FONDATION BAUR - MUSÉE DES ARTS D’EXTRÊME-ORIENT (BAUR FOUNDATION - FAR EAST ARTS MUSEUM)

Far Eastern art enthusiasts, this visit is for you! Sumptuous is the word to describe the collections of exceptional works from China and Japan assembled by Swiss collector Alfred Baur (1865-1951). He made his fortune trading in organic fertilizers in Sri Lanka, the country formerly known as Ceylon. On his return to Switzerland in 1906, he developed a passion for collecting Asian art, and began a parallel career as a "collector", focusing mainly on Japanese works, and later on Chinese ceramics. The works, all of the highest refinement, are displayed in a ^19th-century mansion. The museum is small, but well worth a visit. A staircase leads to the department specializing in China, then to Japan. The museum rooms are brightly lit, and the works are well displayed. You'll admire ceramics of perfect beauty and harmony, the earliest dating back to the Tang dynasty (618-907). A saddled horse bears witness to the intense trade between China and the West via the Silk Road. These ceramics cover all dynasties up to the Qing (1644-1911). Jade objects, miniature tobacco flasks, perfume burners, cups and bowls, some Indian-influenced or inspired by Tibetan Buddhist art, date from the ^18th to the ^20th century. Note the jade objects, a reflection of the long and hard work involved. Jade - considered a symbol of purity and integrity in China - is perceived as a very precious stone. Very hard, it was considered indestructible. In addition to its high value, it was therefore associated with immortality, and jade was often placed in the tombs of emperors and aristocrats. Imagine the time it took to carve a perfume burner, a bowl or a brush-holder. Take a look at some of the highly original vases depicting Westerners, and not to their advantage. It's interesting to discover how Easterners look at Westerners. In the ^17th and ^18th centuries, China and the Far East in general aroused great interest and admiration among Westerners. These famous "chinoiseries" were at first imitations of Chinese objets d'art made in the West, then the term was extended to include objects made in China. Cloisonné enamels and remarkable Chinese textiles are also on display.

Don't miss the department dedicated to Japan. These collections date back to the Edo period and the Meiji, Taisho and Showa eras, stretching from the ^18th to the early ^20th century. It brings together everyday objects and fashion accessories, reflecting the influence of the outside world on Japan. You'll be seduced by the beauty of the prints. They represent the leisure activities of city dwellers. Kabuki theater actors, courtesans and, later, landscapes and heroes were depicted. Netsuke, small ivory figurines used to hang various objects from belts, often depicting characters from Japanese mythology, were essential fashion accessories for city dwellers in the Edo period. On display are true marvels, including tea caddies, paint pots, sword ornaments, Japanese ceramics and tea sets. Writing cases include an ink stone, brush and cruet. During the Edo period, publishing was booming. These writing implements belonged to literary figures and wealthy city dwellers. The lacquers are exceptional, of uncommon refinement. They are made from gold and mother-of-pearl, both native to China. To make an object, layers of lacquer were accumulated, and the craftsman then engraved his design. To decorate some of them, gold and silver flakes were applied with a bamboo stick and sprinkled on the surface. These are makis. Observe the finesse of the design on the Inro, the medicine boxes. In Japan, people don't bother with heavy furniture. So we used a plethora of chests, storage boxes and cases. As you can see, these objects belonged to very wealthy citizens.

The "tea room" you'll see in an adjoining room, was installed in a pavilion reserved for this practice. Here, tea was served in the famous ceremony known as the "Japanese tea service". This is the Chanoyu, or Chado "way of tea" in Japanese. The event is much more than a simple gathering of friends. It's a traditional art inspired by Zen Buddhism, with each step highly codified. Did you know that studying the tea ceremony can take several years? Both host and guests must know the chado, the various types of tea, how to serve, and on the guest's side, what words to say, tea-drinking technique, style of dress... Sword decorations are true masterpieces. In the Edo period, swords embodied the "soul of the Samurai". China has exerted an important influence in many fields in Japan over the past 5,000 years. Round off your visit with a visit to the Zen garden, a faithful reflection of the gardens we visit in Japan!