Howard and Asian Art Collection (Tour) - Clio

Entries on This Tour

1. Margaret Howard

The story of the Howard Collection is really the tale of two people who developed a love of Asian art that was to last a lifetime...A woman ahead of her time…Margaret Hare was born in 1866, one year after the end of the Civil War. Fate took her to Hawaii where she met and married Walter Howard. In the early 1900s, Walter and Margaret began taking trips to Asia and collecting the art which was to become our Howard Collection. They moved to Long Beach in 1912 and opened the Oriental Palace on Ocean Boulevard, where they sold their art objects and displayed one of the best collections of Asian art west of Chicago... At her death, Margaret’s wish was to keep the collection intact and to “give pleasure to people interested in such matters.” Today Assistance League of Long Beach honors her wish and carefully cares for the collection, sharing it with adults and seventh grade students studying Asian history and culture...Be sure to click on the images to open the slide show and see the full-sized photos...

2. Chinese Carved Ivory

These emperor and empress figures are hand-carved from elephant tusks. Using special carving tools, the artists were able to duplicate intricate details of the ceremonial clothing and accessories. Since 1989, importing ivory has been outlawed…Ivory…. the mere word conjures up thoughts of rare and costly beauty. Carved from elephant tusks, ivory's many cultural uses have made it highly prized since pre-historic times. Early carved examples found in Chinese tombs date well before 1000 BCE, and there are fine examples from every subsequent dynasty through the Qing (1644-1912). Like gold, ivory has always epitomized luxury and wealth in China and around the world…Four examples of standing ivory figures dating to around 1900 are on display. The first pair of unusually large figures is to the left of Mrs. Howard in section four of the Schaffner case. The second pair further to the left in section two is backed by a mirror to allow closer inspection of the reverse sides. All four are exceptional for their finely carved details. They depict Chinese emperors and empresses dressed in Qing imperial attire. Although carved ivory is usually left natural, in various periods in China it has been lacquered or stained with colors such as the black stain on our displayed pieces…Below the mirrored figures on the second shelf are other examples of carved ivory from the Asian Art Collection, including a finely carved piece showing stairs going up from street life to family life to a scholar's study. On the third shelf is an Imperial Court necklace from the Howard Collection like the one the carved emperor is wearing…Click on the first picture to begin the slide show…

3. Japanese Samurai

Samurai status was more a matter of class rather than of occupation. Whether male or female, if a person were born into a samurai family clan, he or she was automatically part of the ruling class, even if they had never picked up a sword. Some samurai men became scholars, monks, or administrators. Some samurai women joined Buddhist convents. They all had various duties, yet all were expected to train for their military role...Samurai warriors were part of the hereditary military class that ruled Japan for 700 years from 1185 until 1868. They emerged after feudal landowners formed family clans for safety against roaming bandits. They needed warriors and hired their strongest men as samurai, meaning “those who serve.” Regional clans developed over time into a hereditary samurai class under a local leader called a daimyo and a military dictator called a shogun. Their military superiority relegated the emperor to a position of figurehead. This situation lasted until the Meiji emperor was restored to power in 1868. After heated resistance, samurai warriors were replaced by the imperial national Japanese army. The end of samurai rule coincided with the opening of Japan to trade with the modern world...A samurai warrior would have worn a flexible suit of armor into battle. Its design was developed over the 700 years of samurai rule. This armor’s flexibility, which allowed free movement, was probably as important in battle as its protection. Japanese armor looks very different from the plate armor worn for 400 years by their medieval contemporaries, the knights in Europe. While European armor was designed for knights to fight with lances and shields from horseback, Japanese armor was designed as a response to using completely different weapons...Click on the first image to enlarge the photos and see the slide show.

