Chinese Collection. Norton Museum of Art

Chinese works of art have been an important part of the permanent collections since the Museum first opened in 1941. Among the wonderfully carved 18th and 19th century jades and hardstones - the original Chinese collection - are four massive jades produced for the emperor of China in the mid-1700s. R.H. Norton also acquired for the Museum most of the extraordinary prehistoric and archaic jades, dating from 3rd millennium BCE to the Han dynasty (221 BCE - 206 CE), as well as many of the superb bronze vessels of the Shang (circa 1450 - 1100 BCE) and Western Zhou (circa 1100 - 771 BCE) dynasties. Following Norton's lead in choosing the best and most representative works of Chinese art, the Museum has purchased additional bronzes as well as outstanding examples of early ceramics and Buddhist sculpture. More recent additions to the Chinese collection include figures and models destined for burial in the tombs of China's ancient elite, brilliant examples of decorated porcelains of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties and a possibly unique set of painted lacquer cabinets. A group of some 100 Chinese Export porcelains, many of them lavishly decorated armorial porcelains that bear the coats of arms of 18th century European nobility, help bridge the gap between East and West.

8 SELECTED OBJECTS, CHINESE COLLECTION:

Bowl with Seven Buddhas of the Past
Qing dynasty, Qianlong period, dated 1777
Jade, 5 7/8 x diameter 9 1/2 inches.
Gift of R.H. Norton, 42.66
© Bruce M. White Photography

Dragon pendant
Eastern Zhou dynasty, early Warring States period, fifth century BCE.
Jade, 8 1/8 x 4 1/8 x 1/4 inches.
Gift of R.H. Norton, 50.27
© Bruce M. White Photography

Ritual wine-pouring vessel
Shang dynasty, Anyang period, about 12th-11th century BCE. Bronze, 7 1/4 x 8 x 4 13/16 inches.
Gift of R.H. Norton, 52.7
© Bruce M. White Photography

Head of a colossal Buddha
Tang dynasty, late 7th century. Limestone, approximately 30 x 16 x 16 inches.
Purchase, the R.H. Norton Trust, 61.14
© Bruce M. White Photography

Two horses and two grooms
Probably Northern Dynasties, 386-581
Earthenware, polychrome decoration; armored groom (right): 12 3/4 x 5 3/4 x 3 1/2 inches; caparisoned horse (left): 15 5/8 x 8 x 16 inches.
Purchase, the R.H. Norton Trust, 2000.4.1-.4
© Bruce M. White Photography

Baluster-shaped vase with four-clawed dragons
Qing dynasty, Kangxi period, 1662-1722
Porcelain, underglaze cobalt blue decoration, 31 1/8 x diameter 10 1/2 inches.
Purchase, the R.H. Norton Trust, in memory of Stephen Flanders Holland, a senior administrator of the Norton Museum of Art from 1961-1987, 2004.12

Pair of cabinets and cupboards (detail)
Ming/Qing dynasty, probably mid- to late-17th century
Painted lacquer with gold, cabinet: 79 1/4 x 52 5/8 x 24 3/8 inches; cupboard: 32 3/4 x 52 5/8 x 24 3/8 inches.
Bequest of Leonard and Sophie Davis, 2001.173a-b, 2001.174a-b
© Bruce M. White Photography

'Hong' punchbowl with scenes of the waterfront at Canton and the Dutch fort
Qing dynasty, about 1770
Porcelain, overglaze enamel and gold decoration, 6 1/8 x diameter 16 inches.
Gift of The Leo and Doris Hodroff Collection, 2003.183

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