A Descriptive Catalogue of the Chinese Collection, Now Exhibiting at St. George's Place, Hyde Park Corner, London: With Condensed Accounts of the Genius, Government, History, Literature, Agriculture, Arts, Trade, Manners, Customs and Social Life of the People of the Celestial Empire

A Descriptive Catalogue Of The Chinese Collection, Now Exhibiting At St. George's Place, Hyde Park Corner, London: With Condensed Accounts Of The Genius, Government, History, Literature, Agriculture, Arts, Trade, Manners, Customs And Social Life Of The People Of The Celestial Empire" by William B. Langdon. This volume serves as a guided survey of the London exhibition of Nathan Dunn's Chinese Collection. It combines an introductory survey of China’s history, government, religion, and social life with a detailed, room-by-room catalogue of the collection. The text describes the saloon’s layout, sacred idols, imperial costumes, lacquered wares, porcelain, silks, books, musical instruments, boats, and scenes of everyday life, as well as the Chinese topography, agriculture, and industries that Dunn collected. Langdon explains the aims of the collection, its educational value, and the ways in which the exhibits illuminate Chinese civilization for European audiences. The work functions both as ethnographic overview and practical visitor’s guide, offering rich historical context, vivid descriptive passages, and a catalog of hundreds of objects that constitute a “Chinese world in miniature.”