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E-30: Chinese Interior, Traditional

A small-scale room in gold and brown tones with several partial latticed wood walls leading back to a Buddhist altar.

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  • A small-scale room in gold and brown tones with several partial latticed wood walls leading back to a Buddhist altar.

Date:

c. 1937

Artist:

Designed by Narcissa Niblack Thorne
American, 1882-1966

About this artwork

In order to create an authentic Chinese interior, Mrs. Thorne commissioned a craftsman in Hong Kong to carve the screens and fretwork for this room. Following a traditional Chinese floor plan, this miniature room is arranged around a central courtyard and aligned with astrological orientation. The symmetrical arrangement of space is intended to create a desired sense of balance, order, and peace. Mrs. Thorne was most likely exposed to Chinese styles through Asian goods that made their way to Europe during the early 17th century. During this time, the East India companies from Holland and England established a monopoly on trade in the region, bringing to Europe blue-and-white ceramics and many other wares.

Status

On View, Gallery 11

Department

Applied Arts of Europe

Artist

Narcissa Niblack Thorne (Designer)

Title

E-30: Chinese Interior, Traditional

Place

United States (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1932–1937

Medium

Miniature room, mixed media

Dimensions

Scale 1 inch = 1 foot: 30.7 × 54.4 × 32.5 cm (12 1/16 × 21 7/16 × 12 13/16 in.); Interior, Scale 1 inch = 1 foot: 31.2 × 55.3 × 33.1 cm (12 1/4 × 21 3/4 × 13 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Mrs. James Ward Thorne

Reference Number

1962.455

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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