Guided tour of Asia House – Francisco Capelo Collection

Madalena Correlo19 January, 202621 January, 2026English, Visits

The Club kicked off the New Year with a guided tour of Asia House – Francisco Capelo Collection, which includes pieces from fourteen Asian countries, dating from the 3rd century BC to the early 20th century: India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, East Timor and the Philippines.

The tour begins with an African country, Ethiopia, as a tribute to the tradition of the Portuguese search for the lands of Prester John in the 15th century, which were believed to be located near India.

Ethiopia

Diptych of the Virgin, Gondarine style, 17th century

Coptic Bible – The Miracles of Mary: on the left, Saint George slaying the dragon, and on the right, the Virgin of the People

Japan

Nanbam chest, Momoyama period – 16th-17th century (probably for export to India)

Food storage box, 16th century, Momoyama period

Folding screen depicting scenes from the capital Kyoto and its surroundings (gold on paper), Momoyama-Edo period, early 17th century

Incense burner, Kyoto ceramics, Edo period, 18th century

Six-panel folding screen, gold on paper, flowers and plants of the four seasons, Edo period – Rimpa school, 18th century

Rimpa-style bowl (stylised naturalism), signed by Ogata Kenzan – Edo period, early 18th century

Karaori Noh costume from the late 18th century, Edo period. Embroidered costumes worn in Noh theatre by actors when playing female roles (red was worn when playing a young woman).

Offer box, Ryukyu Islands, second Sho dynasty, 18th century

Wooden figure of Zochoten, pigments, gold, metal, rock crystal eyes – Muromachi period, 15th century

China

Buddhist-inspired vase, Northern Qi dynasty, 6th century

Merchant and camel from northern central China, terracotta – 7th century, Tang dynasty

Korea

Dragon jar, Joseon dynasty, 19th century

Celadon glazed jar, Goryeo dynasty, 12th century

India and the Himalayas

Stone stele of Vishnu, Pala dynasty, 11th-12th century

Figure of a Lama, 15th century, Tibet

Rosewood, ivory and silver counter – Mughal dynasty, c. 1670, Pakistan

Waistband (Patka), Bikaner, India – Mughal period, 2nd half of the 18th century

Palampore textile, Coromandel Coast, India, 19th century

Cup with saucer in rock crystal, white sapphires, rubies, emeralds and gold – Northern India, 19th century

Box with lid (Pandan), gold, enamels – Jaipur, India, 19th century

Vietnam

Water jug (Kendi), Le So dynasty, 15th century

Duck – Le restored dynasty, 17th century

Cambodia

Buddhist Trinity, in bronze and gold – Angkor period, 11th century

Thailand

Walking Buddha figure, in bronze and gold, 14th century – Sukhothai School. It is the most valuable piece in the collection because it is unique.

Sutra cabinet (where Buddhist books and manuscripts were stored), Ayutthaya period, 18th century

Sutra cabinet in teak and gold on black lacquer, 1787, Rattanakosin period

Religious painting, 19th century, Rattanakosin period. During Buddhist festivities, these paintings, on cotton fabric, were hung outside temples.

Religious painting, Rattanakosin period, 1870

Ceremonial vase, in silver, with motifs chiselled and filled with gold

Inlaid mother-of-pearl and silver box, 19th century, Rattanakosin period

Myanmar

Offerings vase, Konbaung period, 19th century

Betel box, colonial period, 20th century

Document box, Konbaung period, 19th century

Offerings vase – wood, lacquer, thayo, mica, glass, gold – Colonial period, 20th century

Buddha’s footprint, Ava period, 16th-17th century

Figure of Buddha Shakyamuni subduing Mara, in bronze and gold – Ava period, 16th century

Sutra cabinet in teak, thayo, mirrored glass, stones, lacquer and gold – Konbaung period, 19th century

Indonesia

Figure of Brahma in volcanic stone, Central Java, 8th-9th century

Dagger (Kris) made of iron, wood, ivory, Borneo diamonds, gold – Bali, 19th century

Perfume bottle, Riau, Sumatra, 18th-19th century

Bracelet – Karo Batak, North Sumatra, 19th century

Nobleman’s bedding in silk, gold and silver – East Bali, 19th century

Hinggi Kombu, nobleman’s cloak – East Sumba, early 20th century