​Artifact Pieces: Research on Present Provenance documentation (Museum Digital Record)
Lidded Box
1760-1800 (made)
ARTIST/MAKER
PLACE OF ORIGIN
OBJECT HISTORY
Purchased from the Tayler Collection, accessioned in 1873. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Part of a large group of Chinese and Indian objects purchased from Mr William Tayler. There is a long report on the collection by Matthew Digby Wyatt, the museum’s Art Referee, but he makes not mention of provenance. The register notes that this object comes 'From the Summer Palace, Pekin’, but there in no further information in the archive. The box's potential origins from the Old Summer Palace, which may have been looted during the Second Opium War, accentuate the ethical complexities surrounding its acquisition. The piece serves as a focal point for discussions on museum practices regarding the provenance, ethical acquisition, and display of artifacts with disputed histories, urging a reevaluation of guidelines for cultural restitution.
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unknown. “Lidded Box.” Victoria & Albert Museum, collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O493121/lidded-box-unknown/. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Double Vase
1760-1800 (made)
ARTIST/MAKER
PLACE OF ORIGIN
OBJECT HISTORY
Bequeathed by Arthur Wells, accessioned in 1882. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. Arthur Wells was a Nottingham solicitor and Clerk of the Peace. He was a keen traveller and a Fellow of the Geographical Society. He is considered the first private British collector of Chinese jade and from 1872 his collection of Chinese and Indian jades and other hardstones and Chinese cloisonne objects, was exhibited at the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A). This collection, numbering 160 objects, was left to the museum in his will. According to a list in the V&A archive, nine of the Chinese pieces came from 'the Summer Palace, Pekin', which refers to the imperial summer retreat Yuanming Yuan, located north of Beijing, which was plundered and destroyed by British and French troops during the Second Opium War in 1860. There is no further information in the archive file allowing us to verify this provenance, but objects looted from Yuanming Yuan were certainly circulating in Britain and Europe in the decades after 1860. While its provenance suggests a connection to Yuanming Yuan, the specifics remain unverified, underscoring ongoing dialogues about the complexities of artifact acquisition and the ethical considerations in cultural heritage preservation
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Unknown. “Double Vase.” Victoria & Albert Museum, 1760, collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O102809/double-vase-unknown/. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Object-Oriented: Provenance, documentation and media report
This segment focuses on several artifacts from Yuanmingyuan currently housed in Western museums. By analyzing the vague and often contentious histories of these items, the exhibition highlights the intricate and sometimes opaque art market transactions and auctions that these pieces have undergone. It critically assesses the motivations behind their acquisition, linking them to financial incentives and the broader processes of capitalist accumulation during colonial times. Furthermore, it engages with the ongoing debates surrounding restitution, illustrated by case studies such as the repatriation of the twelve bronze zodiac heads. This part challenges visitors to consider the ethics of possession and the complex pathways artifacts travel through time and space
By searching Yuanming Yuan artifacts and relics in museum representation, I found museum collections could serve as a media which could help researchers document themes.
Vase
Production date
1736-1795
Cultures/periods
Qianlong (period;?)
Findspot
Found/Acquired: Yuanming Yuan
Asia: China: Beijing (municipality): Beijing (city): Yuanming Yuan
This Qing Dynasty porcelain vase is delicately adorned with pearls and dragons among classic themes, inviting inquiry. The complex history of this vase, which goes back to the imperial Yuanming Yuan and is now kept in a museum, raises concerns about cultural exchange and the ethics of collecting antiques, all while demonstrating Chinese artistry in the 18th century.
“Vase | British Museum.” Www.britishmuseum.org, www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_Franks-258-. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Architectural Fitting
1747-1770 (made)
ARTIST/MAKER
PLACE OF ORIGIN
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This ceramic fragment with a turquoise-blue glaze was once part of an architectural ornament showing a band of decoration in relief. It was purchased by C. H. Wylde in China in 1912 as a fragment from the Old Summer Palace, Yuanming Yuan, Beijing. It most likely came from one of the European-style palaces in Yuanming Yuan. These buildings were designed by Italian and French Jesuits working at the Qing court. The Qianlong emperor, who ruled China from 1736 to 1795, had a great fascination for western ‘exotica’.
