Radiance: Ancient Gold from the Hong Kong Palace Museum Collection and the Mengdiexuan Collection

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) is delighted to present “Radiance: Ancient Gold from the Hong Kong Palace Museum Collection and the Mengdiexuan Collection” — the first special exhibition from the Museum’s own permanent collection. Running from 22 February to 25 September 2023, the exhibition showcases more than 200 sets of ancient gold artefacts, the majority of which are specially selected from a donation made to HKPM by the owners of the world-renowned Mengdiexuan Collection (夢蝶軒), Betty Lo and Kenneth Chu.

Major showcase of gold artefacts in Hong Kong spanning over three millennia

“Radiance: Ancient Gold from the Hong Kong Palace Museum Collection and the Mengdiexuan Collection” is the biggest exhibition in Hong Kong in recent years that highlights the artistic and technical achievements of gold in ancient China. It explores the role of gold in political activities, life, culture, and the dynamic connections across territories over the past 3,000 years.

The exhibition offers an incredible display of more than 200 sets of gold objects, including exquisite accessories of the nobles and the splendid ornaments that adorned their horses and carriages, with the oldest dating back to the 18th century BCE. These delicately crafted gold objects still glimmer despite their long heritage, and many of them are shown to the public for the first time.

The exhibition is divided into three sections: the first section features early gold objects from the Central Plains and Eurasian Steppe since the 18th century BCE, such as the gold crowns of a Xiongnu elite, examining the interaction between ancient China and the Steppe. The second section focuses on the role of gold in the close relationship between the Tubo Kingdom and the Tang dynasty from the 7th to 10th century, which was marked by frequent exchanges resulting from the development of the Silk Road trade routes. Highlighted exhibits include decorations used by Tubo nobles and embellished with patterns from the Central Plains, as well as a jewelled headdress inspired by Central Western Asian crafts and worn by princesses of the Tang dynasty. The last section looks at the pinnacle of goldsmithing in ancient China, demonstrating the cultural localisation and integration that took place from the Liao and Song dynasties to the Ming dynasty.

Betty Lo and Kenneth Chu, owners of the Mengdiexuan Collection, are both eminent collectors and experts in Chinese gold ornaments. In 2022, the couple generously donated 946 ancient Chinese gold and silver antiquities to the HKPM, including precious items spanning more than 3,000 years. Their donation laid a strong foundation for the Museum’s permanent collection and academic research of Chinese art objects.

Dr Louis Ng, Museum Director of the HKPM, said, “As Hong Kong reopens to welcome visitors from around the world, we are extremely proud to present our first special exhibition from the HKPM’s own permanent collection. The exhibits reflect the uniqueness of the trade, cultural exchanges, and dynamic dialogues that existed in ancient China, giving visitors a unique opportunity to learn about the unity and diversity of the Chinese nation while inspiring deeper cultural appreciation. We are grateful for the generous donation from Betty and Kenneth, which has a far-reaching impact on the Museum’s development. As 2023 also marks the 10th anniversary of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the HKPM aspires to promote the excellence of Chinese culture through this exhibition, further establishing Hong Kong’s role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange and promoting the fabulous Chinese art and culture to the global audience.”

Betty Lo, co-owner of the Mengdiexuan Collection, said, “Our vision of collecting resonates with the HKPM’s vision of advancing dialogue among world civilisations and promoting Chinese art and culture to visitors from around the world. We firmly believe that the HKPM is the perfect home for our beloved collections, and it is meaningful to share the excellence and influence of ancient Chinese gold through this exhibition. We hope the exhibition will arouse the public’s interest in learning about these precious objects and their history, cultivating a deeper appreciation of the splendour of ancient China.”