RAS Shanghai – Hidden Treasures: an exploration of antique maps of Asia and China – 16th-18th century – Saturday 30th March
Posted: March 29th, 2013 | No Comments »A Shanghai RAS event of possible interest…
Hidden Treasures: An Exploration of Antique Maps of China and Asia, 16-18th Century
Vince Ungvary
Saturday 30th March, Registration 3:30 PMÂ – starts at 4:00 PM
The Tavern, Radisson Blu Plaza Xingguo Hotel 78 XingGuo Road, Shanghai
The history of Europe’s interactions with Asia is no better documented than through the maps that were produced by Europeans over a long period of time. From the time of Ptolemy in 150AD, maps of Asia had showed parts of the continent based on the scant information at the time provided by explorers and traders. For the next 1500 years, maps of Asia hardly changed from the Ptolemaic tradition. Even Marco Polo’s famous travels to China in the 13th century didn’t substantially alter the European conception of Asia’s geography although it did provide the impetus for the Age of Exploration by the Portuguese and the Spaniards in the 16th century to the Asian region. The search for trade opportunities, particularly of gold, silver and spices as well as silk and porcelain led to other nations joining the fray including England and Holland in the early to late 17th century. The Age of Exploration eventually led to European imperialism in Asia as Europe flexed its economic, political and technological muscle across the region.
Vince Ungvary is a graduate of Asian studies from Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia where he majored in Modern Chinese History and Indonesian. Subsequent to his degree, Vince completed a post graduate degree of Marketing at Edith Cowan University, Perth. Vince has worked in the Asian region since 1991, first in Jakarta, Indonesia and then for the last 10 years in Shanghai.
Vince took up his passion of map collecting 15 years ago when he visited a house on the outskirts of New Delhi, only to find it was actually an antique bookstore and full of antique maps of Asia. Vince has since built his map collection which focuses mainly on Antique maps of Asia and China from the 16th century to the 19th century (and a few rare ones of pre-1949 Shanghai) to a collection of around 800 maps.
We will follow this course of history by seeing the changes in European conception and knowledge of Asia and China through the eyes of the map makers of those times. Actual examples of antique maps of Asia and China from the 1500’s, 1600’s and 1700’s will be displayed from Vince’s collection.
Next The Exhibition:
Walk along to
HONG MERCHANT GALLERY
N° 3 Lane 372 Xing Guo Road
(by Huaihai Road), Shanghai
To view Exhibition
Exhibition time: 5.45pm
Talk Cost: RMB 80.00 (RAS members) and RMB 130.00 (non-members). Includes one drink of 150 ml. glass of red or white wine/draft beer/soft drink/ tea or coffee. Those unable to make the donation but wishing to attend may contact us for exemption.
Exhibition Cost: Free
Membership applications and membership renewals will be available at this event.
RAS Monographs: Series 1 & 2 will be available for sale at this event. RMB 100 each (cash sale only).
To RSVP:Â Please “Reply” to this email or write to
RAS Bookings at: bookings@royalasiaticsociety.
Leave a Reply