Museums in the North West are extraordinarily rich in collections of Japanese art. When Japan emerged from over two hundred years of self-imposed seclusion in the 1850s, Western collectors were astonished by the sophistication and range of decorative art objects and cheaply produced prints that were available.

Many of our museum collections were originally amassed by local industrialists who began forging trade links with Japan. This was the case with Blackburn textile magnate Thomas Boys Lewis and this exhibition showcases Blackburn Art Gallery’s outstanding collection of Japanese prints, featuring artists such as Hokusai and Hiroshige.

Items from Oldham’s historic collections donated by Charles Edward Lees are on show. These range from arms and metalwork to intricately crafted accessories such as inro and netsuke. The exhibition also features work by the great Japanese potter Shoji Hamada and British makers inspired by Japanese ceramics.

Discussion