4. Japanese Tea Ceremony

In addition to the cold-water container pictured here, look for the beautiful tea bowls and elegant tea caddies used to hold loose green matcha tea. A traditional tea ceremony encourages participants to relax and enjoy the peaceful serenity of the occasion...According to one unverified legend, the history of tea began in China. In 2737 BCE, tea leaves from a nearby tree fell into Emperor Shen Nung’s boiled drinking water. No one knows if that is true, but he is often credited with the discovery of this important beverage. Tea was popular in China long before other countries knew of it. During the Tang dynasty, (618-906 AD) tea became the national drink of China. During the eighth century, Lu Yu wrote an entire book about tea, The Tea Classic, or Ch’a Ching. Soon thereafter, Buddhist monks who had traveled to China introduced tea to the people of Japan. Drinking tea, especially on ceremonial occasions, has become an important part of Japanese culture...The introduction of a special kind of tea fostered the development of the Japanese tea ceremony. In the 12th century, the Buddhist priest Eisai (1141-1215) brought a special kind of tea from China that is known in Japan as matcha. This tea uses only the green buds from sprouting green tea bushes, which are then dried and ground into a fine powder. Matcha can be served two ways. Koicha is a thick, almost paste-like preparation used in formal tea ceremonies. Usucha is a much lighter, powdered version and is used in most typical tea ceremonies. Matcha tea tastes somewhat bitter, so kaiseki sweets are traditionally served to complement the bitterness...Click on the picture of the green water carrier to watch the slide show.

5. Asian Ceramics

The collection contains over 250 pieces of Asian ceramics. This Japanese porcelain “rabbit bowl" decorated with bright colored glazes and distinctive designs is known as Imari ware throughout the world. It was shipped from Imari but made in Arita, and the two names are interchangeable. Although Imari ware is perhaps the most well-known of Japanese ceramics, the Howard and Asian Art Collection is so rich in examples from other Japanese schools that this tour will concentrate on Japanese ceramics. However, several Chinese objects in the nearby Elynna and Henry Schaffner Display Case and a few pieces of Korean pottery in the hallway Lois and James Pott case are included...If you stand in the foyer and look at the whole Kathrine and James Lingle Display Case featuring a selection of the Japanese collection, two markedly different styles are immediately apparent. Those on the left seem very rough and rustic, while others on the right are brightly colored and elegant. The first style relates to nature, with the hand of the potter and the marks of his tools evident. Simple glazed and unglazed stoneware stems from Chinese and Korean traditions, typified by Bizen ware. A second style is typified by raku glazed earthenware and exhibits the tea-ceremony aesthetics of wabi-sabi, meaning “simplicity in daily living” and “appreciation of imperfection.” The third, more refined style, shows the early influence of Chinese porcelain styles. Succeeding generations created porcelain with distinctly Japanese characteristics. A good example of this is found in Imari style porcelain. Generally, Japanese people prefer the simpler styles and westerners the more ornate, like the Kutani and Hirado styles on the far right...Please click on the first photo to view the slide show.

6. Japanese Woodblock Prints

It is difficult to imagine that these Japanese pictures weren’t made yesterday on a modern printing press or painted by hand, but these colorful and detailed prints were made with carved blocks of wood, one for each color, in the late 1800s. Each of these framed pictures is composed of three woodblock prints that show one continuous scene called a triptych. Five of these tryptichs were designed by Toyohara Chikanobu. The sixth one, “Bakufu Crossing the River on Shoulders,” was designed by Shogetsu Toshu in 1889...Click on the first image to enlarge the pictures and open the slide show...

