| Transcript |
- represented with such items as small gilt-bronze Buddhist votive figures, ceramic tomb figurines, ceramic vessels, a silvered bronze container and numerous exam�ples of paintings and calligraphy reportedly from the Dunhuang caves.
The next major focus of the collection is on the ceramic wares of the Song (960- 1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) periods. A wide panorama of types and shapes of this classic age of Chinese ceramics is represented�celadons, Jun ware, Guan ware, yingqing or qingbai ware, Ding ware and black-glazed stoneware; but the most numerous and finest examples of this period are the Cizhou wares. This group of Cizhou wares is of special interest to the student for not only do they include fine ceramic vessels but also two magnificent ceramic pillows with beautifully painted scenes. Cizhou ceramics have become much more appreciated for their brushwork recently due to Yutaka Mino�s well-researched catalogue and exhibition in 1980/81 entitled Freedom of Clay and Brush Through Seven Centuries in Northern China: Tz�u-chou Type Wares, 960-1600, A.D. There is also an interesting selection of miniature ceramic vessels and toy figures from this period, which are well repre�sented in the collection.
From the later periods of Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911), theMenzies collection has some blue and white porcelains, overglaze enamel procelains, lacquerwares, snuff bottles of various media, jade and bamboo carvings, early woodblock books of sutras, painting manuals (e.g. The Mustard Seed Garden Painting Manual) and some paintings including one by the Last Emperor�s brother, Pu Ru.
In the cataloguing of the collection, which follows, some of the information has been gleaned from the notes of Rev. Dr. James M. Menzies himself. However, occasionally, the dates and ceramic types have been changed. This is due to the fact that we now have a much greater wealth of archaeological information to draw from than was available to Rev. Dr. Menzies in the early part of this century. If some of the changes are incorrect, I will assume the responsibility for any errors.
It is hoped this exhibition and catalogue will help show Rev. Dr. James Menzies� interesting taste in collecting unusual archaeological artifacts as well as contribute to the understanding and appreciation of Chinese art.
Barry Till.
|
|---|
