Chinese porcelain from the Santos Palace.
Lienart, MNAAG.| N° d'inventaire | 25317 |
| Format | 25 x 28.5 |
| Détails | 480 p., numerous color photographic plates, publisher's hardcover. |
| Publication | Paris, 2021 |
| Etat | Nine |
| ISBN | 9782359063219 |
The Santos Palace in Lisbon, now the seat of the French Embassy in Portugal, contains a treasure: a small square living room, topped with a pyramidal roof of gilded wood, on which hang nearly three hundred Chinese porcelain dishes and plates, mostly decorated in white and blue .
Unique in the world, this collection of Chinese porcelain, constituting the incomparable and sumptuous decoration of the "Porcelain Room" of the Santos Palace, illustrates the history of ceramic production in China, between the beginning of the 16th century and the end of the 17th century, and its trade with Europe. These exchanges also gave rise to technological transfers and astonishing artistic creations on European soil. Although this collection constitutes the largest set of Chinese porcelains to arrive in Europe so early, it is virtually unknown to Chinese specialists and even more so to the general public, both Chinese and European.
For the past five years, the MNAAG has been engaged in a broad initiative aimed at promoting this unique architectural testimony. In 2019, the museum offered its visitors the exhibition "A Firmament of Porcelain, from China to Europe," featuring an exceptional 3D reconstruction of the ceiling of the Santos Palace. In 2021, the exhibition "West Encounters East: A Cultural Conversation between Chinese and European Ceramics" extends this experience at the Shanghai Museum.
The book Chinese Porcelain from the Santos Palace is a catalogue raisonné of this unique collection. The result of a collaborative effort between historians, researchers, and curators, this book offers a rich presentation of the approximately three hundred porcelain pieces in this collection.
The Santos Palace in Lisbon, now the seat of the French Embassy in Portugal, contains a treasure: a small square living room, topped with a pyramidal roof of gilded wood, on which hang nearly three hundred Chinese porcelain dishes and plates, mostly decorated in white and blue .
Unique in the world, this collection of Chinese porcelain, constituting the incomparable and sumptuous decoration of the "Porcelain Room" of the Santos Palace, illustrates the history of ceramic production in China, between the beginning of the 16th century and the end of the 17th century, and its trade with Europe. These exchanges also gave rise to technological transfers and astonishing artistic creations on European soil. Although this collection constitutes the largest set of Chinese porcelains to arrive in Europe so early, it is virtually unknown to Chinese specialists and even more so to the general public, both Chinese and European.
For the past five years, the MNAAG has been engaged in a broad initiative aimed at promoting this unique architectural testimony. In 2019, the museum offered its visitors the exhibition "A Firmament of Porcelain, from China to Europe," featuring an exceptional 3D reconstruction of the ceiling of the Santos Palace. In 2021, the exhibition "West Encounters East: A Cultural Conversation between Chinese and European Ceramics" extends this experience at the Shanghai Museum.
The book Chinese Porcelain from the Santos Palace is a catalogue raisonné of this unique collection. The result of a collaborative effort between historians, researchers, and curators, this book offers a rich presentation of the approximately three hundred porcelain pieces in this collection.