Ringling Museum Special Exhibitions!

Crosscurrents of Design: Asian Export Ceramics

February 19 - October 30, 2011 

 
   Asian ceramics have captivated collectors for centuries because of their exquisite forms, patterns and materials.  Originally, they were created for the domestic market.  Advancements in sailing and navigation in the 15th century made ceramic export feasible and economically viable.  Asian ceramics first traveled to nearby local markets; later on, they were exported farther to Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.  Asian export ceramics were created in areas that are now known as Thailand, Vietnam, China and Japan.  Combining indigenous traditions and borrowed designs, these decorative and practical objects document the cross-cultural exchange of material goods and artistic motifs that began centuries ago and still continues today.

Ringling Museum Special Exhibitions!

The Art of Jade

February 19 -

October 30, 2011 

      Jade has been shaped for human purposes for thousands of years.  Receptive to delicate details and broad surfaces alike, jade was originally used by the Chinese for ceremonial objects, tools, and weapons because of its strength.  Gradually it was valued for its aesthetic qualities, and it is still a prestigious material in Chinese culture. 

       Jade is a generic term for a very durable stone which has two varieties, specifically known as nephrite and jadeite.  Its hardness makes it almost impossible to carve; instead, it must be worn away, abraded, and drilled, presenting challenges far beyond those faced by sculptors of more compliant materials.  Natural veining is often incorporated into designs, taking advantage of the stone’s specific characteristics to complement the artist’s forms with variations in color.

This exhibition features objects that are a promised gift to the Ringling Museum from Dr. Helga Wall-Apelt.  Fashioned chiefly during the late Qing dynasty (1644-1912), they reflect ancient traditions, though occasionally revealing a glimpse of a more modern spirit.