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unknown. “Architectural Fitting.” Victoria & Albert Museum, 1747, collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O494480/architectural-fitting-unknown/. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
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Architectural Fitting
1747-1770 (made)
ARTIST/MAKER
Unknown (maker)
PLACE OF ORIGIN
China (made)
This beautiful ceramic sculpture, which was formerly an ornamental element of the Old Summer Palace, is a prime example of the way the creative traditions of China and Europe were combined during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor. C. H. Wylde bought it in 1912, and it's a reminder of the cultural losses that occurred during the Second Opium War and a visible link to the palace's European-style architecture that the Jesuit missionaries created.
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Victoria. “Architectural Fitting | Unknown | V&a Explore the Collections.” Victoria and Albert Museum: Explore the Collections, 2022, collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O494481/architectural-fitting-unknown/. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
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This video clip delves into the ambiguity surrounding the provenance of Yuanming Yuan artifacts. This video clip examines the complex issue of provenance in the context of artifacts from the Old Summer Palace, highlighting how the allure of such historical connections can influence their value and desirability in the market. The discussion reveals the challenges in verifying the authenticity of such claims, shedding light on the intricate paper trail, or lack thereof, which often accompanies these cultural relics.
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Professor Hicks argued in "The Brutish Museum" that it's crucial to publish not only raw data but also detailed 'necrographies' of loss. This approach allows us to understand the provenance and determine the starting point for restitution. He concluded this process by locating the 10,000 objects that the Nazis looted from Benin (Hicks, 236). Therefore, examining the representation of these artifacts in the museum's digital records is crucial for tracking the data and fostering a strong team effort with researchers and museum specialists to tackle the ethical problem.
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Tythacott, Louise. "The Histories of Yuanmingyuan Collections in British and French Museums." BABEL Cultural Organization, uploaded by Louise Tythacott - School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 26 April 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYZ123, 27:56-30:00.
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Hicks, Dan. BRUTISH MUSEUMS : The Benin Bronzes, Colonial Violence and Cultural Restitution. S.L., Pluto Press, 2020.
Museum Documentation as media: cover colonial history and represent cultural exchange
British museum:
Explore the Old Summer Palace's storied past with the help of the varied artifacts housed in the Victoria & Albert Museum. From early photographs taken by Felice Beato to intricate artistic recreations that portray the imperial residence's grandeur and cultural importance prior to its demolition in 1860, this search page offers a treasure trove of objects and photographs. Aesthetic and historical tales are invited to be explored through each object in the collection, which offers a distinct viewpoint on the artistic and architectural legacy of the Old Summer Palace.
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Museum, Victoria and Albert. “Search Results | V&a Explore the Collections.” Victoria and Albert Museum, collections.vam.ac.uk/search/?page=1&page_size=15&q=the+old+summer+palace. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
The British Museum's Yuanming Yuan collection, which highlights cultural connections between China and Europe in the 18th century, includes the majestic Old Summer Palace as well as Qing Dynasty antiquities. This collection sheds light on one of China's most well-known imperial landmarks, delving into its complex history and creative tradition.
“Collections Online | British Museum.” www.britishmuseum.org, www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/x21672.
Yuanmingyuan Artefact Index" serves as a vital digital repository that catalogues artefacts associated with the Old Summer Palace, or Yuanmingyuan, which was looted during the second Opium War in 1860 by French and British troops. This index meticulously documents the movement and current whereabouts of these artefacts, many of which are sourced from 19th-century British newspapers. It aims to provide a comprehensive historical account and evidence of how these objects were dispersed across various museums and private collections worldwide. Through its detailed records, the index not only facilitates academic research and historical inquiry but also supports ongoing discussions about cultural restitution and the ethics of artifact acquisition (Kate)
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http://www.yuanmingyuanartefactindex.org/copyright
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