explores the influence of Chinese art, culture, and traditions, including Chinoiserie, and examines the context of museums as institutions for collecting and displaying historical artifacts. The essay highlights the popularity of Chinoiserie, the impact of trade, and the evolving perceptions of China among Europeans. It also touches upon the role of Chinese ceramics, art forms, and the impact of European monarchs and the British East India Company. The study concludes by emphasizing the cultural exchange and the complexities of understanding China through the lens of European museums and palaces, along with the challenges faced by China during that period.

What do displays of Chinese and Chinese-style objects
in European museums and palaces from the 16th-18th
centuries tell us about images of China at this time.

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Timberwork is main ancient architecture of China. In East Asia significance of Chinese
architecture is from over so many centuries. Chinese art is related to ocular art, both ancient and
modern, the patterns and designs of Chinese art have remained largely unchanged. The impact of
Chinese culture and heritage is very influential in round the countries. Their cultures and rituals
are considered as a oldest traditions in the world. In China there is unique tradition of ink wash
painting which is very famous across the nations. This tradition is conducted by court painters or
scholar officials (Cheang, 2015). This essay is based on significance of Chinese style objects in
European museum and image of China in 16th - 18th century.
Museum is a collection of objects which are related to ancient history or a time period. It
is storage of cultural history in the form of art end equipments, it a representation of art and
culture. European cities have largest museum across the whole world. Art, historic, cultural and
war are the types of Museum. The word museum is derived from the Latin word 'musea'. The
purpose of the museum is to collect, preserve and display art, culture and history. Smithsonian
Institution, is considered as a respected research centre. The purpose of the Museum is different
in each case. Some focus on the education and preservation and some on tourist point of view. Its
aim is to display functions and objects. In almost every museum it is not allowed to touch or feel
the artifacts. In early days the concept of museum is much different from the present world. It a
collection of private commodity of wealthy individuals, groups or organisations of rare artifacts
and objects. First appearance of modern museums was seen in western Europe, then in the other
parts of the world. Middle – Upper classes are only allowed to visit public museum in early days.
The main reason behind this was that large and uncultured crowd will damage the commodities
of the museum, that's why only limited classes are allowed to access the museum in order to
maintain its elegance (Falk, 2016). The visitors of China and Japan was so attracted towards the
European museum and their cultures but the main difficulty is language problem and the problem
in understanding the significance of their art and sculptures. The management of the museum
depends on its size and culture, but no matter big or small it is very essential for European
museums to follow governance hierarchy. The main difference between new and old age
museum is that nowadays they are not based on educational superstition. The plan and design of
the museum depends upon its collection of item. The main purpose of architectural museums is

to provide educational and historical education to their visitors. As per the report of The World
Museum Community, there are 55,000 museums in 202 countries.
Chinese art is practised by Chinese artist in China. Their art is highly based on their
culture. The sculptures and pottery of china is based on the early stone art designs. Chinese
rituals are considered to be the oldest traditions on the earth. The dragon design in ornament is
considered as a most precious art in China. The emperors of the China played a very vital role in
promoting art and culture of Chins throughout the world. Gong-bi is considered as a most unique
and traditional style of painting in China. It is mainly used to paint human figures. Since the pre-
dynastic period Chinese ceramic are developing continuously. In the Palaeolithic era, the first
types of ceramic was introduced (Johns, 2016).
Chinoiserie is derived from the French word. The interpretation and emulation of Chinese
and art of east Asian traditions by European is called as a Chinoiserie. It is mainly based on
decorative art, designs related to garden or music or historical informations. The beauty or
elegance of Chinoiserie was represented in various form depending upon its territory.
The most impactful chinoiserie was first appeared in 17th century. The trend seen
immense popularity in 18th century because of arise in dealing with China and East Asia. Rococo
style is a inter-related style of chinoiserie (Nolte, 2016). It enters in European market in mid of
17th century and it become popular in the middle of 18th century.
In Europe by the 1760s Chinoiserie became unpopular due to introduction of
neoclassical style. Then in mid of 19 century it become famous again in Europe and United
States. Chinoiserie was a global phenomenon. Its local versions was developed in so many
counties. Popularity of Chinoiserie in Europe was due to so many reasons in 18th century.
Europeans was highly attracted towards the Chinese art and their cultures and traditions. In 17th-
18th century the Europeans didn't have any clear idea about reality of China. In the 19th - 20th
century Chinoiserie was present but its popularity was declined, the loss was exceptional. The
great impact of Chinoiserie was seen when all the Europeans start using wallpapers in their
homes in late 18th century (Porter, 2017).
The wallpaper pattern is similar to pagodas. They are designed in such a way that they
can be use for decorating objects or furnitures or backgrounds. Later these wallpapers become
reachable for the people who belong to middle class. The style of drinking tea in 18th century was
contributed the most in the impactful popularity of chinoiserie. Louis XV, was is favour of

