Date：2018-11-16 - 2019-02-24
Location：No. 1 Exhibition Hall

China was the birth place of lacquers. The Chinese have used lacquers continuously for more than 7000 years since Neolithic times, Hemudu Culture. The ancient, precise, diverse lacquer technique was considered as one of the biggest contributions of China to world civilization. During the Warring period, Qin and Han dynasty which was considered as the first peak of Chinese lacquers history, Chinese lacquers experienced rapid development. At that time lacquers were used extensively as sacrifices, funerary objects or daily necessities. A huge number of painted lacquers were excavated. The period from Song dynasty to Qing dynasty was regarded as the second peak of the development of lacquers. A wide variety and a huge number of lacquers sprang up at that time, creating an important and prosperity period of lacquers.
In order to carry forward the traditional Chinese lacquer culture, In a Myriad of Forms: The Exhibition of Ancient Chinese Lacquers is held in Shanghai Museum. More than 200 pieces of ancient Chinese lacquers were selected from Shanghai Museum. Besides, unearthed lacquers from Zhejiang Provincial Museum, Changzhou Museum, Fuzhou Museum and Datong Museum were also displayed in the exhibition correspondingly. We hope to take this opportunity to promote the cognition and research of Chinese lacquers.

Tomb Guardian

Winged Cup

Winged Cup with Phoenix Pattern

Dou (Food Container) with Cloud and Bird Pattern

Zun (Wine Vessel) with Cloud and Bird Pattern

Winged Cup with Dragon Pattern and a Statuette

Round Plate with Cloud and Phoenix Pattern

Round Case

Dressing Case in the Shape of Lotus

Plates in the Shape of Chrysanthemum

Round Case with Cloud Pattern

Octagonal Dressing Case with Cloud Pattern

Dressing Case with Curling Grass Pattern

Round Case in the Theme of Picking Asters neath the Eastern Fence

Plate in the Theme of Returning from Travel in the Shape of Lotus

Round Case with Cloud and Dragon Pattern

Round Screen with Figures in Pavilion Scene

Case with Travelling Scene

A Pair of Round Cases with Figures in Landscape

Case with Figural Decoration in the Shape of Water Caltrop Flower

Round Case with Figural Decoration

Square Dou (Measure of Grain) with Landscape

Round Plates with Figures in Landscapes

Dressing Case with Figural and Floral Decoration in the Shape of Water Caltrop Flower

Rectangular Case with Willow and Pond Scene

Sarira Case with Roof Shaped Top Surface

Rectangular Plate with Figures in Landscape

Fruit Plate with Legendary Turtle Decoration by Shen Zhenghao

Statuettes in the theme of Sun Wukong Fighting with Yang Jian by Cai Wenpei

【Virtual】 In a Myriad of Forms: The Exhibition of Ancient Chinese Lacquers