loading image

The Western World has long been inspired by Chinese and Japanese arts. By the eighteenth century, large quantities of porcelain, silk, and lacquerware were imported from China and Japan. As a result, many European designers and craftsmen began emulating Asian designs and creating their own imaginative interpretations. In the mid-nineteenth century, after living in isolation for centuries, Japan opened its doors to the West and increased trading. World’s Fairs in Europe and the United States began to showcase Japanese arts to a mass audience. Japanese artifacts readily appeared in exhibitions, import shops, and art collections. As in the past, artists and designers incorporated Japanese motifs and designs into their work. This long-held enchantment with the East found its way into beaded and embroidered bag designs. Makers embellished purses with Japanese and Chinese scenes, and motifs from dragons to Chinese emperors. This image was posted on June 13, 2016.

This post mentions the following things involved with the SFO Museum collection: