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China

There are over 80 records of items in the Chinese collection which are mostly from the 19th and 20th centuries. The collection including clothing and fashion accessories, carvings and paintings, stationery and art materials, tools and weaponry, musical instruments, home utensils, model junks (sailing boats), pipes and snuff accessories, games and puzzles, scientific instruments, religious items as well as some architectural components.

Known places linked to the collection include Northwest Dongbei, Guanzhou, Hong Kong, Beijing, and North China. The objects were collected by ulster men and women who visited or worked in China. Known people connected to the collection include Robert Haart (1835 – 1911) known for his role in British’s relations with China as Inspector-General of the Chinese Maritime Customs Service from 1863 – 1908 as well as a number of commissioned items in the collection by Frederick William Maze (1871 – 1959), nephew to Robert Maze, a British civil servant and Chinese customs commissioner, serving as Inspector-General of the Chinese Maritime Customs Service from 1929 to 1943. Robert Haart and Frederick William Maze were both originally from Northern Ireland.

Thanks to the community research project ‘Bridges to China’ the Chinese community living in Northern Ireland supported through the Chinese Welfare Association have generously shared their expertise and knowledge of some the collections. Insight into some of the collection was also provided by Queen’s University Belfast staff Dr Emma Reisz, Dr Aglaia De Angeli, and Dr Liang Wang. Further information on selected items for the ‘Bridges to China’ project here: Bridges to China theme