The Chinese Museum (1845–1847) in

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

, showed to the public some 41 cases displaying approximately 800 objects related to Chinese fine arts, agriculture, costume, and other customs. It was located on Washington Street in the Marlboro Chapel (between Bromfield and

Winter Winter is the coldest and darkest season of the year in temperate and polar climates. It occurs after autumn and before spring. The tilt of Earth's axis causes seasons; winter occurs when a hemisphere is oriented away from the Sun. Dif ...

Streets). Items exhibited included: * " Long-gans. 'Dragon's eyes': so called from their resemblance to the ball of the eye: a favorite fruit with the Chinese, but not suited to the palate of 'barbarians.'" * "

Vermicelli Vermicelli (, ; , literally "little worms"), is a traditional type of pasta round in section similar to spaghetti. In Anglosphere, English-speaking regions it is usually thinner than spaghetti, while in Italy it is thicker. It is typically made ...

, made and extensively used by the Chinese in soups, of which they are fond and make a great variety." * "

Nanking Nanjing or Nanking is the capital of Jiangsu, a province in East China. The city, which is located in the southwestern corner of the province, has 11 districts, an administrative area of , and a population of 9,423,400. Situated in the Yan ...

machine toys of different construction. These toys contain machinery inside, and when wound up possess the power of locomotion for a short time." * "Different kinds of caps worn by gentlemen in winter." * "Enameled Jos vase to hang on the wall beneath the painting of an idol. This is made in the form of half an oo-loo or bottle gourd, a Chinese emblem of longevity." * "Ee-een. The two stringed fiddle. The

rebec The rebec (sometimes rebecha, rebeckha, and other spellings, pronounced or ) is a bowed stringed instrument of the Medieval era and the early Renaissance. In its most common form, it has a narrow boat-shaped body and one to five strings. Origins ...

k of the Chinese." * "Tai-Kam. The bass fiddle. This is very much like the ee-een, except that the drum is made of cocoa nut shell instead of bamboo, and its notes are gruffer." * "Facsimile of an apartment in a wealthy Chinaman's dwelling. ... A large and beautiful screen made of paintings on glass; chairs and tables made of king wood with variegated marble tops, superbly embroidered door screen, vase containing a peacock feather fan of 200 eyes, fruit upon the table, scrolls on the wall, lanterns suspended from the ceiling, &c. &c." By 1847 the museum "ceased to be attractive and profitable, and ... was removed to

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

References

Further reading