DOI Heft:
Nr. 230 (April 1916)
DOI Artikel:Oriental art: a note
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.43461#0210
Oriental Art: A Note by Eugene Castello
University Museum, Philadelphia
POTTERY MORTUARY HORSE (CHINESE)
ORIENTAL ART
A NOTE BY EUGENE CAS-
TELLO
The opening of an exhibition of
Oriental Art in the new Charles Curtis Harrison
Hall of the University Museum of Philadelphia,
was the occasion on February 14 of a gathering of
people distinguished in art, college and social
circles, interested as connoisseurs or as generous
contributors, in a financial way, to the building
of the new hall. In architectural effect it is most
imposing, circular in plan, one hundred feet in
diameter, crowned by a vaulted dome and lighted
at the apex very much in the way that is seen in
the Pantheon at Rome and, in addition, by means
of a row of triplet windows at the springing of
the vault arches. The most remarkable part of
the display is of Chinese provenance, many superb
porcelains purchased from the Morgan collection,
others loaned, ancient sculpture, bronzes, jades,
paintings, and objects in faience. There is also a
notable assemblage of articles of religious use from
Thibet. A number of very large squares of old
Brussels tapestry relieve the warm grey of the
walls. The exquisite colourings of these ancient
Chinese porcelain vases,
the rich cobalt blues, the
mottled powder blues, the
celadons, peach blooms,
sang de bceuf,familleverte,
famille noir, turquoises and
mandarin yellows appeal
to the eye of the artist
probably more than would
the design of most of the
specim ens familiar to many
of us through modern imi-
tations, but the old colours
are, many of them, inim-
itable. Among other curi-
ous objects of art there is
a pair of mortuary horses
in glazed pottery 19JT
inches high, dating about
a.d. 900. A bronze, gold
and silver nielle wine-pot
apparently made about
iooob.c. Statues in stone
of Buddhist deities and
priests and grotesque ani-
mals are exposed effec-
tively in niches and on pedestals. A small col-
lection of milk-white and green jade sceptres and
University Museum, Philadelphia
CHARLES CURTIS HARRISON HALL
LXIV
University Museum, Philadelphia
POTTERY MORTUARY HORSE (CHINESE)
ORIENTAL ART
A NOTE BY EUGENE CAS-
TELLO
The opening of an exhibition of
Oriental Art in the new Charles Curtis Harrison
Hall of the University Museum of Philadelphia,
was the occasion on February 14 of a gathering of
people distinguished in art, college and social
circles, interested as connoisseurs or as generous
contributors, in a financial way, to the building
of the new hall. In architectural effect it is most
imposing, circular in plan, one hundred feet in
diameter, crowned by a vaulted dome and lighted
at the apex very much in the way that is seen in
the Pantheon at Rome and, in addition, by means
of a row of triplet windows at the springing of
the vault arches. The most remarkable part of
the display is of Chinese provenance, many superb
porcelains purchased from the Morgan collection,
others loaned, ancient sculpture, bronzes, jades,
paintings, and objects in faience. There is also a
notable assemblage of articles of religious use from
Thibet. A number of very large squares of old
Brussels tapestry relieve the warm grey of the
walls. The exquisite colourings of these ancient
Chinese porcelain vases,
the rich cobalt blues, the
mottled powder blues, the
celadons, peach blooms,
sang de bceuf,familleverte,
famille noir, turquoises and
mandarin yellows appeal
to the eye of the artist
probably more than would
the design of most of the
specim ens familiar to many
of us through modern imi-
tations, but the old colours
are, many of them, inim-
itable. Among other curi-
ous objects of art there is
a pair of mortuary horses
in glazed pottery 19JT
inches high, dating about
a.d. 900. A bronze, gold
and silver nielle wine-pot
apparently made about
iooob.c. Statues in stone
of Buddhist deities and
priests and grotesque ani-
mals are exposed effec-
tively in niches and on pedestals. A small col-
lection of milk-white and green jade sceptres and
University Museum, Philadelphia
CHARLES CURTIS HARRISON HALL
LXIV