Trifter

THE Oriental Museum in Durham City is unique in being the only British museum that is dedicated entirely to art, archaeology and culture from throughout the Orient.  The museum uses the 19th Century variant of the world, Oriental to cover the civilisations and cultures of the Near, Middle and Far East.

It began life as a small teaching collection in the School of Oriental Studies at Durham University, based on its new acquired collection of Egyptian antiquities that had been put together by the fourth Duke of Northumberland, in the 1940s.  Other collections, particularly some Chinese artefacts were later obtained and these justified the building of a purpose designed museum in 1960.

The new museum which had been designed by Middleton Fletcher of Middlesbrough, quickly gained national prestige as a major home to Oriental art.  Researchers and connoisseurs came to it from throughout the world and it is still primarily a major teaching and research resource for the university staff and students as well as being open to the general public.

A new porch was added in 1984, followed by a mezzanine floor, housing the Marvels of China Galley in 2000.  There is a dedicated classroom for lectures, meetings and school parties as well as a refreshment point.

The Galley of Egypt Exhibition, the first part of collections, now has part of the Welcome Collection and excavated material from archaeological digs in Egypt in addition to the original collecting from the Duke.

A small, but representative collection of ceramics forms the basis of the Gallery of the Islamic World Exhibition.  There are also examples of calligraphy and miniatures as well as some Mughal jades.  Excavated material from digs at Jerusalem, Lachish, Ur and Nimrud with two reliefs which are believed to come from Nineveh are also in this Gallery along with a large selection of seals.

Artefacts from all the major religions, which originated in the sub-continent form the major part of the Gallery of India Exhibition.  There are relics from the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain and Sikh faiths, including manuscripts, paintings, woodwork, metalwork and sculptures.  An impressive collection of religious and secular artefacts and Thangka paintings are representative of Tibetan Buddhism.

This Gallery also contains almost 5,000 photographs of monuments and archaeological sites taken by Sir John Marshall when he was Director of Archaeology in India between 1902 and 1923.

A small, but diverse collection forms the Gallery of South East Asia Exhibition, which covers the independent countries of Bali, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Myanmar, Sarawak, Singapore and Thailand.  It contains such miscellaneous artefacts as Indonesian trade ceramics recovered from a shipwreck, musical instruments, shadow puppets, textiles and a head hunter’s sword that was brought back by Sir Malcolm Campbell.

China was always the largest and potentially the most powerful of all the Oriental countries with possibly the longest continuous civilisation the world.  Chinese craftsmen and artists originally began working in jade and earthen ware with artefacts being discovered that date back to about 5000BC.  The Gallery of China Exhibition contains ceramics which span the gamut from earthenware storage jars made in 2500BC to porcelain tableware that was produced during the 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries.

Their craftsmen did use other materials and early cast ritual wine and food vessels mad of bronze for offerings to the Gods have been discovered.  They also carved exquisite objects from bamboo, ivory, rhinoceros horn, other types of wood and steatite, more commonly known as soapstone.

 Paintings and calligraphy were forms of Chinese art, especially the later landscapes on paper or silk.

They discovered the secret of lacquering objects with a liquid which dried to gave them a protective covering.

A magnificent bed, made from Huali hardwood and inlaid with panels of carved boxwood and ivory which dates from the early 19th Century is in the museum.

The silks particularly, the official dragon Robes with their accessories form an exciting part of this exhibition.

Lottery funding enabled the museum to create the Marvels of China Galley.  This contains specially selected pieces including scholars’ robes, women’s skirts and shoes from the main Chinese collection.  There are also models of farms and animals found in an 8th Century tomb in this gallery.

Japanese artists were originally influenced and inspired by China, but they quickly developed a style reflecting their martial and highly refined society.  The Gallery of Japan Exhibition shows this contrast of fine armour and weapons, particularly swords with the embroidered kimonos and artworks.  There are also carved woods and ivories, porcelains and woodblock prints.

The museum employs a dedicated Education Officer to welcome school parties on educational visits, which include workshops, classroom sessions, holding exhibits, talks and gallery activities.  School parties should book their visit in advance with the Education Officer on 0191 334 5695.

Photography with the use of flash is allowed in the Oriental Museum.  However a permit is required and the application forms for these can be obtained from reception.  These permits cost £3.50 with £2 of it being a returnable deposit.

There is a well stocked gift shop with merchandise from across the Oriental World, solving many gift problems along with an extensive range of books and greetings cards.

The Oriental Museum is on Elvet Hill and is well signposted from the A177.  It can be contacted on 0191 334 5695