In 1935, London’s Royal Academy of Arts staged one of the most ambitious surveys of Chinese art ever seen in the West. The International Exhibition of Chinese Art 1935–36 brought together more than 3,000 works spanning millennia, from imperial treasures to archaeological and religious objects.
This October, Christie’s will mark its 40th anniversary in Asia with The Royal Academy International Exhibition of Chinese Art 1935–36: A Commemorative Tribute, held at its Asia Pacific headquarters at The Henderson during Hong Kong Asian Art Week.
Organised in collaboration with renowned dealer Daniel Eskenazi, the exhibition will reunite selected works from the original show, alongside the launch of his new scholarly publication on the 1935–36 exhibition.
Gallery views of the 1935–36 exhibition
Gallery views of the 1935–36 exhibition
Around a third of the objects from the exhibition were lent by the Republic of China and transported to Britain by Royal Navy ships
Conceived as an act of cultural diplomacy to mark the 25th anniversary of King George V’s reign, the Royal Academy International Exhibition of Chinese Art 1935–36 was unprecedented in scale and ambition.
More than 3,000 objects were assembled at the Royal Academy of Arts at a time when such loans were exceptionally rare. Around a third of the objects were lent by the Republic of China, principally from the National Palace Museum in Beijing and transported to Britain by Royal Navy ships. The rest came from leading museums, private collections, and dealers worldwide.
Attracting over 400,000 visitors, the exhibition introduced many Western viewers to the depth and sophistication of Chinese art and helped reshape global perceptions of Chinese culture. Ninety years on, Christie’s commemorative show will return a group of important works from that original display – now in private hands – to public view.
Daniel Eskenazi
The catalogue for The International Exhibition of Chinese Art, held at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1935-6
The exhibition will be held at Christie's Asia Pacific headquarters at The Henderson
The inspiration for Christie’s commemorative exhibition comes from a major new book by Daniel Eskenazi, 1935: The International Exhibition of Chinese Art. Published in six volumes, it reproduces more than 2,000 historic photographs – many unseen for decades – alongside newly commissioned bilingual essays by leading scholars from Greater China and around the world.
Daniel Eskenazi is a prominent London-based dealer and the son of Giuseppe Eskenazi, often described as the “godfather” of Chinese art. While the family is best known for porcelain, jade, and metalwork, Daniel has also championed classical furniture and ink painting, expanding the gallery’s scope. He is also an artist and avid photographer.
The book launch and the commemorative exhibition will be held at Christie's Asia Pacific headquarters at The Henderson and are set to be one of the highlights of Hong Kong Asian Art Week this autumn.