Showcasing some 170 objects and artifacts from Japan, China, Batavia, and India and co-organized with the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, “Asia > Amsterdam: Luxury in the Golden Age” is a historical overview that offers viewers a glimpse of the opulence and luxury of the Dutch Golden Age as symbolized by the Asian treasures that converged on the wealthy burgher port of Amsterdam in the 17th century. The intricate patterning and exotic materials found in these ethereal Japanese lacquer, translucent Japanese porcelain and ivory, Indonesian gems, and Indian ebony and filigree pieces stimulated the minds and imaginations of the wealthy Dutch bourgeoisie. Not only were these artistic traditions and heritages imported into Holland, they were often localized and streamlined to suit Dutch tastes and interiors as well. Case in point: Dutch East India officials who went to live in tropical climates often commissioned local craftsmen to use vernacular materials to make Dutch cabinets combining Western and Eastern ornamental motifs.“Asia > Amsterdam: Luxury in the Golden Age” runs through January 17, 2016 at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts.
↧