Shaping the Stein collection’s Dunhuang corpus (2): the items from Cave 17’s ‘miscellaneous’ bundles

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In a previous blog post , we looked at the instrumental role played by Wang Yuanlu during the selection of the items from the Cave 17. Wang, who directly chose from the small repository what to hand over to Stein for inspection, was very keen to divert his attention from the so-called ‘regular’ bundles, which were composed for the most part of Buddhist sutras in Chinese and Tibetan. During their first ever transaction, which took place between 21 May and 6 June 1907, Wang Yuanlu therefore began by handing over the ‘miscellaneous’ bundles, which he seemed to hold in low estimation. To Stein’s delight, these contained mixed and diverse materials, such as manuscripts in non-Chinese languages, illustrated scrolls, paintings, drawings, ex-votos, textiles, etc. Stein picked out any of the items that jumped at him as being particularly interesting and made sure to put them aside for ‘further examination’, the phrase that he used to refer to their removal in his transaction with Wang. This ...
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IDP 20 Event: Public Lectures and Reception

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To celebrate IDP’s 20th anniversary we have been organising a series of events and activities. Full details can be found on our programme page. From November 1 2014 the IDP blog has also featured A Few of Our Favourite Things, a weekly post showcasing IDP collection items selected by twenty of IDP’s partners, supporters and users.

Lectures and Reception: ‘Silk on the Silk Road’

11 April 2014
14.00 – 20.00
£12 (£8 Concessions)

Conference Centre
The British Library
96 Euston Road
London, NW1 2DB

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Patched squares of woven and dyed silks.
MAS.856, The British Museum.

Over a century of archaeology on the eastern Silk Road has resulted in thousands of textile finds, preserved by the dry desert air. In their variety — of material, dyes, designs and weaves — they demonstrate the richness of cultural and technical exchanges among the peoples of the Silk Road. This afternoon of lectures by scholars, curators and conservators is intended for a general audience, and will introduce the Silk Road and the textiles collections held in London and worldwide. The lecture will be followed by a reception with drinks.

14:00

Welcome
Cordelia Rogerson, Head of Conservation, The British Library

14:15

Silk for Books and Buddhism: the British Library and British Museum Collections
Susan Whitfield, Director, IDP, The British Library

15:00

Silk in Shoes and Clothing: V&A and British Museum Collections
Helen Persson, Curator Chinese Textiles and Dress, V&A

Questions

15:45–16:15

Tea & Coffee

16:15

Silk as Money
Helen Wang, Curator, East Asian Money, The British Museum

17:00

Silks from the Silk Road
Zhao Feng, Director, The National Silk Museum, China

Questions

18:00–20:00

Reception

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