Cloisonne enamel objects donated by HK connoisseur go on display

The new exhibition All That Glitters: Chinese Cloisonne as a Gift from Robert Chang's Collection at the Shanghai Museum features 55 objects, comprising 40 sets, of Cloisonne enamel objects donated by the Hong Kong-based connoisseur.

The exhibition will be held at the fourth floor of Shanghai Museum on People's Square until the end of the year.

Cloisonne enamel, a unique metal handicraft in China, is known as "jing tai lan" in Chinese, because the production technology of Chinese cloisonne enamelware reached its peak during the Jingtai period (1450-1457) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) with products at their most exquisite and beautiful.

Chang, born in 1927, is an important collector of Chinese art based in Hong Kong. His rich collection spans traditional Chinese calligraphy, painting, jade and cloisonne enamelware. He has significantly influenced and promoted the focus of collectors worldwide on the collection and research of cloisonne enamelware from different historical periods.

Chang donated 46 pieces of cloisonne enamelware to the Shanghai Museum last September, and added another nine pieces to his gifts recently. These objects display a wide variety of types, including furnishings, daily necessities, and stationery items, spanning from the Ming Dynasty to the early 20th century.