A lacquerware plate Photo: Courtesy of Palace Museum

The best of the Palace Museum's vast collection of lacquerwares made during the Qing Dynasty (1466-1911) Qianlong period are on display in a new exhibition at the Guardian Art Center in Beijing to give people the opportunity to dive into the world of these works of art.  

The exhibition, set to run until October 12, is the third in a series of collaborations to showcase the Palace Museum's vast collection. The museum has more than 18,000 lacquerwares in its collection, with a majority dating back to the Qing Dynasty, especially the reign of the Qianlong Emperor.

According to Xing Na, a researcher at the Palace Museum, the more than 100  artworks from the collection are divided into five sections based on the type of craftsmanship used in their making, with the aim of representing the beauty and characteristics of lacquerwares at that time. 

The production of lacquerware, one of China's oldest traditional handicrafts, can be traced back to 8,000 years ago. The cultural and economic power of the Qing Dynasty provided a solid foundation for the development of court lacquerware, while the Qianlong Emperor's fondness for the art form gave it an extra boost.