03.12.2025 – 06.04.2026
‘Harmony in Diversity’ is the central theme of the exhibition, which showcases the virtuosity of court art and craftsmanship in 18th-century China. Objects made from a wide variety of precious materials are on display, ranging from jade, porcelain and lacquerware to enamel and clocks. They all illustrate the aesthetic philosophy of the Chinese court in scholarly art, decorative art and applied art. The exhibition, curated jointly by the Palace Museum and the Kunsthistorisches Museum, displays 76 masterpieces. Most of the exhibits, including imperial jade carvings and porcelain treasures, are being shown in Europe for the first time. The centrepiece of the exhibition – a ruyi sceptre made of gilded bronze in filigree work with triple jade inlay – not only bears vivid witness to the exquisite virtuosity of Chinese filigree work, but also signifies ‘happiness and blessing’. Under this motto, the exhibition refers to the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Austria in 2026.
Chinese Art from the Forbidden City
03.12.2025 – 06.04.2026
Kunsthistorisches Museum
Maria-Theresien-Platz
1010 Vienna
www.khm.at
