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Exhibiting Historical Art: Out of the Vault: Stories of People and ThingsMain MenuWorld MapClick pins to learn more about the object that originated thereTimelinePre-Columbian Gold Headband800 A.D. - 1500 A.D.Gold Eagle PendantsSepik River Headrest20th centuryStatue of Saint Barbara17th century France, polychromed wood, artist unknownCabinet door from the Imperial Palace of Beijing with Imperial DragonChen Youzhang, 1755Bronze LampHead of John the BaptistLauren Linquest, '19Ida Rubenstein, 1909 Sculpture by Jo DavidsonCassone ChestWater-Carrier Vase with Bamboo Pattern and BambooLenore Vanderkooi, 1996Lotus Flowers in a Wood VaseRevolutions Per Minute: The Art RecordOpening page
Door from Imperial Palace of Beijing
12016-04-12T11:09:16-07:00Millie Fullmera3908e40d2d0369318a8f3222bdbdc3d5881e09985323Cabinet door from the Imperial Palace of Beijing with design of Imperial Dragonsplain2016-04-14T14:36:03-07:00Clancy Taylore0817d6754d885b1427d7449201943e8011e1b47
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1media/1980.032sm.jpgmedia/1980.032sm.jpgmedia/1980.032sm.jpg2016-04-07T14:01:42-07:00Clancy Taylore0817d6754d885b1427d7449201943e8011e1b47Door from the Imperial Palace of BeijingClancy Taylor21plain2016-04-21T00:29:25-07:00Clancy Taylore0817d6754d885b1427d7449201943e8011e1b47
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1media/1980.032sm.jpgmedia/1980.032sm.jpgmedia/1980.032sm.jpg2016-04-07T14:01:42-07:00Door from the Imperial Palace of Beijing23plain2016-04-21T00:38:07-07:00Cabinet Door at the Imperial Palace of Beijing with design of Imperial Dragons Chen Yuzhang China, Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) 1755 zitan (pterocarpus santalinus) 66” x 32 ½”
This cabinet door once protected the treasures of the Imperial Palace of Beijing. It was commissioned during the reign (1735-1796) of the Qianlong Emperor, who held power longer than any other ruler in Chinese history. Under Qianlong, there was a resurgence in Confucianculture and ideology. He wanted to restore not only the ideas, but also the extensive art collections that were the pride of past dynasties such as the Song (960-1279) and Ming (1368–1644). Works of architecture, painting, porcelain, and especially jade and ivory thrived under Qianlong.
This particular door was carved from a special type of wood called zitan, which can range in color from a purple-tinted red to jet-black. The Chinese considered zitan to be the most precious wood, and it was reserved for imperial use during the Qing dynasty due to its rarity. Zitan is extremely dense and the heaviest of six types of hardwood the Chinese used for furniture, with a close grain that aids intricate carving.
The front of the door features a design of the five-clawed Dragon surrounded by clouds. The five-clawed dragon was a symbol of imperial power and strength. Only the Emperor could be represented by a dragon with five claws; its use for anyone else would be considered treason. On the back of the door is an inscription carved in Chinese and Manchurian, which reads, “By Imperial Command during the 19th year in the reign of Qianlong [1755], Chen Youzhang carved this.”
Clancy Taylor History of Art and English, '16
1media/1980.032sm.jpgmedia/1980.032sm.jpgmedia/1980.032sm.jpg2016-04-21T00:33:33-07:00Door from the Imperial Palace of Beijing4plain2016-04-21T01:31:43-07:00Cabinet Door at the Imperial Palace of Beijing with design of Imperial Dragons Chen Yuzhang China, Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) 1755 zitan (pterocarpus santalinus) 66” x 32 ½”
This cabinet door once protected the treasures of the Imperial Palace of Beijing. It was commissioned during the reign (1735-1796) of the Qianlong Emperor, who held power longer than any other ruler in Chinese history. Under Qianlong, there was a resurgence in Confucianculture and ideology. He wanted to restore not only the ideas, but also the extensive art collections that were the pride of past dynasties such as the Song (960-1279) and Ming (1368–1644). Works of architecture, painting, porcelain, and especially jade and ivory thrived under Qianlong.
This particular door was carved from a special type of wood called zitan, which can range in color from a purple-tinted red to jet-black. The Chinese considered zitan to be the most precious wood, and it was reserved for imperial use during the Qing dynasty due to its rarity. Zitan is extremely dense and the heaviest of six types of hardwood the Chinese used for furniture, with a close grain that aids intricate carving.
The front of the door features a design of the five-clawed Dragon surrounded by clouds. The five-clawed dragon was a symbol of imperial power and strength. Only the Emperor could be represented by a dragon with five claws; its use for anyone else would be considered treason. On the back of the door is an inscription carved in Chinese and Manchurian, which reads, “By Imperial Command during the 19th year in the reign of Qianlong [1755], Chen Youzhang carved this.”
