'Playthings' of samurai and scholars

A new exhibition in Hong Kong focuses on writing and smoking tools used by power brokers in ancient China and Japan

A Qing dynasty leaf-shaped tray (left) and two Meiji period yatate (right) for storing writing brushes and ink. A Meiji period yatate, or writing brush case (front), and a Qing dynasty carved lacquer stand (back). A porcelain kiseru tobacco pipe from
A Qing dynasty leaf-shaped tray (left) and two Meiji period yatate (right) for storing writing brushes and ink. ST PHOTO: CLAIRE HUANG
A Qing dynasty leaf-shaped tray (left) and two Meiji period yatate (right) for storing writing brushes and ink. A Meiji period yatate, or writing brush case (front), and a Qing dynasty carved lacquer stand (back). A porcelain kiseru tobacco pipe from
A Meiji period yatate, or writing brush case (front), and a Qing dynasty carved lacquer stand (back). ST PHOTO: CLAIRE HUANG
A Qing dynasty leaf-shaped tray (left) and two Meiji period yatate (right) for storing writing brushes and ink. A Meiji period yatate, or writing brush case (front), and a Qing dynasty carved lacquer stand (back). A porcelain kiseru tobacco pipe from
A porcelain kiseru tobacco pipe from the Meiji period (top) and a Nobe kiseru (below) dating back to the late Edo and early Meiji period. ST PHOTO: CLAIRE HUANG
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Hong Kong city's biggest private museum, home to one of the world's most extensive and well-curated collections of Chinese antique furniture, has added greater depth with its newly acquired Japanese collection.

Liang Yi Museum's spring exhibition - Chrysanthemum And Dragon: The Art Of Ornamentation In Japan And China In The 17th To 19th Century - features more than 180 Japanese objects.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 20, 2019, with the headline 'Playthings' of samurai and scholars. Subscribe