7. Chinese Imperial Clothing

Dress in the Qing Imperial Court...Dragon Robes... A member of the Imperial Court may have worn this blue silk robe in the late 1800’s during the Qing Dynasty. Eight dragons, symbols of the emperor’s power, are woven or embroidered on the outside of the robe, while a ninth dragon is inside to protect his heart. The dragons are known as imperial dragons because they have five claws. Such five-clawed dragons could only be worn by the imperial family and members of the imperial court...Dragon robes are rich in symbolism. The most significant features are symbols for the parts of the universe ruled over by the Chinese emperor under his mandate from heaven. The striped area at the hem represented his rule over the oceans and its waves. Above that came the land with its mountains, and the sky with its clouds. Taken together, these were also symbols of the permanent unity and prosperity of the empire. Other symbols abound, including one with a meaning opposite to that in the west: the bat. While in the west the bat symbolizes misfortune, in China bats are symbols for happiness and good fortune...At one time the court’s demand for new robes of all types kept 100,000 weavers working on 7,000 looms. Thousands of embroiderers were needed to further embellish the robes. Of these, dragon robes were the most elaborate. It is estimated that two and a half years of labor were required for one dragon robe...Fine silks were worn by imperial court members since the early Han dynasty (206 B.C.E. – 220 C.E.). Long before that, the thin fibers of the mulberry silkworm’s cocoon had been discovered and woven into fabric. Early evidence has been found in China of silk production that dates as far back as 3630 B.C.E., during the Neolithic period. Silk production rapidly spread all over China, and lengths of silk eventually became China's most successful trading commodity along the Silk Road. Even the name of the Silk Road is derived from the lucrative trade in silk that dominated its network of overland trade routes between China, India, and Europe. Today, China remains the largest producer and exporter of silk in the world... The blue dragon robe on display can only hint at what Margaret Howard collected. In the category of Chinese clothing alone there are 41 robes, 20 jackets, 40 skirts, 98 sleeve bands, and 22 collars, all silk and beautifully embroidered. Most of the silk pieces in the collection date from the late 19th century to the end of the Ching dynasty in 1912. Since textiles can be damaged when exposed to light, only a few can be exhibited at one time and then for no more than six months. After that, they are rotated back into the temperature-controlled vault. In the photographs are examples from each of these categories...Click on the first photo to view the slide show.

8. Chinese Foot-Binding

Foot-binding was the custom of tightly binding the feet of very young girls to change the foot size and shape. Her “golden lilies” were believed to make her more attractive to a wealthy husband...Foot-binding is said to have been inspired by a 10th century court dancer named Yao Niang who bound her feet into the shape of a crescent moon. She impressed Emperor Li Yu by dancing on her toes inside a six-foot golden lotus decorated with ribbons and gemstones. In addition to altering the shape of the foot, the practice produced a particular swaying gait caused by the need to take very short steps. Bound feet in tiny, embroidered slippers were considered attractive... Gradually, wealthy court ladies began binding their feet, making it a Han status symbol that eventually spread throughout Han society. Foot-binding lasted over a period of more than one thousand years. Some early evidence comes from the tomb of Lady Huang Sheng who died in 1243. Her feet were tiny and misshapen, wrapped in gauze, and placed inside special “lotus shoes..."It was believed that a small foot represented the height of female virtue, as well as elegance. For families with daughters, foot size became an important bargaining point for marriage. The most desirable bride possessed a three-inch foot, known as a “golden lily.” Four-inch feet—a silver lotus—were acceptable, but five inches or longer were disparaged as “iron lotuses.” The daughters with small feet could marry wealthy men, while those with large feet were likely to work in the fields or at other manual labor... To turn a natural foot into a golden lily required two to three years of excruciating pain and left a girl in danger of falls or infection throughout her life...Click on the first photo to view the slideshow of Chinese slippers...

9. Chinese Rank Badges

From 1391 to 1911, a scholar’s status in the meritocracy of the Imperial Court was shown in the rank badges, also known as mandarin squares, or insignia squares, worn on his jacket. A male civil servant earned his badge by passing grueling tests. All three names indicate the embroidered or woven squares worn by civil and military officials who worked hard to earn this recognition. Rank badges are still some of the finest embroideries of gold thread on silk ever done anywhere in the world. We are lucky to have these beautiful works of embroidered art. Few of these exist anymore because most imperial rank badges were burned when the revolutionary communist government came into power in 1949 under Mao Zedong. Because of the communist revolution in China, possessing articles from the old imperial regime could have resulted in death...· Nine civil ranks and nine military ranks existed in the ancient imperial rank badge system...· Each civil rank was represented by a particular bird...· To earn the first civil rank, a man had to pass an exhaustive exam. If he passed, he and his family could wear the paradise flycatcher badge of the lowest ninth rank. To rise to higher ranks, he had to pass more difficult tests...· For military badges, the man had to pass strenuous physical tests. He and his family would then wear badges with embroidered animals...· Both civil and military badges contain other symbols...Do you see a symbol that is in all of them?· The sun is a symbol for the Chinese emperor who was believed to have a mandate from heaven...· The bird and animal symbols all face the sun symbol to honor the emperor...· Insignias belonging to men face to the left; those worn by women face to the right. When a man and his wife sat next to each other, the birds or animals faced each other...Please click on the first photo to view the slide show...

