THE ANTIQUE MUSEUM - Palata umetnosti Madlena

The Oriental Collection comprises a part of the permanent setting of the Museum, with a singular collection of the applied art of the Far East, located at the gallery on the ground floor of the Madlena Art Palace. This collection of rarities includes artifacts originating from different periods of the ancient China and Japan, with the oldest dating back from the period BC, and the most recent one from the beginning of 20 century.

China

The oldest artifact within the Oriental Collection is a sacrificial bronze vessel (cauldron) dated back from the Shang Dynasty and the reign of Emperor Wu Ding (1300 – 1200 BC), followed, in chronological order, by the artifacts belonging to the famous Ming family. The Ming Dynasty was the ruling dynasty of China, known as the Empire of the Great Ming – from 1368 to 1644 AD. The collection comprises numerous objects from the period of this dynasty.

Transit from 17 into 18 century is the period belonging to the Qing Dynasty, and the rule of Emperor Kangxi. In the Oriental Collection, this period is represented with china figurines of the mythological animal Foo from the so-called famille verte, as well as a figure of Buddha.

The period of Qing Qianlong relates to 18 century and is marked by large production of porcelain in China, and the Collection is complemented with artifact such as Canton vases, zoomorphous china candlesticks and vases, all made of china from the so-called famille rose, anthropomorphous figurines made of ivory, and wooden furniture. The other materials used are semi-precious rose quartz, lapis-lazuli, and jade.

The period of the Qing dynasty continues further into 19 century, and the Collection from this period predominantly comprises strikingly polychromous china artifacts.

Japan

Most of the artifacts originating from Japan which are located at the Antique Museum of the Madlena Art Palace belong to the period of Emperor Meiji (19 century). As of 1640, foreigners were prohibited to enter the territory of Japan, and commercial pathways were closed. In 1867, the 122th Emperor, Meiji the Great, acceded to the throne, rather forcedly than by his own will, and in 1868 already, he discontinued the isolation of his country and introduced numerous economic, military, political, and cultural reforms, insisting on accelerated industrialization. Japan started trading with Europe and America, thus numerous objects from that period were created to the demand from abroad. The Meiji period is nowadays remembered as a period of fast expansion of artistic production and flourishing of old traditional Japanese crafts. Within the Oriental Collection, all artifacts from Japan belong to this period, to mention but a few: richly engraved brass vases, a chest made of black wood decorated with metal ornaments, a large ivory vase, a bronze pitcher, etc.

West Europe and other European states (Serbia, Russia)

The collection of the Antique Museum comprises an imposing number of artifacts, mostly from western Europe, but from Russia and Serbia as well. The oldest artifacts are dated back in 17 century, while there many of them from the following centuries, all the way to the present time.

The 17the century collection is dominated by the baroque esthetics of the countries of Western Europe. The Italian baroque also takes place in the course of 18century. The Museum exhibits originating from Italy testifying to this period are a baroque table, a chest – maiden chest (of the casone type). In France, 17 century was marked by the extravagant style of Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, whose spendthrift taste inclined to pompousness imposed specific esthetics to artists, but the superior craftsmanship as well. This century was immortalized in baroque and rococo, while the artifacts representing this lavish style are tapestries from the Gobelin manufacture (woven from wool, silk, and gold threads, presenting the mythological topic of the god Pan), wall medallions bearing the signature of the well-known medallion-maker of the period Abraham Dupre, a chest made of purple ebony with sophisticated decorations and a sumptuous stand, decorative fire-place screens and a five-piece screen covered in painted leather, etc. In England, 17 century brings different styles, but also revives the Medieval and Gothic esthetics. At the same time in Portugal, Portuguese baroque, exceptionally decorative and colourful, even more than in France and England, flourished. The Collection comprises sacral objects in the form of two pillars which once belonged to a church courtyard. The very deep and plastic gilt woodwork is decorated with flower wreaths, floral details, angel heads, and Ionian capitols. In 17 century, the territory of Holland was certainly as interesting. One of the most representative painters of still nature of the Flemish art who also belonged to the “golden age” of the Dutch (Flemish) art, Jan Davidson de Hem, is a part of the Collection of the Antiques Museum. Another rarity from the same territory and the same age is the drawing-room bench made of ebony. We proudly emphasize that it is one of the four identical benches in the world today (two are in the museums in Hain and Rotterdam while one is in a private collection).

