Van de redactie
Christiaan J.A. Jörg was the Sciety of the Friends of Asian Art’s professor in East-West interactions in decorative art at Leiden University in the Netherlands from 1997 until his retirement in 2009, at the age of 65. He presented a survey of valedictory lecture on 19 November 2009, touching on themes he had discussed with his students during his professorship.

He has re-worked and condensed his lecture for this essay. For the illustrations he selected objects he acquired for the Groninger Museum during his tenure as curator of the collection of Oriental export art (1997-2003). His experience with the practices of the art world and museums gave his teachings an extra appeal and many studens were captivated by his enthusiastic presentations of the objects they could bring to the ‘Antique Road Shows’ that often preceded his lectures.

His connections with museum colleagues led to visits to storages, where ‘ the real things’ could be handeled, something he considers an essential an joyful aspect of art-historical education. This special English-language issue of Aziatische Kunst commemorates Chirstiaan Jörg’s returement as extraordinary professor in the Material history of the ulltural interactions between Asia and Europe.

Inhoud
Pag. 02 Forword Charlotte van Rappard
Pag. 03 A short story about East-West interactions Christiaan Jörg
Pag. 19 ‘Giving a voice to ‘unfamiliar’ objects’ – Christiaan Jörg on his passion for Asian art Renée Steenbergen
Pag. 25 Chronology of the Society of Friends of Asian Art Renée Steenbergen
Pag. 35 Publications by Christiaan Jörg

© 2010 Vereniging van Vrienden der Aziatische Kunst

Detail van Indiaase Chintz, ca. 1750