Chinese Antiques

The ancient arts and crafts of China, for centuries, have attracted international attention for their intricacy and subtlety. From porcelain to jade, furniture, paintings and screens and scrolls, they embody the essence of Chinese history and culture. This series explores some of the best examples of Chinese antiques.

Art & Culture

'Unforgettable!' Fiddle collection on display

The jinghu is a traditional stringed instrument in the huqin family, with a cylindrical soundbox covered in snakeskin. Jinghu is a principal melodic instrument in Peking Opera.

2019-10-19 00:00 0

Art & Culture

The beauty of the imperfect and incomplete

Yang Jinmei has collected thousands of porcelain fragments, which are informative, allowing people to have a better understanding of their inner structures and materials.

2019-09-27 19:08 0

Art & Culture

Opening our eyes to spectacles of the past

Believe it or not, the precursors of spectacles can be traced back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-220) in China.

2019-09-06 17:29 0

Art & Culture

Time on their hands: Two collectors pursue love of vintage clock

Most of us rely on mobile phones to rouse us in the morning. But some still find comfort in the rotation of hands and the ticking sounds of passing seconds.

2019-08-23 18:34 0

Art & Culture

Just for the record: Some of us prefer phonograph music

Vinyl records were invented by German-born American Emile Berliner in 1891, spawning an industry that once flourished in Shanghai.

2019-08-13 13:01 0

Art & Culture

How China imported an artwork genre and made it its own

Introduced sometime around the late 13th century, cloisonné took firm root in China. Such enamelware is called jingtailan in China.

2019-07-26 14:42 0

Art & Culture

Collector's hands caress the love of his life

Huqin is a family of bowed string instruments frequently used in Chinese traditional music. For a man in his 60s, the instrument is his lifelong lover.

2019-07-19 17:42 0