China through the Magnifying Glass: Masterpieces in Miniature and Detail

Now on Display

Cleveland Museum of Art

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• Date Sunday, December 11, 2022 - Sunday, February 26, 2023
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The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes almost 45,000 objects and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. Having recently completed an ambitious, multi-phase renovation and expansion project across... more

Objects in miniature have mesmerized people of all cultures throughout the ages. The CMA’s Chinese collection has an extraordinarily large number of high-quality small-scale objects and miniatures from various dynasties. This exhibition focuses on China and explores the role and function of miniatures and small-scale masterpieces of craftsmanship. About 80 objects dating from ancient times to the 1800s will be presented according to their respective use and function in themed sections: “Accessories and Ornaments,” “Ritual and Devotion,” “Luxury and Craftsmanship,” “The Scholar’s Desk,” and “Toys, Boys, and Games.” These themes question each object’s function and role in society as a way of achieving a better understanding of China’s culture and history, as well as miniatures worldwide.

Photo: Figure of Daoist Immortal He Xiangu (detail), 1700s. China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Boxwood with colored ivory base; overall: 13.5 cm. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund, 1976.60