Nonprofit private museum in Wuhan gains global attention

Ancient relics enthusiasts from all over the world, including Italy, Germany and Russia, have been flocking to a non-profit private museum in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei province, since it opened in March.

Unlike many other private museums, the Eurasia Museum offers free admission to the public, and none of its collections are for sale.

Yan Xuejun, curator of the museum, said the 500-square-meter exhibition space displays more than 400 sets of artistic treasures originating from the Eurasian continent, dating back from pre-Christian to early modern times, using the Silk Road as a clue.

These ancient artifacts are selected from Yan's personal collection of some 4,000 antiquities from more than 30 countries over the past 15 years. Through them, visitors can see the transmission of civilization along the millennia-old Silk Road and the mutual influence between Chinese and foreign cultures.

"The enamel craft originated from Dashi (an ancient Chinese term for the Arab Empire) evolved into the magnificent art of cloisonne in China, and the use of Persian glaze produced the world-renowned blue-and-white porcelain. Were it not for the exchange of ideas and culture between the East and the West, how could such unparalleled works of art have been created?" Yan said.

The most eye-catching exhibits are two almost identical blue-and-white porcelain plates displayed side by side in the center of the exhibition hall.

One is a plate with floral and peacock patterns that dates back to the reign of Emperor Kangxi (1662-1722) in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and the other is a replica made in Meissen, Germany.

Yan said in the 16th century, large quantities of Chinese porcelains were exported to Europe, where they were so popular that an imitation craze was sparked among the local ceramic producers there, including Europe's top porcelain brand Meissen.

"These two exhibits are evidence of the vibrant East-West trade and the enormous influence of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain in the world at that time," he said.

What adds to the museum's appeal is that many of the exhibits are accompanied by purchase receipts and Yan's personal experiences of acquiring them.

Of all his collecting experiences, the most memorable one for him is a blue-and-white porcelain plate measuring half a meter in diameter with flame and Chinese dragon motifs from the Kangxi period.

Nine years ago, Yan first saw this Chinese artifact at the home of Peter Roessler, a collector in Germany. Although he offered to buy it at a high price, Roessler, who had a lifelong passion for Asian art, refused.

"This plate has been sitting in the center of the Roessler's living room for over 20 years, and they are reluctant to sell it," Yan said.

Last year, while having tea at Roessler's home, Yan told Roessler that he intended to take the plate back to its homeland and display it in a museum. Only then did Roessler agree to sell him the plate.

"Mr Roessler told me that he saw in me his young self, with the same passion and perseverance. He mentioned that, at almost 90 years old, returning the plate to China through me is the most appropriate option," Yan said.

Yan, in his 40s, developed his interest in collecting antiques in Germany, where he earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree in economic management and joined a Fortune 500 company after graduation.

"While wandering through the flea markets, I stumbled upon some Chinese antiques and was completely captivated by their beauty," he said.

As he delved deeper into antique collection, Yan was startled to realize that there are so many Chinese cultural relics lost overseas.

"I made up my mind to dedicate myself to collecting ancient Chinese artifacts scattered around the world, hoping to open a museum of my own in China someday," he said.

In late 2014, Yan quit his job and opened an antique store in the Xudong Antique Town in Wuhan. He spent half of his time each year running the store and the other half wandering in various antique markets in Europe.

To gain systematic expertise and lay the foundation for opening a museum, Yan also pursued a PhD in Chinese art and archaeology at the University of Munich.

Now that the museum has opened, Yan is devoting much of his energy to the long-term operation of the museum.

Despite the museum's high monthly operating costs, which amount to tens of thousands of yuan, he has chosen not to charge admission fees. The expenses of the museum are covered by the income of his antique store.

"The ideal audiences for spreading knowledge about cultural relics are students and young people. If my museum charges an entrance fee, even a small amount like ten or twenty yuan, it might be a barrier for them. I want to remove that barrier," he said.