UNKOKU Toso<br/> <em>Egrets among reeds</em> (late 17th century-early 18th century) (detail)<br /> pair of six panel folding screens: ink and pigments on gold leaf on paper, lacquer on wood, silk, metallic tread, brass, paper<br /> 160.4 x 350 cm (image and sheet) (each)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Gift of Kenneth Myer, 1970<br /> AS26.a-b-1970<br /> <!--55293-->
UNKOKU Toso
Egrets among reeds (late 17th century-early 18th century) (detail)
pair of six panel folding screens: ink and pigments on gold leaf on paper, lacquer on wood, silk, metallic tread, brass, paper
160.4 x 350 cm (image and sheet) (each)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Kenneth Myer, 1970
AS26.a-b-1970
Collection

Asian Art

Charting more than 5000 years of history, from ceramics and jades of the Neolithic age to the work of leading contemporary artists and designers, the Asian Art collection aims to inform and inspire audiences to gain a greater understanding of the cultural and artistic practices of this complex and dynamic region.

Curator

Wayne Crothers
Senior Curator, Asian Art

Sunita Lewis
Curatorial Project Officer, Asian Art

Current and Upcoming Exhibitions

NGV International

Kimono

4 Jun – 5 Oct 25, ticketed

Events

NGV International
Kimono Exhibition Tour

1.30pm, 5 Jun, ticketed

(49 more dates)

