Amazing textile collection to be shown at Palace Museum
發佈日期: 2025-09-29 21:04
TVB News
A British collector is set to donate around 3,000 pieces of Chinese textiles to the Hong Kong Palace Museum over the next ten years.
The first batch will be showcased in the museum for approximately six months, beginning Wednesday and running until April next year.
Sakura Ip takes us to the collector's home for a glimpse of his remarkable collection.
"Dragon with five claws," the emperor's symbol, embroidered with golden threads, soaring through the clouds.
This was the court robe of Emperor Yongzheng during the Qing dynasty.
The hem of the robe was widened to accommodate the Manchu nomadic lifestyle.
Each family member and each occasion warranted a different robe.
This coat from the Ming dynasty is the collector's favorite in this exhibition.
The three dragon-like creatures with ox horns were created with counted stitches.
Robes featuring this pattern were special gifts from the emperors, symbolising the high status and imperial favour bestowed upon the wearer.
If you had been an official during the Qing dynasty, you would have worn these rank badges.
Each rank was represented by a different animal.
The exhibition showcases over 100 textile treasures, dating from the Warring States period to the late Qing dynasty, all donated by Chris Hall, a British collector based in Hong Kong.
These exhibits are part of the 3,000 pieces he has pledged to donate to the museum, as well as the Chinese Textile Centre, over the next decade.
Hall is a tax consultant who moved to Hong Kong in the late 1970s.
He chose to dive into the world of Chinese textiles, when they were not particularly popular among collectors.
His collection ranges from silk paintings to children's shoes and hats, as well as this jacket made from bamboo and cotton threads.
Hall has amassed a broad collection, including these.
CHRIS HALL, Collector :"This was specially made as underwear for the bride for her wedding night, something to really impress her husband. The normal one would be plain. I was told by the Hong Kong Palace Museum that the Palace Museum in Beijing was very interested because they have the world's best collection of imperial robes but no one so valued as Qianlong's underwear."
He hopes his donation will help bridge the gap in academic research on Chinese textiles.
CHRIS HALL,Collector :"If you go to China, you see very few Chinese textiles in the museum. Because many do not have them. Now, with my collection, it is providing an opportunity for the Hong Kong Palace Museum to have something special in Chinese art, which they can then lend to other museums throughout China. And to show the Chinese people the beautiful silk textiles that their textile workers produced in the past."
Chris Hall has been collaborating with museums to free up collection space as there's always a new favorite emerging.
The latest "mistress" is ever so exciting.
Having had the privilege to visit Chris's home, we can see that his entire flat is beautifully decorated with antiques from around the world.
He hopes to maintain his flat as an exhibition space, sharing his collection with the public in the future.
