Taiwan

A tall late Liangzhu cong carved from deep-green nephrite with ochre spotting. Seventeen small-eye masks extend down its four corners, while faint symbols near the mouth may relate to contemporary spirit-bird beliefs.

“It is carved from a piece of deep green nephrite with light and dark ochre spotting.” In the museum’s words — theme.npm.edu.tw ↗ · quotation verified against the live page

Meanwhile — Đào Thịnh Bronze Jar (Thạp) South Asia · Đông Sơn culture, c. 2500–2000 BCE (museum dating)

A late Longshan ceremonial nephrite gui with a representational human-face relief on one side and an abstract vortex-and-headdress motif on the other. Qianlong later commissioned a stand and had poems carved onto the tablet, oriented opposite to its original motifs.

“According to Raman spectroscopy, it has been determined to be nephrite. An analysis of the shape and pattern of the piece indicates that it is most likely a ceremonial jade from an area located midstream to downstream on the Yellow River in the Longshan period.” In the museum’s words — theme.npm.edu.tw ↗ · quotation verified against the live page

Meanwhile — Disk-calendar of the Middle Dnipro culture Europe · Late 3rd – early 2nd millennium BCE

A monumental late Western Zhou bronze ding with upright handles and three hoofed feet. Its long, seven-part inscription records King Xuan's charge to the Duke of Mao and the royal gifts that led to the vessel's casting for his descendants.

“The inscription, which can be divided into seven sections, describes how when King Xuan of Zhou came to the throne, he was anxious to see the country thrive, and charged his uncle, the Duke of Mao, with governing the domestic and external affairs of state, big and small, and to do so conscientiously and selflessly.” In the museum’s words — theme.npm.edu.tw ↗ · quotation verified against the live page

Meanwhile — Dugout canoe from the Ljubljansko barje (Ljubljana Marshes) Europe · 9th century BC

A wide, shallow late Western Zhou bronze water vessel whose 350-character inscription records a territorial dispute, the transfer of land from Zhe to San, and the officials who enforced the agreement.

“The inscription narrates the state of Zhe's failure to invade the state of San, as well as San's subsequent annexation of a portion of Zhe's land.” In the museum’s words — theme.npm.edu.tw ↗ · quotation verified against the live page

Meanwhile — Dugout canoe from the Ljubljansko barje (Ljubljana Marshes) Europe · 9th century BC

A late Western Zhou yong bell with 18 mei bosses on each side, twin-kui and symmetrical dragon ornament, and a 111-character inscription reflecting the Zhou king's response to internal rebellion and external threats.

“On the central strip and soundbow, an inscription of 111 characters can be seen.” In the museum’s words — theme.npm.edu.tw ↗ · quotation verified against the live page

Meanwhile — Dugout canoe from the Ljubljansko barje (Ljubljana Marshes) Europe · 9th century BC

A molded Northern Song Ru-ware warming bowl with a foliated lotus rim, bluish-green celadon glaze, brown-stained crackles, a high splayed foot, and five spur marks. Such bowls were paired with ewers as wine vessels.

“The entire vessel is coated in consistent and smooth celadon glaze, displaying a bluish green color.” In the museum’s words — theme.npm.edu.tw ↗ · quotation verified against the live page

Meanwhile — Lead seal of Prince Yaroslav the Wise Europe · 11th century

A thin-walled oval Northern Song Ru-ware basin on four cloud-shaped feet. Its light-blue, slightly green celadon glaze is exceptionally smooth and free of the markings common on surviving Ru wares.

“It is covered all over in a light blue, highly lustrous glaze, which shows a hint of green at the base: the glaze is slightly thinner at the rim and the corners.” In the museum’s words — theme.npm.edu.tw ↗ · quotation verified against the live page

Meanwhile — Lead seal of Prince Yaroslav the Wise Europe · 11th century

A Northern Song Ding-ware pillow molded as a healthy child reclining on a mattress with crossed legs. Its separately molded halves were joined before firing, then the face and brocaded clothing were carved in detail beneath an ivory-white glaze.

“This example, in the form of a child playing, was for general use.” In the museum’s words — theme.npm.edu.tw ↗ · quotation verified against the live page

Meanwhile — Lead seal of Prince Yaroslav the Wise Europe · 11th century

Fan Kuan's monumental Northern Song landscape sets a tiny mule train beneath a towering central mountain and a threadlike cascade. Jagged outlines and raindrop-like texture strokes emphasize the mountain's scale, while the artist's signature is hidden among leaves near the travelers.

