Carved ivory pagodaCanton (Guangzhou), south China, 19th centuryAccession Number1981.876.123
Chinese craftsmen are famous for their ivory carving. In the past ivory was imported from Africa, India and parts of Southeast Asia.
The Chinese began to export ivory carvings to Europe in the early 18th century. By the 19th century Canton (Guangzhou) was the centre of ivory production for export.
The Canton school of carvers was famous for making concentric balls carved from a solid block of ivory. These balls are extremely complicated and difficult to carve. Some have 18 spheres, one inside the other. It took a carver up to three months to create a large one.
Chinese craftsmen are famous for their ivory carving. In the past ivory was imported from Africa, India and parts of Southeast Asia.
The Chinese began to export ivory carvings to Europe in the early 18th century. By the 19th century Canton (Guangzhou) was the centre of ivory production for export.
The Canton school of carvers was famous for making concentric balls carved from a solid block of ivory. These balls are extremely complicated and difficult to carve. Some have 18 spheres, one inside the other. It took a carver up to three months to create a large one.
Carved ivory ball
Canton (Guangzhou), south China, mid 19th century
Asia traded in silk, cotton, spices and porcelain.
The trade in spices made a great deal of money. By the 16th century, merchants from Europe controlled the trade in South East Asia. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, they imported huge cargoes of porcelain and tea from China to Europe.
Europeans formed a picture of Asia from these goods.
Asia fascinated Europe. In the 18th century European designers combined Chinese, Japanese and Indian designs with Western styles to create a new fashion called 'chinoiserie'.
Sir Douglas Crawford collected some of the objects you see here in the 20th century. They show the continuing interest in Asia and Chinese art.
CHINA
China is one of the world's oldest civilisations.
China had good trade links across the Silk Road. This great route linking China to the Mediterranean lands was named after the valuable Chinese silks traded along it.
By the 12th century China had strong links with its neighbours - Korea, Japan, South East Asia and Tibet.
China was trading with Europe from the 1500s. By the 19th century Liverpool merchants were an important part of the China trade.
Liverpool families who were involved in shipping offered many exported Chinese objects to this museum. You can see some of them here.
Follow the links in the navigation panel to explore more of these collections.
China had good trade links across the Silk Road. This great route linking China to the Mediterranean lands was named after the valuable Chinese silks traded along it.
By the 12th century China had strong links with its neighbours - Korea, Japan, South East Asia and Tibet.
China was trading with Europe from the 1500s. By the 19th century Liverpool merchants were an important part of the China trade.
Liverpool families who were involved in shipping offered many exported Chinese objects to this museum. You can see some of them here.
Follow the links in the navigation panel to explore more of these collections.
Pair of imperial burners in the form of qilin
Asia traded in silk, cotton, spices and porcelain.
The trade in spices made a great deal of money. By the 16th century, merchants from Europe controlled the trade in South East Asia. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, they imported huge cargoes of porcelain and tea from China to Europe.
Europeans formed a picture of Asia from these goods.
Asia fascinated Europe. In the 18th century European designers combined Chinese, Japanese and Indian designs with Western styles to create a new fashion called 'chinoiserie'.
Sir Douglas Crawford collected some of the objects you see here in the 20th century. They show the continuing interest in Asia and Chinese art.
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