China and Chinoiseries: Between Reality and Dream

It wasn’t until the late thirteen century that Europeans started to hear about the distant land of China, which Marco Polo described in the “Book of the Marvels of the World.” Such tales sounded so extraordinary that Europeans would soon not only crave China’s treasures, but also dream of another “fabricated” China. Chinese porcelain, lacquer work, rock crystal vessels, or ancient scrolls found their way to princely collections, while chinoiseries pavilions and interiors were born in royal parks and palaces. Art historian Emmanuel Ducamp explores connections between Chinese artworks such as those in the Norton Museum collection, and the objects they inspired.