'Treasures of the Far East' Exhibition to Open at Kennel Club Art Gallery 14th September

An exotic new exhibition of art focusing on dog breeds from East Asia, will open at the Kennel Club Art Gallery on Wednesday 14th September. The exhibition represents an ambitious foray into the history of some of the most familiar of breeds that originate from China and Japan including the Chow Chow, Japanese Chin and Pekingese. Other featured breeds include the Akita, Shiba Inu, Chinese Crested and Akita Inu, the artistic showcase of all of these breeds will run until 19th January 2018.

Exhibits include a head study of the first Chow Chow breed champion together with nineteenth century Japanese woodblock prints. Sir William Newzam Prior Nicholson’s painting of famous Victorian era actress Marie Tempest and her Japanese Chin, on loan from the National Portrait Gallery, will also be on show together with a selection of Meissen ceramics and even an early twentieth century kimono.

Other fascinating items include a selection of photographs on loan from the Freud Museum London. Dr Sigmund Freud and his family owned several Chow Chows, the first of which was a gift from Princess Marie Bonaparte.

There will be an assortment of paintings and prints ranging from early nineteenth century works representing the Chinese Crested, through to contemporary pieces on the Akita, Akita Inu and Shiba Inu. Important sculptures and paintings of the Pekingese breed will also be on display, including a painting on silk by Maud Earl which is being exhibited in the UK for the first time.

The Kennel Club Art Gallery is open to all and free to visit, however an appointment is necessary. Visiting hours are Monday to Friday 9.30am-4.30pm. To book an appointment please contact the Kennel Club Art Gallery on 020 7518 1064 or by email.

This exhibition has only been made possible due to the generosity of lenders and the invaluable expertise of exhibition researchers Dr Andreas Schemel and Deirdre Ashdown.