'East meets West: The Maritime Silk Road' at the Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia in Rome

From 29 September 2017 to 28 January 2018, the fifteenth-century halls of Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia in Rome host the exhibition East meets West: The Maritime Silk Road from the 13th to the 17th century.

Among the trade routes that have developed over the centuries, the Silk Road is the oldest and historically most important. Perhaps less well-known, but equally relevant is the other “Silk Road”, the maritime one.

Gold necklace, Southern Song Dynasty (1127 - 1279). Collection of the Guangdong Institute 
of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage [Credit: Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia]

Engraved silver jug with handle, 19th century. Guangdong Museum Collection 
[Credit: Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia]

Bronze incense burner representing the Luduan beast, Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Guangdong Museum Collection 
[Credit: Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia]

The exhibition presents over 100 objects from the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279) to the lateMing Dynasty (1368 – 1644) and recounts the freight traffic along the Maritime Silk Road, a place of exchange not only of goods but also of ideas and knowledge that have contributed to the development of successive modern societies.

Section of Garuda stone, Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Collection from the Museum 
of Overseas Transport History Museum in Quanzhou, Fujian Province 
[Credit: Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia]

Statuette of Guanyin standing. Dehua Furnace Directory - Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). 
Guangdong Museum Collection [Credit: Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia]

Hat point with gold-set gems from the tomb of Prince Liangzhuang, Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) 
[Credit: Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia]

Huluping vase (also called "double-flask vase") in "white and blue" porcelain decorated 
with flowers. Repertory of the kilns of Jingdezhen - Ming Dynasty, Emperor Wanli (1573-1620). 
Guangdong Museum Collection [Credit: Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia]

In the four thematic sections – the Silk Road, the Way of Spices and Porcelain, the Way of Religions and the Way of Cultures – countless precious artifacts will be displayed: porcelain, jewels, thirsts, spices, paintings and objects of common use. Some of the works on display come from ancient wrecks, such as the one found in the shipwreck of Nanhai I in the Song Age, and those of the Wanli and Nan’ao of the Ming Dynasty.

Celadon type ceramic vase with woven branch lotus motifs. Longquan Furnace 
Directory, Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Guangdong Museum Collection 
[Credit: Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia]

Jar with red glaze decorated with pair of phoenixes and six lions from the Nan'ao 1 
wreck. Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Guangdong Museum Collection 
[Credit: Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia]

Jug with image of the crucifixion of Jesus, Qing Dynasty, Emperor Kangxi (1662-1722). 
Guangdong Museum Collection [Credit: Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia]

The exhibition, curated by Wei Jun, Director of Guangdong Provincial Museum, is based on the collaboration between the State Administration for Cultural Heritage of the People’s Republic of China and the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism. The project is part of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Partnership for the Cultural Heritage Promotion signed on October 7, 2010 by the Ministers of Culture of China and Italy. The agreement envisages the exchange of exclusive museum spaces dedicated to promote greater knowledge and understanding between the two states.

Source: Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia [October 24, 2017]