Tao Wang: Bronze Collecting of Emperors and Scholars in Ancient China

In Chinese history, there were two categories of collector who distinguished themselves through their collection of ancient bronzes: the emperor and the social elite, who were usually educated officials. This lecture will focus on a number of archaic bronzes that were once collected by Chinese emperors and prominent scholars. In this presentation, Wang Tao will explore these significant objects from ancient China and their deep and rich social and cultural histories: evolving from everyday use for cooking, drinking, and serving food to becoming powerful symbols of divine omens for dynastic rulers, as well as playing an important role in forming relationships among the social elites.

Tao Wang, PhD, is an archaeologist and art historian specializing in early Chinese art. He is the Pritzker Chair of Asian Art and curator of Chinese Art at the Art Institute of Chicago.

$10, $5 My Mia members, free to members of the Asian Art Affinity Group. Register online or call 612.870.6323. Tickets available beginning August 13.