Purple clay teapot of bamboo hat shape
Yang Pengnian (active late 18th century-early 19th century) and Chen Hongshou (1768-1822)
Dated 1821
H: 7 cm W: 13.5 cm (Photo courtesy of University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong)

Purple clay teapot of qin-zither shape encased in pewter
Zhu Jian (active early 19th century)
H: 11 cm W: 13 cm
(Photo courtesy of University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong)

Tea, Wine and Poetry: Qing dynasty literati and their drinking vessels
1 December 2006 to 4 February 2007

This exhibition will explore the wine and tea-drinking culture of China during the Qing dynasty through the synthesis of art and design apparent in drinking vessels of the period, as well as the cultural activities of contemporary scholars and artists.

The exhibits include approximately fifty examples of purple clay teapots, wine ewers and cups as well as teapots encased in pewter made or designed by scholar-artists. A particular highlight will be works by literati artists of the late 17th to early 19th centuries, namely Shen Cunzhou, Chen Hongshou (Mansheng), Qu Yingshao (Ziye) and Zhu Jian (Shimei). This exhibition will be the first comprehensive study of the artistic activities of these artists, presented through their calligraphy, painting, poetry and seal-engraving. The exhibits will also include some examples of scholar's objects such as water dropper, water pot, inkslab and wrist-rest. Seals by Chen Hongshou and Qu Yingshao, as well as paintings and calligraphy by Chen Hongshou, Qu Yingshao, Zhu Jian, Gai Qi, Qian Du and Zhu Weibi will also be on display.

All the exhibits are drawn from private collections in London, San Francisco and Taipei. Following its presentation at the University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong, the exhibition will travel to the China Institute Gallery of the China Institute in America, New York, where it will be on view from March to June 2007.

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