Colloquies on Art & Archaeology in Asia No. 18 Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art

Author: Rosemary Scott

Publisher/Date: School of Oriental & African Studies, 1997

Format/Condition: NEW softcover book, 262 pages, illustrated in b/w

Description: From the foreword: “This volume contains the Proceedings of the 18th Percival David Foundation Colloquy on Art & Archaeology in Asia, which in 1995 was devoted to the subject of Chinese jade. These colloquies were begun by Professor William Watson in 1970, and have addressed a wide variety of topics over the intervening years. Given the high esteem in which jade is held in China, it is perhaps surprising that this branch of Chinese art has not been the subject of any of the previous colloquies.

There were, however, several compelling reasons why the summer of 1995 was a particularly appropriate time to hold a colloquy on Chinese jade. Firstly, much exciting new research had recently been done and new archaeological discoveries had caused us to revise our previously held views in a number of areas. We are very grateful to our contributors for sharing the fruits of their research both at the colloquy itself and in this publication. Secondly, the Percival David Foundation was fortunate enough to be loaned a wonderful selection of fine jades of the Ming and Qing dynasties by the Victoria and Albert Museum and by Sir John and Lady Woolf. At the same time the British Museum had on display a superb exhibition of early jades from the collection of Sir Joseph Hotung. This colloquy was, therefore, held in association with the British Museum and we would like to express our gratitude to Carol Michaelson and her colleagues in the Oriental Antiquities Department for all their help in its organisation.”