Hong Kong Palace Museum | The Hong Kong Palace Museum Collection and Collectors Talk Series | Origin, Development and Outlook: Ceramic Collections of Dawentang and Huaihaitang

Mr Lawrence Chan Wing-tat

Master of the Dawentang Collection

Mr Lawrence Chan, master of the Dawentang Collection, is a well-known collector of Chinese ceramics. The collection is highly recognized for its imperial porcelain of the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. They were exhibited at many museums and well-studied by scholars. Chan has generously donated several porcelain treasures of the Ming dynasty to the Hong Kong Palace Museum, among them are two important porcelain dishes from the Yongle period (1403–1424). Decorated with the same lotus bouquet motif, but employing different artistic techniques, the two dishes create a meaningful juxtaposition.

Mr Anthony Cheung Kee-wee

Owner of the Huaihaitang Collection

Mr Anthony Cheung Kee-wee has an extensive collection of imperial Chinese porcelain from the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. He owns the celebrated Huaihaitang Collection, which has been exhibited in many museums and receives critical acclaim. He has also supported and donated to university and public art museums in Hong Kong as well. Dozens of important blue-and-white porcelains and polychrome ones from the Huaihaitang collection have been generously donated to the Hong Kong Palace Museum.

Dr Meng Qiao

Assistant Curator
Hong Kong Palace Museum

Dr Qiao mainly specialises in Chinese ceramics and funerary art. She participated in the curatorial research for the special exhibition “Radiance: Ancient Gold from the Hong Kong Palace Museum Collection and the Mengdiexuan Collection” in 2023. She was also the co-curator of the thematic exhibition “Brilliance: Ming Dynasty Ceramic Treasures from the Palace Museum, 1368–1644” in 2024.