Tea, Wine and Poetry: Qing Dynasty Literati and their Drinking Vessels
诗酒茶情：清代制壶名家遗珍

China was the first country in the world to grow, produce, and drink tea. As interest grew throughout the centuries, a tea culture representing the philosophical and aesthetic views of China developed. As the first in-depth study of Yixing vessels within the context of individual artists, this exhibition reflected the rich tradition of Chinese tea culture. Yixing teapots, made from a highly prized clay from Yixing in Jiangsu Province, west of Shanghai, were among the many highlights. Featuring more than fifty works of ceramics, pewter, paintings, and calligraphies, as well as other media drawn from various collections, this exhibition introduced the concept of tea culture as a medium for cultural communication and highlighted the esteemed artistic and social environment of the literati, reflecting the academic and literary currents from the late Ming (1368– 1644) to the Qing (1644–1911) dynasties.