Royal Museum of Mariemont, Belgium
14.11.2009 – 21.2.2010

In July 2008, the Chinese Ministry of Culture invited Hong Kong to participate in the “Europalia‧China 2009” Festival, which marks a new height of cultural exchange between Belgium and China. The Europalia is an important multi-disciplinary cultural festival in Europe, dedicated to introduce in every two years’ interval one major city or one country in all its historical and cultural multiplicity since 1969. It is the honour of the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware to participate in “Europalia‧China 2009”, representing Hong Kong as one of the highlight cities of China, and bringing to the European audience the culture of tea drinking.

“Tea Through the Ages: An Art of Living” was officially open on 13 November 2009 at the Royal Museum of Mariemont in Belgium. This exhibition featured 63 refined artifacts selected from the K.S. Lo Collection of tea ware housed at the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware. These valuable artifacts document the discernible changes and development in ways of making tea as well as in ways of decorating the tea ware. There is a great variety of form and glaze applied to ewers and tea bowls of the Tang and Song dynasties. On display were also refined teapots of the Ming dynasty, exquisite covered bowls of the Qing dynasty, in addition to a variety of styles of tea ware designated for export. While appreciating this bountiful heritage of tea ware featuring various qualities, visitors are also invited to explore the history of Chinese tea culture that they embody.