The century of enlightenment and the turbulent period in French history, 18, is related to the very end of the reign of Louis XIV and reign of Louis XV and Louis XVI, and appointment of Napoleon I Bonaparte as a consul. The Museum Collection comprises a large number of exhibits from this period, in which different forms of style are interwoven. In France, certainly, the most dominant styles are those of Louis XV and Louis XVI. In the Collection, the style of Louis XV is most frequently represented with tables, small tables, commodes, and an armchair with floral motifs, manufactured by the renowned Paris craftsman Michel Gourdin, while the style of Louis XVI is represented with different sets, tapestries, consoles, mantelpiece clocks, and chandeliers. The sets in the style of Louis XVI are upholstered with tapestries. The style of the 18 century England coincides with the period and esthetics of George II and George III, while the collection from this English period is complemented with exhibits including various mirrors, tables and chairs, candlestick stands, and small tables in regency style, made of rosewood. In 18 century, Holland was a strong, rich country with overseas colonies, and was well-known for excellent marquetry wood processing. The antiques collection includes period furniture such as the royal bench made of walnut wood and a cabinet. The 18 century Italy mostly relied on the esthetics of baroque and rococo, although there are some exceptions. At that time, the Austrian Empire was ruled by the Habsburgs and dominated by the spirit of enlightenment of Maria Therese.

The beginning of 19 century in France was marked by Napoleon I Bonaparte and his crowning as the Emperor. Thus, the imperial style – style Empire – becomes the prevailing esthetics in the first three decades of 19 century. The museum collection also includes an exceptionally valuable setting of styles which formed the art of 19 century, from style Empire and restauration, via neo-classicism to art nouveau at the very end of the century. In England, 19 century was first marked by the reign of George IV and regency style, followed by the Victorian style till the end of the century. Eclecticism of different styles is characteristic, and they are, together with romanticism, also joined by Chippendale style, which had been established back in 18 century. Furniture originating from England is mostly made of quality wood, primarily mahogany, ebony, and rosewood. The collection is also complemented with artifacts in Anglo-Indian style; having in mind that India used to be a British colony, the impact of this Asian country in furniture processing is doubtless. Beside India, China and Japan also exerted esthetic influence on the British Empire; thus, for instance, in the Oriental Collection we can see the black japan cabinet decorated in the Japanese style with gold leaves, from the regency period. In Italy, 19 century revives the styles which were once popular. The exceptionally valuable artifacts of the Collection include the neoclassicist sculpture by Giovanni Benzoni (La danza di Zefiro e Flora), or the neo-renaissance cabinet made of ebony, with ivory inlays representing ancient motifs. Another case of revival of antiquity may be observed in the pair of tall statues of a man and a woman in Roman armours, made of gilt wood and standing on stone stands. Beside the ancient esthetics, 19 century also experienced restoration of medieval esthetics, which may be observed on the monumental mirror with a heavy frame, medieval martial symbols, and heraldic elements in woodwork. Swedish period furniture from 19 century which is a part of the Collection is characterized by simplicity of a neo-classicist set, with a pair of large mirrors, and a large cupboard. The Russian exhibit from the same period is a divan (sofa) in style Empire, manufactured after the taste dictated by rulers from the Romanov Dynasty.

In 20 century, in the period of accelerated industrialization, mass production dictates and forms art in Europe. The different categories of style in the Collection include art deco, art nouveau, secession, modernism, etc. Art deco is presented by numerous exhibits of commodes, cupboards, tables, and chairs originating from Italy, while secession, the pride of Austrian culture, may be observed through numerous chandeliers, lamps, and lanterns. Serbian modern painting of 20 century is a testimony of the representative century of culture, with numerous giants of visual arts represented in the Collection, starting from Beta Vukanović, Mališa Glišić, Marko Čelebonović, Milo Milunović, Mladen Josić, Petar Lubarda, etc. The Collection also comprises artifacts of the contemporary national art, with sculptures in maiolica by Jelena Miletić and several originally designed tables by Jelena Milošević, two from the group of contemporary artists of great talent and skills.

America

A console, table and chairs made of wrought iron, patinated and gilt, represent American trends when it comes to period furniture of 20 century: sophisticated minimalism of detail, focus on the nature, visible industrial materials with a hint of glamour from the gilt.