“Running along the central axis of the scroll, the central mountain dominates the scene in a classic example of Northern Sung monumental landscape painting.” In the museum’s words — theme.npm.edu.tw ↗ · quotation verified against the live page

Meanwhile — Lead seal of Prince Yaroslav the Wise Europe · 11th century

Guo Xi's 1072 monumental landscape uses mist, winding mountains, pines, streams, and waterfalls to suggest the land awakening in early spring. Its composition combines tall, deep, and level distances around a central mountain axis.

“This work, done in 1072, is Guo's most famous masterpiece.” In the museum’s words — theme.npm.edu.tw ↗ · quotation verified against the live page

Meanwhile — Reclining Visnu South Asia · Second half of the 11th century

A handscroll of two poems Su Shi composed during exile in Huangzhou in 1082 and later transcribed in semi-cursive calligraphy. Changes in character size, spacing, and line weight track the poems' emotional rhythm; Huang Tingjian added a later colophon.

“This piece represents poetry that he wrote during exile to Huang-chou in 1082. It was transcribed into a work of calligraphy sometime thereafter.” In the museum’s words — theme.npm.edu.tw ↗ · quotation verified against the live page

Meanwhile — Minbar of the Great Mosque of Algiers Islamic world · 490 AH / 1097 CE

Li Tang's signed and dated 1124 landscape combines a dominant mountain with a more intimate foreground. Sharp axe-cut texture strokes, moving cloud banks, pines, paths, and rushing cascades anticipate major features of Southern Song court painting.

“Here, Li Tang has portrayed the rugged, powerful features of a mountainous scene.” In the museum’s words — theme.npm.edu.tw ↗ · quotation verified against the live page

Meanwhile — Cross of Cong Europe · AD 1123

Huang Gongwang's six-section ink handscroll was painted intermittently around 1347–1350 for the Daoist Master Wuyong. Layered dry and wet brushwork turns the Fuchun landscape into an idealized panorama; a fire in 1650 separated its opening section, now in the Zhejiang Provincial Museum.

“He worked on the picture on and off when the mood struck him from about 1347 to 1350, when the major portions of this handscroll were completed.” In the museum’s words — theme.npm.edu.tw ↗ · quotation verified against the live page

Meanwhile — The Ohrid Double Icon of the Virgin Hodegetria and the Annunciation Europe · Mid-14th century

A small Chenghua-reign doucai porcelain cup painted with two family groups of roosters, hens, and chicks divided by China roses and orchids. Its base bears a six-character Chenghua reign mark in underglaze blue.

“The exterior walls are painted with two scenes of a rooster and hen accompanying their three chicks.” In the museum’s words — theme.npm.edu.tw ↗ · quotation verified against the live page

Meanwhile — The Dead Christ supported by an Angel Europe · 1475–1476

A Qing court carving that turns the natural white and green coloring of jadeite into a bokchoy cabbage, complete with a locust and katydid on its leaves. The museum records that it was originally placed in the Forbidden City's Yung-ho Palace, residence of the Guangxu Emperor's Consort Jin.

“Carved from verdant jadeite, the familiar subject, purity of the white vegetable body, and brilliant green of the leaves all create for an endearing and approachable work of art.” In the museum’s words — theme.npm.edu.tw ↗ · quotation verified against the live page

Meanwhile — Character Head No. 6 Europe · model 1770–1783 (later metal cast)

A Qing jasper carving whose natural layers were worked into the appearance of pork belly. Fine holes imitate pores and helped the upper surface absorb a brownish-red dye resembling soy-braised skin.

“This "Meat-shaped stone" was carved from jasper minerals, and its natural layered patterns were utilized by the artist to good effect.” In the museum’s words — theme.npm.edu.tw ↗ · quotation verified against the live page

Meanwhile — Character Head No. 6 Europe · model 1770–1783 (later metal cast)

Giuseppe Castiglione's 1728 handscroll depicts one hundred horses in varied activities. Painted with Chinese materials, it combines Chinese brush-and-wash traditions with Western perspective, shading, and the treatment of light.

“Using perspective to suggest depth and shading for the effect of light, Castiglione has used Chinese materials and Western techniques to impart a sense of realism to this native theme.” In the museum’s words — theme.npm.edu.tw ↗ · quotation verified against the live page

Meanwhile — Qur'an Endowed by Abdi Pasha Islamic world · 1141 AH / 1729 CE

A Qianlong-reign double-walled revolving vase: turning its neck rotates an inner cylinder painted with goldfish, aquatic plants, and blossoms behind four openwork panels in the cobalt-blue outer body.

“Viewers can grasp the neck of the vase and turn the inner layer, and through four openwork panels on the belly of the outer layer, painted scenes of fish swimming among aquatic plants on the surface of the inner layer can be seen to dance before the eyes.” In the museum’s words — theme.npm.edu.tw ↗ · quotation verified against the live page

Meanwhile — The Lady with the Veil. The Artist's Wife Marie Suzanne Giroust Europe · 1768