Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima opened on October 15, 2010, the
exhibition "SingSong, Treasures from the Forbidden City" (Beijing,
China) in Museum Speelklok at Utrecht in The Netherlands.

This new name for the museum replaces, since October 1, 2010, the
former name, "Nationaal Museum van Speelklok tot Pierement".

The first contact with the Palace Museum came in November, 2005, at
the time that the Utrecht Museum was preparing the unique exhibition
"Royal Music Machines" in 2006.  This led to the loan of their large
Rhinoceros Clock.  During the first visit to Beijing a guided tour of
the Forbidden City was offered through the Clock Gallery and the
restoration workshop.

European clocks and automata first reached the Far East in the late
sixteenth century as presents, but it was only when they became objects
of commerce in the eighteenth century that large numbers began to
arrive in China.  Most of the trade was conducted by ship's officers
of the British East India Company.  The best pieces were sent to the
Emperor and senior officials in Beijing.

Emperor Qianlong (1736-1796) was an enthusiast collector.  For three
years there was an exchange of restorers between Utrecht and Beijing
which led to the restoration of a number of clocks, now on show in
Utrecht.  Some are constructed by James Cox (1723-1800), Francis
Perival and other famous builders of musical automata.  There are
several highlights, for example

(1) a pair of Pagoda Clocks (ca. 1775) with bell-playing movements;
on the hour -- when the music starts to play -- the roofs of the
pagodas telescopically slide apart and gradually slide back;

2) the Temple of Apollo Clock, ca. 1740, by John Pyke, London
(1710-1762).  This organ clock plays seven airs by George Frederick
Handel (1685-1759).

The Chinese used the term "zi ming zhong", which means "clock that
sounds by itself", but the English traders changed that into
"singsong".

There is a very beautiful catalogue, "Treasures from the Forbidden
City", in Dutch with English and Chinese summaries, with 192 pages
and about 150 illustrations in full colour.  The price is €19,90
(without forwarding-charges).  To order please contact
info@museumspeelklok.nl.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]

Museum Speelklok is open for this exhibition from 16 October 2010
through 28 February 2011.  Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m., closed on Monday, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.  Admission
price for adults is €9.  The address is  Museum Speelklok, Steenweg 6,
3511JP Utrecht, The Netherlands, only a few minutes from the Central
Station.  See also the web site  http://www.museumspeelklok.nl/ 

Hendrik Strengers
Delft, Netherlands
hekaton@hetnet.nl.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]

 [ More at http://www.museumspeelklok.nl/?Language=en 
 [ -- Editor