Slideshow: a preview of “The Forbidden City,” the ROM’s new exhibition of artifacts from China’s imperial palace
Slideshow: a preview of “The Forbidden City,” the ROM’s new exhibition of artifacts from China’s imperial palace
As part of the ROM’s centenary, the museum is renewing its Far East focus by bringing in an extensive collection of over 200 artifacts from Beijing’s Palace Museum—some of which have never left China before. Dubbed “The Forbidden City: Inside the court of China’s emperors,” the exhibition documents a strange 500-year period for China, during which only the emperor’s family and servants were allowed inside the walls of the world’s largest imperial palace.
Visitors can expect to be led through representations of various layers of the imperial complex, where they’ll be able to ogle increasingly rare objects, ending with items from the emperor’s personal chamber. There will be an imperial throne from the Qing dynasty, a porcelain cup from the Ming dynasty, and even a golden-fringed robe worn by Puyi, the palace’s final inhabitant and the subject of Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1987 film The Last Emperor. Here, a look at some of the artifacts that will be on display as part of the exhibition, which opens on Saturday, March 8.
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- <strong>Portrait of Emperor Yongzheng in his study</strong><br /><br /> <br /> <br /> Ink and colour on silk<br /><br /><br /> <br /> Qing dynasty, Yongzheng period
- (Image: The Palace Museum)
- Slideshow: a preview of "The Forbidden City," the ROM's new exhibit of artifacts from China's imperial palace
- Slideshow: a preview of The Forbidden City, the ROM's new exhibit of China's closed-off imperial palace
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- <strong>Prince Yinzhen's painting of Twelve Beauties</strong><br /><br /><br /> <br /> Ink and colour on silk<br /><br /><br /> <br /> Qing dynasty, Kangxi period
- (Image: The Palace Museum)
- Slideshow: a preview of "The Forbidden City," the ROM's new exhibit of artifacts from China's imperial palace
- Slideshow: a preview of The Forbidden City, the ROM's new exhibit of China's closed-off imperial palace
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- <strong>Ewer</strong><br /><br /><br /> <br /> Gold and gemstones<br /><br /><br /> <br /> Qing dynasty<br /><br /><br /> <br /> This gemstone-decorated gold ewer was only used on special occasions, such as the emperor's birthday
- (Image: The Palace Museum)
- Slideshow: a preview of "The Forbidden City," the ROM's new exhibit of artifacts from China's imperial palace
- Slideshow: a preview of The Forbidden City, the ROM's new exhibit of China's closed-off imperial palace
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- <strong>Child emperor's ceremonial robe</strong><br /><br /><br /> <br /> Embroidered silk and fur<br /><br /><br /> <br /> Qing dynasty, Tongzhi period<br /><br /><br /> <br /> This formal robe was worn by six-year-old Emperor Tongzhi on his inauguration in 1861
- (Image: The Palace Museum)
- Slideshow: a preview of "The Forbidden City," the ROM's new exhibit of artifacts from China's imperial palace
- Slideshow: a preview of The Forbidden City, the ROM's new exhibit of China's closed-off imperial palace
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- <strong>Imperial Throne Set</strong><br /><br /><br /> <br /> Lacquered wood and jade<br /><br /><br /> <br /> Qing dynasty, Qianlong period<br /><br /><br /> <br /> This throne was not made for comfort, but as a symbol of imperial power
- (Image: The Palace Museum)
- Slideshow: a preview of "The Forbidden City," the ROM's new exhibit of artifacts from China's imperial palace
- Slideshow: a preview of The Forbidden City, the ROM's new exhibit of China's closed-off imperial palace
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- <strong>Chicken cup</strong><br /><br /><br /> <br /> Porcelain<br /><br /><br /> <br /> Ming dynasty, Chenghua mark and period<br /><br /><br /> <br /> One of the rarest Ming porcelains, made by Emperor Chenghua for his mother. Only two original cups exist today
- (Image: The Palace Museum)
- Slideshow: a preview of "The Forbidden City," the ROM's new exhibit of artifacts from China's imperial palace
- Slideshow: a preview of The Forbidden City, the ROM's new exhibit of China's closed-off imperial palace
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- <strong>Empress's court boots</strong><br /><br /><br /> <br /> Silk, leather strips, wood, and cotton<br /><br /><br /> <br /> Qing dynasty, Kangxi period
