The Silk Road
Welcome to "Hommage Collection", a private collection of art from ancient cultures along the Silk road from the Chinese Dynasties in the east to
the Roman Empire in the west.This historical and fascinating trade-route has existed for almost 2500 years and laid the foundation for great civilizations along the route, some of them long gone.
The Old Silk Road, a series of interconnected trade routes, was pivotal in shaping the cultural and economic landscape between the Eastern and Western worlds. Beginning in the 2nd century BCE, the route facilitated the exchange of not only goods like silk, spices, and precious metals but ideas, technologies, and religious beliefs.
From Beijing to Venice it was more than 6500 km! A large number og cities and cultures along the Road were cornerstones for this prosperous trade such as Mosul, Herat, Bukara,Kabul, Taxila, Kashgar, Turfan, and Dunhuang. These are now just shadows of the rich culture that once were there.
As merchants traversed the vast terrains of deserts, mountains, and cities, they brought with them diverse goods. This exchange led to the spread of inventions such as papermaking and the compass, significantly influencing societies on both sides. Economically, the Silk Road stimulated trade, leading to the rise of powerful cities and kingdoms. Regions along the route prospered, becoming cultural melting pots where art, philosophy, and religion flourished, creating a rich tapestry of shared traditions and innovations. The lasting impact of the Old Silk Road is evident today, as it laid the groundwork for global trade and intercultural dialogue.
This Hommage-collection consists of more than 300 artifacts with origin connected to the Silk-Road. The Chinese collection cover art from the Neolittic period (4000 years BC) and to the end of the Qing Dynasty (19. Century) including a collection of almost 100 snuffbottles from the 18.th and 19.th century.
The collection also contains important artifacts related to Buddhist and Hindu religion from the Gandhara/Kushan Dynasty, India, Cambodia (Khmer), Myanmar (Pagan), Thailand and finally a small collection of Roman Glas from the 1.-2. Century.
