‘Song’, ‘Ming’, and ‘Mountain’ interweaves three thematic pillars: the Song dynasty, the Ming dynasty, and the archetype of the ‘mountain’. Rather than presenting a chronological survey or a single narrative, the exhibition positions each theme as an equal lens through which to understand Chinese art and culture, allowing for dialogue and discovery across sections. The Ming dynasty (1368–1644) section focuses on authority and regal display, featuring works of art that serve the state and the emperor, conceived on a scale meant to awe and legitimize. Highlighted are objects of material opulence and symbolic weight, from a massive sancai-glazed Buddhist lion to monumental jade animals.
Frieze Masters, London, 14–18 October 2026
A yellow jade model of a recumbent tiger, China, Ming dynasty, early 17th century
A very large spinach-green jade model of a recumbent water buffalo, China, late Ming to early Qing dynasty, 17th century
A massive sancai-glazed model of a Buddhist lion, China, Ming dynasty, 15th century
A massive Longquan celadon-glazed basin, China, Yongle period (1403–24)