An exhibition of 63 remarkable pieces from Hong Kong's Flagstaff Museum of Tea Ware (T.S. Lo collection) is being held at the Museum of Mariemont from 14 November to 21 February in the framework of the Europalia arts festival.
The pieces include an imperial Qing teapot from the 18th century adorned with a pattern illustrating the picking and preparation of tea. There is also an exceptional set of Ming and Qing Yixing teapots, jewels of the K.S. Lo collection. Each Yixing teaport is an individual work of art signed by the potter who created it from a lump of brown or purple clay, the slight porosity of which preserves the aroma of the tea brewing in it. This production from the Jiangsu province, unique in the history of Chinese ceramics, fascinated the collector K.S. Lo, who played a significant part in the revival of Yixing porcelain in the 19th century.
The history of tea is also related to the history of international trade and globalisation, as appears from the decors of porcelain accessories shipped to Europe together with tea cargoes. Some of the pieces found in wrecked ships from the 17th and 18th centuries are also on show.
The exhibition is organised by Hong Kong's Leisure and Cultural Services Department, and sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels. The Deputy Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Communities, Ms Wong Yuet-wah, spoke at the opening.
See photos of the opening ceremony and press conference, and read the speeches made by Deputy Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Wong Yuet-wah and the Curator of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Ms Rose Lee.
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