10. Cricket Champions

Competitions to determine which cricket can sing the loudest or fight the longest have been a tradition for centuries in Asian countries. Valuable crickets were housed in stylish cages and treated like royalty. Superior male crickets, with large, well-shaped heads, big mandibles and fighting spirits, are coveted and expensive in China and Japan. Fighting and singing cricket contests are traditions dating back more than a thousand years and are taken very seriously. Millions of dollars are spent on cricket sales and care each year. Betting on the fiercest fighters or the loudest singers, while illegal, is big business...Click on the picture of the dark brown cricket cage to start the slide show...

Mrs. Howard’s uniquely carved furniture fills the hallways and rooms in the philanthropic center. On the Chinese cabinets and chairs, look for flowers, phoenixes, dragons, and even monkeys. On the American cupboards, look for Shakespeare, Beethoven, Columbus, and Da Vinci...In addition to the furniture from Mrs. Howard, over the years members and friends have donated other pieces which are listed as the Asian Art Collection...Most pieces in the Breslauer Chapter Room were made during the late Qing dynasty (mid-to-late 19th century) and are fine examples of Chinese carving. Because of deforestation, even as early as the Ming dynasty (1300-1600), China had to import the best woods from other countries. Some of our pieces are made from one of the most popular woods, Burmese or East Indian rosewood, also known as padouk wood. Most of the Howard pieces are carved from one of the forms of this prestigious wood. Another wood that was preferred even to the highest grade of padouk is called tzu-t’an which translates to purple sandalwood or blackwood. The blackwood is so dark that it is purplish in color and is the most dense and heavy of Chinese hardwoods, very much like western mahogany...If furniture had ears, the three one-of-a-kind American pieces would have interesting stories to tell. Originally built in the 1860s for Charles Godfrey Gunther, the Mayor of New York City from 1864-1866, they were purchased by Alfred Dolge in 1895 for his new mansion in upstate New York. He brought them all to California after his financial catastrophe and forced bankruptcy in Dolgeville. The Howards bought the pieces from his estate in 1922...Just as Mrs. Howard and the other owners used this furniture in their homes for practical purposes as well as aesthetic enrichment, we can appreciate the elegance and artistry of each piece today...The best way to learn about the furniture is to walk around and look at it closely as you read or listen to the information in the Backstory section... Click on the first photo to enjoy the slide show.

Every few months, the Howard and Asian Art Display Committee members change the display cases to showcase a variety of textiles or artifacts. Enjoy the photos of current and former special exhibits.Click on the first photo to begin the slide show.

This Tour is a Virtual Museum or Site Tour.

Howard and Asian Art Collection

Created by Assistance League of Long Beach on August 16th 2023, 3:44:38 am.

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Description

The Howard and Asian Art Collection is a museum-quality collection of over 2,500 Asian artifacts. It is displayed in the Cherese Mari Laulhere Philanthropic Center of Assistance League of Long Beach. The collection originated in 1948 with the receipt of the Howard Trust and has since continued to grow with private donations to the Asian Art Collection. Consisting primarily of Chinese and Japanese artifacts, the two collections together contain examples of ceramics, textiles, woodblock prints, lacquer ware, brass and bronze works, wood and ivory carvings, and furniture. The collection serves as one of eleven philanthropic programs of Assistance League of Long Beach and is supported by individual, foundation, and corporate donations as well as proceeds from our Thrift and Vintage Shop. Tours are conducted by trained member docents for seventh-grade students in the Long Beach Unified School District and to community groups upon request.

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