The gold finial for the imperial consort’s hat, inlaid with pearl and cat’s-eye gemstone, was captivating and the bronze incense burner in the shape of a cauldron was elegance itself. But we were drawn back again and again to a green dish about 16cm around with a rim the height of a soup plate. This was Ru ware from the Song Dynasty in the 11th century and the delicate colour of its celadon glaze has been celebrated in China down the centuries.
It was one of the objects in a new exhibition at Taipei’s National Palace Museum called The Splendour of Dream of the Red Chamber (until May 17th, 2026). Also known as The Story of the Stone, the 18th-century Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber has been compared to Proust’s À la recherche du temps perdu. Its author calls up memories of the lost glory and opulence of a noble family that enjoyed great prestige during the High Qing era before its fortunes declined.
The exhibition uses objects from the museum’s collection and from two libraries in Taiwan to bring the visitor into the world of the novel. Watches and snuff boxes from Europe illustrate how families like that in the novel followed the latest fashions while objects such as the Ru dish reflect the wealth and luxury of the world the author is remembering. READ MORE Jumping jelly bean Rishi Sunak bounces into campaign mode ‘Our plan and our priorities are working’: Rishi Sunak limbers up for UK election campaign centred on economy ‘Bionic MP’ makes emotional.