chinoiserie. He was a European monarch who came from France. Manufacturing of furnitures
that imitated Chinese lacquer furniture by Europeans in the late 17th - 18th century was mostly
used to decorate Chinese motifs. The Europeans and their market support Chinoiserie to the most
because of their interest in Chinese traditions and their art and culture. In the mid of 17 century
chinoiserie was introduced in Europe and in the middle of 18th century in became very famous
over their. Lately in 19th century the popularity of chinoiserie was at stake because of
introduction of new styles of decorations and patterns in the Western Europe (Schäffer, 2017).
The palace of the China is collection of so many buildings. It is a resident of civil
government and royal court. It is an imperial complex. The area of the palace is very large and
surrounded by walls and moats. The palace is comprise of so many large halls and rooms for
celebrating various types of occasions. The china is a country of divine palaces but the top 3
ancient palaces are : The Forbidden City, Shenyang Imperial Palace, The Potala Palace.
The Forbidden City, located in the centre of Beijing, represents cultures and traditions of
great ancient families of China. It is the one of the most visited place in the China. Red and
Yellow are most dominant colors of Forbidden city.
Shenyang Imperial palace is located in Shenyang of Shenhe District. It is the home of
many historical and ancient antiques. The structure and design of the palace is made up with a lot
of decorations and trinket. It is worlds most famous cultural site.
The world highest ancient palace is Potala Palace. It is located on Red Hill in Lhasa. The
dominant colors of potala palace is red, white, yellow and gold.
One of the most craved fashion of aristocracy was Chinoiserie. In the late 17th and 18th
century the craze for Asian cultures and traditions was dynamically increased in Europeans. The
main reason behind the popularity of chinoiserie was rise in trade with East. The British East
India Company has become most dominant player in trading in the late 19th century. It holds the
great margin of worlds population (Szonyi,2017). Since pre-dynastic times Chinese ceramics
present regular development. It is one of the most beautiful form of Chinese art. According to the
Chinese history, earthenware was the earliest Chinese pottery. According to the some experts the
first porcelain was designed in Zhejiang. A wid range of ceramics was produced during Sui and
Tang dynasties. The leading high-fired, lime glazed celandon of the period was Yue ware.
During 960-1276 green ware or celadons were very popular in China. During Ming dynasty,
ceramic innovations was highly prevailing. The primary hardstone of Chinese sculpture is Jade.

It was mined or carved in China. In Europe it was of deep and bright green color. The most
impactful thing about jade is its hardness. It was generally style of decorative art. The other
ancient technique of beautifying metalwork is Cloisonne. It was mainly used in jewellery and
decorating clothes. In Song dynasty creation and collection of bronzes as pieces of art was
began. In the middle of 18 century, high born women gaze a special habit of collecting
chinoiserie these are queens and princess of the various areas. The main significance of
chinoiserie is that it is related to the rococo style. Above all the reason behind the popularity of
chinoiserie was the favour of European monarchs. The first Chinese garden was describe by
Marco Polo. In the form of formal clothing high-born gentlemen preferred Banyans (Johns,
2016).
The culture of the China is considered as a most ancient in the world. The name is
derived from the Sanskrit language. In early days the land of the China was occupied by
hominids. In the mid of 17th century china was occupied by the Manchu. Manchus are the ruler
of China in the middle of 17th century. During 17 century, the china is considered as a one of the
most rich and high populations nations. The last imperial dynasty of China was Qing dynasty.
The empire of the Qing was lasted for almost 3 centuries. Jurchen Aisin Gioro was the founder
of the dynasty (Zhao, 2015). During 19th century enormous problems are faced by the people of
China. In the middle of 19th century the approx population of China was around 450 million. Due
the this problems like lack of food, land shortage and rural population was increased. The period
between the late 17 century – 18 century is considered as a time of peace. The most disturbing
time in the history of China was during rule of Manchu. During this period they loyalty of
former leaders are with China.
The history of China is comprise of various ups and downs. The country is considered as
a land of various art and historical structures which are contributing in maintaining its culture
and traditions throughout the centuries. Chinese art, sculptures and manifests and popular
throughout the world during mid of 17th to 18th century. The country faced the significant loss in
the late 19th century because of the rule of Manchu. The impact of European was the most
significant part in the history of art, tradition and culture of China.

CONCLUSION
The above essay lay emphasis on the art, tradition and culture of China and the role of
European in its popularity. Study of various artefacts and patterns are conducted in this essay. It
has been seen that museums are very famous in European cities and considered as educational
institute. Chinoiserie is considered as a most famous and popular in Western Europe in the mid
of 18th century. The high-born women played a very crucial role behind the popularity of
chinoiserie during that period. The period of mid of 19th century is considered as a most
problematic time in the history of China.

REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Cheang, S., 2015. Fashion, Chinoiserie and Modernism.
Falk, J.H., 2016. The museum experience revisited. Routledge.
Johns, C.M., 2016. China and the Church: Chinoiserie in Global Context. Univ of California
Press.
Nolte, V., 2016. Artspace: Contemporary Art Projects, Peterborough, written by Terra dos
Chinês Curio Shop: Karen Tam. Asian Diasporic Visual Cultures and the Americas. 2(1-
2). pp.141-146.
Porter, D., 2017. China and the Church: Chinoiserie in Global Context, written by Christopher
MS Johns. Journal of Jesuit Studies. 4(2). pp.330-332.
Schäffer, S.,2017. Opening the treasure chest: A DNA-barcoding primer set for most higher taxa
of Central European birds and mammals from museum collections. PloS one. 12(3).
p.e0174449.
Schoppa, R.K., 2017. Revolution and its past: Identities and change in modern Chinese history.
Routledge.
Szonyi, M., 2017. A Companion to Chinese History. John Wiley & Sons.
Wilkinson, E., 2016. Chinese history: A new manual. Harvard University Press.
Zhao, Z., 2015. Closing a sociodemographic chapter of Chinese history. Population and
Development Review. 41(4). pp.681-686.
Online
Facts about Chinoiserie, 2016. [Online]. Available through < http://fiveminutehistory.com/10-
fascinating-facts-about-chinoiserie/ >