Wednesday May 22, 2008
Today, we went to the Shanghai Museum. To enter the building we had to go through a security door...lucky us, it was the first day that the Chinese security guards were using this new system, in preparation for the incoming Olympics. Needless to say, it was an adventure in itself!
The Shanghai Museum was created in 1952, it is magnificent. The whole collection is about 120,000 pieces of ancient Chinese arts. Bronze, paintings, furniture, coins, ivory carvings , minority clothing and more. The periods covered in the museum range from the Neolithic age to the Qing Dynasty. We were lucky to use the audio tour, which helped us navigate the huge collection. One of my favorite exhibit was the furniture... I could not believe that certain pieces were created during the Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644), I saw an elegant folding armchair, which had a beautiful carved back, it was made with a wood I did not know called "Huanghuali wood". Another one of my favorite items was an embroidered court dress. It had dragons with lots of clouds. The Manchu were reported to wear this type of dress during the Qing Dynasty. I could see myself wearing such a beautiful article of clothing! But of course it was reserved for the upper class.
Today, we went to the Shanghai Museum. To enter the building we had to go through a security door...lucky us, it was the first day that the Chinese security guards were using this new system, in preparation for the incoming Olympics. Needless to say, it was an adventure in itself!
The Shanghai Museum was created in 1952, it is magnificent. The whole collection is about 120,000 pieces of ancient Chinese arts. Bronze, paintings, furniture, coins, ivory carvings , minority clothing and more. The periods covered in the museum range from the Neolithic age to the Qing Dynasty. We were lucky to use the audio tour, which helped us navigate the huge collection. One of my favorite exhibit was the furniture... I could not believe that certain pieces were created during the Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644), I saw an elegant folding armchair, which had a beautiful carved back, it was made with a wood I did not know called "Huanghuali wood". Another one of my favorite items was an embroidered court dress. It had dragons with lots of clouds. The Manchu were reported to wear this type of dress during the Qing Dynasty. I could see myself wearing such a beautiful article of clothing! But of course it was reserved for the upper class.
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