Fédération Wallonie Bruxelles

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Temporary closure of the Museum

The Museum is temporarily closed to the public until 21 November 2025 inclusive as the frames are replaced. 

The study library is accessible by appointment.

Find out more on our page devoted to this major project.

Thank you for your understanding.

Project « Dreaming of Exoticism: decorative art exported from and inspired by the East »

The term chinoiserie refers to Chinese-inspired objects produced in Europe. These pieces might have, in turn, inspired Chinese artisans when producing goods for export. 

Spanning both chinoiserie and Japonisme, the objective of this programme is to examine the works produced in Asia and distributed throughout Europe from the 17th century onwards, but also Asian-inspired pieces made in Europe up until the early 20th century. The aim is to analyse technical and technological transfers, as well as the economic dimension of this trade. 

It also aims to reconstruct the iconographic sources used to represent this “Far Eastern” otherworldliness and thus establish a typology. Alongside this programme, there will be a systematic study of the chinoiseries and works exported from China that are held at the Royal Museum of Mariemont.
 

Directed by Lyce Jankowski (Non-European Arts section); Élise Urbain Ruano (Decorative Arts section); Marie Dufaye (Collections Manager)

With the collaboration of Louis Mézin (Nice Museums)

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Research projects:

Non-European Art

Researchers

Page de Lyce Jankowski Lyce Jankowski Page de Élise Urbain Ruano Élise Urbain Ruano

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Altergraphy

The object of enquiry (and the contextualization required) is twofold: the epigraphic inscription itself, replaced in its original context, and the reception of this same inscription through rubbings in ink on paper.

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Coal, gold and silver: Raoul Warocqué’s coin and medal collection

Very little is currently known by specialists or the general public about the majority of Mariemont’s coins and medals. And yet these numismatic collections are immense and varied, spanning the East and West and from Antiquity to the early 20th century.

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Connoisseurship and commodification of Asian art in Europe, 1850-1950

Belgians encountered Asian art at the turn of the century at universal exhibitions, through pieces sent over by foreign national committees.

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Scientific team

The research carried out at Mariemont is organised around 8 thematic areas which reflect the specific features of the scientific work carried out in the museum sector.

There are around thirty collaborative research projects in which members of the Mariemont scientific team are involved.

The results of this research are made available to the scientific community and are the subject of ongoing accessibility work to ensure that they are passed on to the public. 

Découvrez l'équipe scientifique