ASIAN CIVILISATIONS MUSEUM (ACM)

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Jan 18, 2017
2 min read

Field Trip-ASIAN CIVILISATIONS MUSEUM (ACM)

Location -1Empress Place, Singapore 179555

Website- www.acm.org.sg

As the world’s largest continent, Asia is home to a breathtaking array of art and culture. From a rare 3,000 year old Chinese bronze rhino to the latest contemporary creations, the Asian Art Museum is a window to Asia’s past and present. With over 2,500 artworks from all over Asia in the museum’s collection galleries, something is bound to catch your eye.

Bowl with the Eight Immortals

China, late 17th century

Porcelain

The Eight Immortals 八仙 encircle this bowl. Two grotesque masks divide the group. All of these figures were applied to the surface of the bowl. The splash pattern of green, yellow, and brown echoes ceramics of the Tang dynasty (618-907).

Casket

Sri Lanka, early 16th century Ivory, sliver, gold leaf

The Ivory panels of this casket are carved with elegant spirals that enclosed animals like geese, lions,and makaras(mythical sea creatures). A cobra and mongoose decorate the silver latch. The handles and the form of the keyhole cover are European in style.

The Portuguese established a trading colony in Sri Lanka in 1505,and appointed a governing captain beginning in 1518. This object is an early example of Sri Lankan ivories made for Portugal, and formerly belonged to king Fernando2 (1816-1885).

Mother-of-pearl

Mother-of-pearl is the iridescent material from the inside of a mollusc shell. Becasue the shell is so brittle. great skill is required to select, cut, and polish it. The technique was a speciality of Gujarat in western india. the best objects carefully balance subtle blue, green, and pink tones of the shell.