The 99 lacquer objects, selected by Mr. Lee for this exhibition, are shown and discussed in the bilingual catalogue. The Lee Collection is famous for its quality and choice of materials. The entire text, including the description of each object, written in English by Mr. Lee himself, were translated into German by Heinz and Else Kress.
With an introduction and acknowledgments by Lee King Tsi, Hu Shih Chang (pp. 7 – 13). Preface by Roger Goepper, director of the exhibiting museum. Notes and bibliography to the introduction, pp. 14 -15.
Table of Chinese dynasties and periods, p. 16. Colour plates, pp. 17 – 32.
Black and white illustrations and descriptions, pp. 33 – 225.
Glossary of Chinese names and texts, pp. 226 – 227.
Selected Bibliography, pp. 228 –229.

Almost all the 80 paintings illustrated and discussed in this catalogue, entitled ‘Im Schatten hoher Baeume’ (In the shadow of old trees), are shown here for the first time outside China. Many of them have never been published before. They all are from the collection of the Museum Province Liaoning, Shenyang, which is internationally known for the quantity as well as the high artistic level of its collection.
Although the exhibition focuses on Literati paintings, from the 15th century onwards, examples of various styles and subject groups were selected. The exhibition was planned in cooperation of Chinese and German experts, among them Prof. Lothar Ledderose, Art-Historical Institute, University of Heidelberg, Nora von Achenbach, Herbert Butz, Gerald Holzwarth, Burglind Jungmann, and others.
Introduction by Roger Goepper, Axel von Saldern, Katharina Schmidt, for the exhibiting museums, and Lothar Ledderose for the exhibition.
Table of contents, p. 9. An essay by Lothar Ledderose, Die Malerei der Literaten (On Literati Paintings), pp. 10 – 21. Historical map of China, era names of the Ming and Qing dynasties, pp. 22 – 23.
Colour plates, pp. 25 – 48. List of painters, with reference to the catalogue numbers, p. 49. Exhibition objects, pp. 50 – 239.
Index of Chinese names and descriptions, pp. 240 – 245. Bibliography, pp. 246 – 248.

Item location: Europe.

Lackkunst in Ostasien (East-Asian Lacquer Art) is one of the first overviews written in German language on the subject of lacquer. The book begins chronologically with illustrations of more than 2000 years old Chinese lacquer objects, continuing to Chinese, Japanese, and Korean lacquer boxes and screens of later epochs. Samples are shown of all kinds of techniques and styles, including lacquer paintings by Shibata Zeshin. The majority of objects shown here were owned by two rivalling industrial-lacquer producing companies: the Herberts and the Herbig-Haarhaus companies, in Wuppertal and Cologne, Germany. Owner and director of both companies were interested in lacquer art and began in 1937 to exhibit family treasures. Later they systematically bought lacquer objects at auctions and exhibitions. During the 2nd World War a large part of the Herberts collection, especially lacquered furniture, was destroyed. However, smaller items of Chinese and Japanese lacquer art, being easier to transport, and perhaps more precious, were stored in rural places and survived. Beatrix von Rague was responsible for the collection of one company during the years 1952-1959. Edith Straesser was responsible for the other company-owned lacquer museum from 1967 until 1987.
In 1982 the lacquer collections of Dr. Kurt Herberts were acquired by the BASF Lacke + Farben AG, who now exhibit them in their Museum of Lacquer Art in Muenster, Germany.
Appendix: Zeittafel (Table of Chinese dynasties, reigns of Japanese emperors, Korean eras, from 1600 B.C. to 1925 A.D.), pp. 356-359. Bibliography, pp. 360-364. Index, pp. 365-374, Museums and collections presented, p. 375. Table of contents, p. 376.