Treasures of China: A Collection of Precious Treasures of the Palace Museums of Beijing and Taipei (Two Volumes in Elaborate Case) 國寶薈萃 : 北京故宮博物院, 臺北故宮博物院藏品精華 (二册)
Taipei: Taiwan Commercial Press Co., Ltd. 臺灣商務印書館股份有限公司, 1992. Very Good / Very Good. Item #8780
ISBN: 9570506172
Taipei: Taiwan Commercial Press Co., Ltd., 1992. First Edition. Folio (outer case shell: 38.5x29x8cm; inner case shell: 37.5x27x6.5cm; volumes: 36x27cm); Vol I x + 281pp, Vol II v + pp282-528. Catalog of 152 items, depicted in 500 color and 200+ B&W photographs; 1 extensive fold-out in each volume. Entirely in Chinese.
Elaborate case comprises two shells: outer pictorial shell with notched cap to fit around lacquer dragon medallion; inner shell of lacquer-red silk with dragon medallion blind-embossed and gilt stamping. Photographic dustjackets. Volumes bound in metallicized gold cloth with red stamping.
Robust outer shell has minimal bumps to two bottom corners; dime-sized cloth patch missing on top panel, with two minor dark stains; cosmetic cracking of paper on one sleeve-insert edge. Inner cloth shell nearly as new. Volume jackets and bindings pristine. Textblocks unmarred and unmarked.
The 152 items catalogued here, selected evenly from the (historically anatagonistic) Beijing and Taipei museums, sample 5000 years of Chinese cultural production in painting; books and scrolls; bronzes; porcelain; jadeware; lacquerware; gold- and silver-smithing; bamboo, wood, tooth, and horn carving; enamelware; weaving; and embroidery. The survey is structured historically in four stages: the Prehistoric Age to the Pre-Qin Dynasty; the Qin Han to Wei Jin Southern and Northern Dynasties; the Sui, Tang and Song Dynasties; and the Yuan, Ming, Qing eras.
Per the dustjacket flaps: "本書承蒙兩岸故宮博物院惠予鼎助 , 從兩院皮" "These volumes are courtesy of the kind assistance of the Palace Museum on both sides of the Taiwan Strait."
Price: $150.00