Chinese Discovery During Winter Cleaning
Photocall: Peter Musgrove, House Steward at Fairfax House, who is in charge of the winter cleaning programme, will be showing what he discovered in a 300 year old vase on Wednesday 30 January at 11am.
A Chinese shopping list written 300 years ago has been found at Fairfax House in an early 18th century Chinese vase during the winter cleaning.
The discovery was made whilst the House, which is closed to the public every January, was being cleaned prior to the start of the new season.
Peter Musgrove, who co-ordinates the winter cleaning programme explained that this particular vase has been in the House since it first opened nearly 25 years ago and has often been placed in the Saloon for visitors to see.
He added: “In recent years, due to its fragile state the vase, which is decorated in famille verte colours, has been kept in the store room. I took it out to clean and heard a rattling in the bottom of the vase. I gently poked a stick inside and drew up a crumpled up piece of rice paper with black ink Chinese writing.
Peter Brown, Director at Fairfax House, has shown this document to a Chinese student from the University of York who has said it was the remains of a decorator’s shopping list with the costs of pigments which were needed to decorate this vase.
The paper, which is very delicate, has been mounted onto a piece of card and will be sent away for further analysis.
This Chinese discovery is very timely for Fairfax House as this year, to mark the Beijing Olympics and the important links between the East and West, Fairfax House has a series of Chinese activities. These include a series of special Chinoiserie Decoration tours (7 Mar, 2 May, 4 July, 5 Sept, 14 Nov at 3.30pm) to explore how British artists, craftsmen and decorators used examples of Chinese Art to inspire their designs for porcelain, furniture, silver and wallpaper; ‘A Taste for China’ exhibition (23 June – 31 Dec except 24, 25, 26 Dec) to celebrate the long-established link between China and England and ‘Time for Tea’ (26 Sept, 3.30pm & 7pm) an illustrated lecture and tea tasting with a chance to sample a range of teas. (This event is also part of the 2008 York Food & Drink Festival.)
The Fairfax House 2008 season runs from Saturday 9 February through to 31 December 2008(closed 24, 25, 26 December for Christmas). The new season’s brochure is now available from Fairfax House, Castlegate, York. Alternatively go to www.fairfaxhouse.co.uk for more information.
Ends
Press Contacts:
Peter Brown
Tel: 01904 654443
Email: peterbrown@fairfaxhouse.co.uk
or
Melanie Paris
Tel: 01904 647408
E mail: hello@melanieparis.com
A Chinese shopping list written 300 years ago has been found at Fairfax House in an early 18th century Chinese vase during the winter cleaning.
The discovery was made whilst the House, which is closed to the public every January, was being cleaned prior to the start of the new season.
Peter Musgrove, who co-ordinates the winter cleaning programme explained that this particular vase has been in the House since it first opened nearly 25 years ago and has often been placed in the Saloon for visitors to see.
He added: “In recent years, due to its fragile state the vase, which is decorated in famille verte colours, has been kept in the store room. I took it out to clean and heard a rattling in the bottom of the vase. I gently poked a stick inside and drew up a crumpled up piece of rice paper with black ink Chinese writing.
Peter Brown, Director at Fairfax House, has shown this document to a Chinese student from the University of York who has said it was the remains of a decorator’s shopping list with the costs of pigments which were needed to decorate this vase.
The paper, which is very delicate, has been mounted onto a piece of card and will be sent away for further analysis.
This Chinese discovery is very timely for Fairfax House as this year, to mark the Beijing Olympics and the important links between the East and West, Fairfax House has a series of Chinese activities. These include a series of special Chinoiserie Decoration tours (7 Mar, 2 May, 4 July, 5 Sept, 14 Nov at 3.30pm) to explore how British artists, craftsmen and decorators used examples of Chinese Art to inspire their designs for porcelain, furniture, silver and wallpaper; ‘A Taste for China’ exhibition (23 June – 31 Dec except 24, 25, 26 Dec) to celebrate the long-established link between China and England and ‘Time for Tea’ (26 Sept, 3.30pm & 7pm) an illustrated lecture and tea tasting with a chance to sample a range of teas. (This event is also part of the 2008 York Food & Drink Festival.)
The Fairfax House 2008 season runs from Saturday 9 February through to 31 December 2008(closed 24, 25, 26 December for Christmas). The new season’s brochure is now available from Fairfax House, Castlegate, York. Alternatively go to www.fairfaxhouse.co.uk for more information.
Ends
Press Contacts:
Peter Brown
Tel: 01904 654443
Email: peterbrown@fairfaxhouse.co.uk
or
Melanie Paris
Tel: 01904 647408
E mail: hello@melanieparis.com