Borrowed Landscapes: China and Japan in the Historic Houses and Gardens of Britain and Ireland

Borrowed Landscapes is a book that explores the impact of Chinese and Japanese material culture on the historic houses and gardens of Britain and Ireland. It is illustrated with new photography and published in association with the National Trust. Emile de Bruijn demonstrates how elements of Chinese and Japanese culture were simultaneously desired and misunderstood, dismembered and treasured, idealized and caricatured.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2023
Publisher: Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd

A captivating exploration of the profound influence of Chinese and Japanese material culture on the historic houses and gardens of Britain and Ireland is presented in this beautifully illustrated book. From the seventeenth century onwards, the design and decoration of interiors and gardens in the British Isles were deeply influenced by the importation of Chinese and Japanese luxury goods. While domestic designers and artisans crafted their own imaginative interpretations of 'oriental art,' these hybrid styles and tastes became known as chinoiserie and japonisme. However, they can also be considered as integral components of the broader and still highly relevant phenomenon of orientalism, which represents how the West perceives the East.

Borrowed Landscapes, published in association with the National Trust, offers an engaging survey of orientalism in the Trust's historic houses and gardens across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Through the use of new research, Emile de Bruijn showcases how elements of Chinese and Japanese culture were simultaneously desired, misunderstood, dismembered, treasured, idealized, and caricatured.

This book provides a rich visual narrative, accompanied by a wealth of fresh photography, that delves into the intricate interplay between these two cultures and their impact on the architectural and decorative heritage of the British Isles. It sheds light on the complex and multifaceted ways in which orientalism has shaped the aesthetic and cultural landscape, offering a deeper understanding of the enduring legacy of these two great civilizations.

Weight: 1572g
Dimension: 285 x 240 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781781300985