A Dialogue of Material, History and Exchange
At the heart of Asian Room I stands a finely carved Chinese wooden wall relief – a visual narrative rich with mythological figures and courtly scenes. Framed by two blue-and-white porcelain vases, the composition is both serene and intricate. One vase holds a blooming branch of cherry blossoms, a poignant symbol of impermanence and fleeting beauty in both Chinese and Japanese traditions.
Beneath the arrangement, a brass mortar releases a bouquet of coveted spices—ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg—flavours whose high value in 17th-century Europe prompted the Dutch East India Company to maintain trading outposts on the clove- and nutmeg-rich Moluccas, at Ceylon’s cinnamon gardens, and along the routes to Batavia, China and the Japanese enclave of Dejima. Nearby, a delicate ivory netsuke figure nods to the miniature mastery of traditional Japanese craftsmanship, once worn as both ornament and function.
Explore the Details
This room is a quiet staging – an invitation to contemplation, to the passage of time, and the artistry of everyday objects. Each piece speaks of culture, heritage, and the power of detail. While Asian Room I focuses on the sought-after wares of early Euro-Asian trade—spices and porcelain—Asian Room II invites you to explore the symbolic layers behind key Asian motifs and objects.
Click on the hotspots in the image or explore the individual products below to discover more details about each unique piece.