- (Image: The Palace Museum)
- Slideshow: a preview of "The Forbidden City," the ROM's new exhibit of artifacts from China's imperial palace
- Slideshow: a preview of The Forbidden City, the ROM's new exhibit of China's closed-off imperial palace
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- <strong>Crouching ox</strong><br /><br /><br /> <br /> Jade<br /><br /><br /> <br /> Qing dynasty<br /><br /><br /> <br /> Jades have held great value in China for more than 8,000 years. Emperors Yongzheng and Qianlong were particularly fond of them
- (Image: The Palace Museum)
- Slideshow: a preview of "The Forbidden City," the ROM's new exhibit of artifacts from China's imperial palace
- Slideshow: a preview of The Forbidden City, the ROM's new exhibit of China's closed-off imperial palace
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- <strong>Vase</strong><br /><br /><br /> <br /> Porcelain with red and blue-green enamels<br /><br /><br /> <br /> Qing dynasty, Qianlong mark and period<br /><br /><br /> <br /> Porcelain with red over green glaze was among the rarest types of ceramic artwork. This <em>hulu</em> gourd represents prosperity
- (Image: The Palace Museum)
- Slideshow: a preview of "The Forbidden City," the ROM's new exhibit of artifacts from China's imperial palace
- Slideshow: a preview of The Forbidden City, the ROM's new exhibit of China's closed-off imperial palace
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- <strong>Woman's nail guard</strong><br /><br /><br /> <br /> Gilt silver, beads, gemstones, and kingfisher feathers<br /><br /><br /> <br /> Qing dynasty<br /><br /><br /> <br /> Elite women in the Forbidden City grew extremely long fingernails. Eventually nail guards became stylish to wear on pinky and ring fingers
- (Image: The Palace Museum)
- Slideshow: a preview of "The Forbidden City," the ROM's new exhibit of artifacts from China's imperial palace
- Slideshow: a preview of The Forbidden City, the ROM's new exhibit of China's closed-off imperial palace
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/rom-forbidden-city-china-imperial-palace-10-96x96.jpg
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- <strong>Imperial yellow-glazed bowl</strong><br /><br /><br /> <br /> Porcelain with overglaze enamel<br /><br /><br /> <br /> Ming dynasty, Wanli mark and period (1573—1620)<br /><br /><br /> <br /> The yellow colour of this bowl means it was strictly reserved for the royal family
- (Image: Royal Ontario Museum)
- Slideshow: a preview of "The Forbidden City," the ROM's new exhibit of artifacts from China's imperial palace
- Slideshow: a preview of The Forbidden City, the ROM's new exhibit of China's closed-off imperial palace
- https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/rom-forbidden-city-china-imperial-palace-11-96x96.jpg
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- <strong>Vase</strong><br /><br /><br /> <br /> Porcelain<br /><br /><br /> <br /> Qing dynasty, Quianlong mark and period<br /><br /><br /> <br /> This vase features a scene that indicates blessings for good fortune
- (Image: The Palace Museum)
- Slideshow: a preview of "The Forbidden City," the ROM's new exhibit of artifacts from China's imperial palace
- Slideshow: a preview of The Forbidden City, the ROM's new exhibit of China's closed-off imperial palace
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As part of the ROM’s centenary, the museum is renewing its Far East focus by bringing in an extensive collection of over 200 artifacts from Beijing's Palace Museum—some of which have never left China before. Dubbed "The Forbidden City: Inside the court of China's emperors," the exhibition documents a strange 500-year period for China, during which only the emperor's family and servants were allowed inside the walls of the world's largest imperial palace.
Visitors can expect to be led through representations of various layers of the imperial complex, where they'll be able to ogle increasingly rare objects, ending with items from the emperor's personal chamber. There will be an imperial throne from the Qing dynasty, a porcelain cup from the Ming dynasty, and even a golden-fringed robe worn by Puyi, the palace's final inhabitant and the subject of Bernardo Bertolucci's 1987 film The Last Emperor. Here, a look at some of the artifacts that will be on display as part of the exhibition, which opens on Saturday, March 8.
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