Collection Highlights

CHINESE<br/> <em>Jar</em> 2400 BCE <!-- (full view) --><br /> earthenware, pigment<br /> 36.3 x 39.7 x 35.9 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Felton Bequest, 1947<br /> 641-D4<br /> <!--52272--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/52272"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> CHINESE
Jar
 2400 BCE CHINESE<br/> <em>Guardian spirit</em> 700 CE-750 CE <!-- (full view) --><br /> earthenware (Sancai ware)<br /> 74.4 x 23.4 x 19.5 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Felton Bequest, 1926<br /> 2784-D3<br /> <!--54711--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/54711"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> CHINESE
Guardian spirit
 700 CE-750 CE CHINESE<br/> <em>Tea bowl</em> (11th century-early 12th century) <!-- (full view) --><br /> <em>(茶盏)</em><br /> porcelain, gold (Ding ware)<br /> 4.8 x 11.9 cm diameter<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Gift of H. W. Kent, 1938<br /> 3700-D3<br /> <!--51749--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/51749"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> CHINESE
Tea bowl
(茶盏)
 (11th century-early 12th century) DONG Qichang<br/> <em>Mountain landscape</em> 1617 <!-- (image only) --><br /> <em>(山水軸)</em><br /> ink on paper<br /> 167.5 x 53.0 cm (sheet)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, 1978<br /> AS4-1978<br /> <!--53282--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/53282"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> DONG Qichang
Mountain landscape
(山水軸)
 1617 Kim Hoa TRAM<br/> <em>Awakening</em> 2002 <!-- (front view) --><br /> ink and watercolour on paper<br /> (1) (89.9 x 21.6 cm) (image and sheet) (2) (89.8 x 21.4 cm) (image and sheet) (3) (89.9 x 21.4 cm) (image and sheet) (4) (89.8 x 21.5 cm) (image and sheet)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Lillian Ernestine Lobb Bequest, 2002<br /> 2002.421.1-4<br /> © Kim Hoa Tram <!--95152--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/95152"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> Kim Hoa TRAM
Awakening
 2002 INDIAN<br/> <em>Tree goddess, Shalabhanjika</em> (1150-1200) <!-- (front view) --><br /> chloritic schist<br /> 88.5 x 45.8 x 22.5 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Felton Bequest, 1963<br /> 540-D5<br /> <!--52542--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/52542"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> INDIAN
Tree goddess, Shalabhanjika
 (1150-1200) TIBETO-CHINESE<br/> <em>Avalokiteshvara</em> (17th century-18th century) <!-- (full view) --><br /> gilt-bronze, semi-precious stone, pigment<br /> 115.0 x 72.5 x 45.4 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Felton Bequest, 1966<br /> 1485-D5<br /> <!--52771--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/52771"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> TIBETO-CHINESE
Avalokiteshvara
 (17th century-18th century) KISAN DAS<br/> <em>Maharao Ram Singh II of Kotah and companions playing Holi on elephants in a street</em> (1844) <!-- (recto) --><br /> opaque watercolour and gold paint on paper<br /> 48.7 x 66.8 cm (image) 54.3 x 69.2 cm (sheet)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Felton Bequest, 1980<br /> AS51-1980<br /> <!--53408--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/53408"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> KISAN DAS
Maharao Ram Singh II of Kotah and companions playing Holi on elephants in a street
 (1844) VIETNAMESE<br/> <em>Dish</em> (15th century-16th century) <!-- (front view) --><br /> stoneware<br /> 6.0 x 25.7 cm diameter<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased through The Art Foundation of Victoria with the assistance of The Thomas William Lasham Fund, Governor, 1998<br /> 1998.241<br /> <!--61102--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/61102"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> VIETNAMESE
Dish
 (15th century-16th century) INDONESIAN<br/> <em>Man's cloth</em> (c. 1890) <!-- (recto) --><br /> <em>(Hinggi kombu)</em><br /> cotton, dyes (warp ikat)<br /> 312.0 x 151.8 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Bequest of Rose Mulock-Houwer MBE, 2007<br /> 2007.692<br /> <!--85039--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/85039"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> INDONESIAN
Man's cloth
(Hinggi kombu)
 (c. 1890) INDONESIAN<br/> <em>Prabu Suyudana, wayang kulit puppet</em> (early 20th century-mid 20th century) <!-- (front view) --><br /> opaque watercolour and gold paint on parchment, horn, metal, cotton thread<br /> 97.0 x 53.0 x 2.5 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, 1972<br /> AS2-1972<br /> <!--52900--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/52900"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> INDONESIAN
Prabu Suyudana, wayang kulit puppet
