Eloquent Objects

Eloquent Objects
The Wongs’ Collection of Chinese Antiquities and Artefacts
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
ISBN 0-9750545-4-6

In keeping with the munificence of the donation by Professor Shiu Hon and Mrs Nancy Wong of their lifetime collection of Chinese ceramics and other artefacts, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery has published a book to commemorate the event. 

That’s a simple explanation of what is a handsome volume, handsomely produced and illustrated, and a wonderful memento of this significant gift to the people of Tasmania.

Peter Hughes, Curator of Fine Arts at the Museum, wrote much of the text, and Hannah Gamble designed elegant pages that record each item, 248 in all. A collector’s edition was also produced — selling not only to interested Tasmanians but also to many people in China itself.

The distinction of the Wongs’ Collection is not merely the beauty of the objects themselves, but lies in the fact this is a longitudinal study of Chinese art and craftsmanship from an astonishing 7,000 years plus ago to recent times.

Bill Bleathman, Director of the TMAG (as it’s popularly known) wrote a heartfelt appreciation of the gift of behalf of the trustees and volunteers of the museum in his Foreword, and Professor Wong followed with a story of how the collection came about from as early as 1976.

In his words: “It was always our strong belief that art objects, especially beautiful ones, should be appreciated by many. Having spent much time and effort in building up a collection such as ours, we have been constantly exploring ways to share it with others...”

Luckily for us, the Wongs were fascinated by Hobart when they first visited it in the 1980s and felt this was the place to share their lifetime interest.

See the collection at the Museum — there will always be a selection of the 248 items on show at any one time — and turn to this book for your own private collection to browse in at leisure. Each photograph, by the Museum’s Simon Cuthbert, is accompanied by text that gives further details, some technical, some fascinating snippets of the history of the time when the piece was produced. 

One for your library, and one of those books you will want to keep to hand on to children and grandchildren. PH

Leatherwood Online has several galleries taken from the Wongs Collection. Enjoy them here

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