Hanshan Tang Books

EDYXXX
State Hermitage Museum: ECANG DUNHUANG YISHUPIN: I-VI. Dunhuang Art Relics Collected in Russia: One to Six. 俄藏敦煌藝術品. Shanghai, 1997-2005. 277 pp. 84 pp. text and c. 190 pp. colour plates; 229 pp. 138 colour and 71 b/w plates. Numerous text drawings; 2, 4, 6 pp. text and 359 pp. b/w plates; 6 pp. text and 384 pp. b/w plates; 327 pp. 294 pp. b/w and some colour plates; 544 pp. 172 pp. b/w plates. Numerous b/w text drawings. 6 vols. 38x27 cm. Cloth.
GBP 5,000.00
The vast majority of material is here published for the first time and comprises a valuable addition to the documentation on Dunhuang. Its value is enhanced by the high quality of the colour and black-and-white plates. An important reference and a fine complement to Whitfield's: 'The Art of Central Asia: The Stein Collection in the British Museum' and Gies: 'Arts of Central Asia: The Pelliot Collection in the Musee Guimet'.
Volume One covers finds made by the 1914-15 Russian expedition to the Mogao Caves, led by S. F. Oldenburg and now housed in the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. The 111 objects shown (some with multiple illustrations and detail) include paintings on silk, statuary, stucco work, banners, textile fragments etc. This first volume has a full trilingual text in English, Chinese and Russian.
Volume Two continues coverage of the finds made by Oldenburg. The 138 objects shown (some with multiple illustrations and detail) include temple banners and streamers, paintings on hemp, textiles and textile fragments, embroidery, paintings on paper etc. The text in this volume is primarily in Chinese, but with English captions and brief descriptions for all objects.
Volume Three is devoted to the black-and-white photographs that Oldenburg took of the Mogao grottoes during his visit there in 1915. There are numerous views of the exteriors and interiors of the grottoes as well as photographs of the relics in the area around the grottoes. Whilst Pelliot had photographed the grottoes a few years earlier, the Oldenburg material includes approximately 80 caves not photographed by Pelliot. In addition, Oldenburg's photography includes the area around the caves. A valuable photographic record and reference. Four page introduction in English, otherwise Chinese text.
Volume Four continues coverage of the photographs that Oldenburg took during his visit in 1915. This volume is entirely comprised of interior views of the grottoes - statuary and murals, both general and close-up detail. Text in Chinese.
Volume Five reproduces the detailed drawings and plans of the exterior and interior of the Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang undertaken in the latter part of 1914 and the beginning of 1915 by the Oldenburg Expedition. Very few of these plans and drawings have been published before. The drawings, plans and elevations capture the state of the Mogao Grottoes when they were at their most abandoned and decayed in the early 20th century. Thus these plans and drawings are an important historical record as many changes and renovations have been undertaken since that date. Seven pages of English text. Main text in Chinese.
Volume Six - this final volume in the series is in two parts. The first part contains transcriptions into Chinese of written notes about the Mogao grottoes at Dunhuang, including Oldenburg's 'Cave Notes about Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes' containing detailed notes, layouts and sketch maps of various caves. It also contains supplementary notes by S. M. Dudin and notes of inscriptions recorded by the expedition. The second part discusses material relating to Oldenburg's expedition - notes, diaries and photographs. The 172 pages of black-and-white plates illustrate Oldenburg's notebooks together with photographs of the Dunhuang caves, nearby towns, people and historical sites in the surrounding area, including beacon towers. Four page English abstract and postscript. Main text in Chinese.
All volumes now published. Out-of-print and now very rare as a set.
Subjects: Dunhuang Silk Road
Item 615 in List 206.
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