 (early 20th century-mid 20th century) JAPANESE<br/> <em>Bodhisattva</em> (12th century) <!-- (front view) --><br /> <em>(Sho-Kannon Bosatsu 聖観音菩薩)</em><br /> lacquer, gilt-Cypress (Hinoki), crystal<br /> 172.0 x 60.0 x 50.0 cm (overall)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased with funds donated by Allan Myers AO and Maria Myers AO, 2011<br /> 2011.118<br /> <!--99322--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/99322"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> JAPANESE
Bodhisattva
(Sho-Kannon Bosatsu 聖観音菩薩)
 (12th century) JAPANESE<br/> <em>A suit of armour with horse saddle, stirrups and trappings</em> 1665 <!-- (full view) --><br /> metal, wood, pigments, lacquer, gold paint, silk, cotton, leather, gilt<br /> (1) 28.2 x 41.0 x 39.0 cm (saddle) (2-3) 25.6 x 12.5 x 29.0 cm (each) (stirrups) (4) 22.0 x 43.5 x 41.7 cm (Kabuto, helmet) (5) 25.5 x 20.0 x 12.0 cm (Mempo, face guard) (6) 45.5 x 38.5 x 26.0 cm (Do, body armour) (7) 71.5 cm (centre back) 45.0 cm (sleeve length) (jacket) (8) 94.0 cm (centre back) 32.0 cm (waist, flat) (Hakama, trousers) (9-10) 62.5 cm (sleeve length) (each) 46.0 cm (width, flat) (each) (Kote, arm guards) (11-12) 31.5 cm (height) (each) 37.5 cm (circumference) (each) (Suneata, calf guard) (13) 53.0 x 69.7 cm (saddle cloth) (14) 22.5 x 70.5 cm (saddle cloth) (15-16) 35.5 x 68.5 x 2.3 cm (each) (Kusazuri, skirted parts) (17-18) 29.0 x 26.5 x 5.5 cm (each) (Sode, shoulder guards) (19) 56.7 x 155.0 cm (Haidate, thigh guards) (20) 35.5 x 39.3 x 4.5 cm (saddle pad) (21-22) 99.3 x 7.0 cm (each) (saddle pads) (23-24) 28.0 x 38.0 x 2.5 cm (each) (saddle pads) (25) (66.0 x 40.0 x 11.0 cm) (horse straps) (26) 220.0 x 12.5 x 25.5 cm (horse straps) (27) 245.0 x 19.0 cm (horse fitting) (28) 268.0 x 6.0 cm (horse fitting) (29) 208.0 x 3.0 cm (horse fitting) (30) 150.4 x 9.4 cm (horse fitting) (31) 225.0 x 16.0 cm (horse fitting) (32) 266.0 x 12.8 cm (horse fitting)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Acquired, 1889<br /> 460.1-32-D2<br /> <!--53235--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/53235"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> JAPANESE
A suit of armour with horse saddle, stirrups and trappings
 1665 Itō JAKUCHŪ<br/> <em>Five hundred arhats</em> 1789 <!-- (recto) --><br /> <em>(Gohyakurakan 五百羅漢)</em><br /> ink on paper<br /> 50.3 x 71.6 cm (image and sheet)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased with funds donated by Allan Myers AO and Maria Myers AO, 2010<br /> 2010.109<br /> <!--95938--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/95938"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> Itō JAKUCHŪ
Five hundred arhats
(Gohyakurakan 五百羅漢)
 1789 DEME Hidemitsu (attributed to)<br/> <em>Noh mask, Ōbeshimi</em> (17th century) <!-- (recto) --><br /> <em>(Nōmen Ōbeshimi 能面 大癋見)</em><br /> pigments, ground shell and animal glue on Cypress (Hinoki), silk (thread, cord)<br /> 22.0 x 15.5 x 11.0 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased with funds donated by Allan Myers AO and Maria Myers AO, 2011<br /> 2011.352<br /> <!--100568--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/100568"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> DEME Hidemitsu (attributed to)
Noh mask, Ōbeshimi
(Nōmen Ōbeshimi 能面 大癋見)
 (17th century) JAPANESE<br/> <em>Plate with the fifty-three stations of the Tokaido road</em> (1840-1860) <!-- (front view) --><br /> <em>(Tōkaidō Gojūsan-tsugizu ōsara 染付東海道五十三次図大皿)</em><br /> porcelain (Imari ware)<br /> 6.5 x 61.0 cm diameter<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased with funds donated by Allan Myers AO and Maria Myers AO, 2012<br /> 2012.7<br /> <!--101108--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/101108"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> JAPANESE
Plate with the fifty-three stations of the Tokaido road
(Tōkaidō Gojūsan-tsugizu ōsara 染付東海道五十三次図大皿)
 (1840-1860) Utagawa KUNIYOSHI<br/> <em>He looks fierce, but he is really a nice person</em> (c. 1847) <!-- (recto) --><br /> <em>(Mikake wa kowai ga tonda ii hito da みかけハこハゐがとんだいい人だ)</em><br /> colour woodblock<br /> 38.0 x 35.5 cm (image and sheet)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, NGV Asian Art Acquisition Fund with the assistance of the Lillian Ernestine Lobb Bequest, 2010<br /> 2010.320<br /> <!--96058--><br/><a class="col-link block" href="/explore/collection/work/96058"><strong>Collection page <i class="fa fa-angle-right"></i></strong></a> Utagawa KUNIYOSHI
He looks fierce, but he is really a nice person
(Mikake wa kowai ga tonda ii hito da みかけハこハゐがとんだいい人だ)
 (c. 1847)

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 Tcheu Siong Chao and the Three Spirits (Yawm Saub Chao)

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 Interpreting Shunga scroll: sex and desire between women in Edo’s ‘floating world’

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