Asian Collection

Satsuma and imari porcelain wares produced for the European export market sit alongside a discrete group of cloisonné and lacquerware which represent a lineage of cultural exchange between Japan and China. The theme of cultural exchange and interaction is further considered through a suite of ukiyo-e prints from Meiji-period Japan and new acquisitions that consider the emergence and influence of photography in Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1912). A developing collection focus which considers the British colonial period in Asia is represented by a carved teak screen, Company school painting, and photography from Ceylon, India and Burma from late nineteenth century. This new direction provides opportunities to explore key themes and influences in the arts of Asia while drawing attention to the intersecting cultural histories in the region.