Reception to Present Rare Jade Funerary Suit

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November 1, 2005

The Saint Louis University Museum of Art is pleased to host a complimentary reception to present a rare, jade funerary suit that has recently been added to its current exhibition of “Treasured Jade: The Ronald S. Poe and Linda Laspe Poe Chinese Jade Collection.” The intricately stitched jade funerary suit consists of 11 sections: head, front, and back parts of tunic, arms, gloves, leggings, and feet. Its addition augments a collection of over 200 ceremonial and religious artifacts showcasing the dedicated efforts of skilled craftsmen who created their legacy without benefit of machine or other implements of the industrial age. The reception will be held on Friday, November 4 from 5:30 Ż 7:30 p.m.

The history of the burial suit dates to the Han dynasty. Jade funerary suits were used exclusively for the highest-ranking nobles. The pieces were sewn with gold, silver, or bronze wire, depending upon the rank attained during one’s life. (Archeologists estimate that the gold or silver wire in a typical burial suit may have weighed as much as 6 pounds.)

There are perhaps no more than 30 of these funerary suits in public and private collections. Most, like the funerary suit in the Poe Collection, were reconstructed using everyday wire to connect the hundreds of pieces of jade that make up the suit. The jade burial suits of the Han Dynasty have been found throughout China and demonstrate shared beliefs and common burial practices dating back more than 2,000 years.

The Ronald S. Poe and Linda Laspe Poe Collection is an unparalleled St. Louis treasure. The jade funerary suit augments a collection comprised of religious figures from the Shang Dynasty (1766 — 1050 B.C.), white celadon and serpentine jade figures from the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. — 220 A.D.) and exquisite carved jade from the Ming Dynasty (1368 — 1644 A.D.).

“Treasured Jade: The Ronald S. Poe and Linda Laspe Poe Collection will run until Sunday, Dec. 11.

WHEN: Complimentary reception: Friday, November 4, 2005 5:30 Ż 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Saint Louis University Museum of Art 3663 Lindell Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63103

HOURS OF OPERATION: Wednesday through Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 pm.

PHONE: 314-977-3399

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