The final years of the 15th century heralded a new era in the relationship between Asia
and Europe. In 1498 the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed on the west coast of India. His arrival established the first direct contact between western Europe and maritime Asia, ushering in a period of commercial, cultural and technological exchange.
The quest for a route to India, and further east to China and Japan, was driven by the desire for spices and Asian luxury products. But its result was far greater than the mere exchange of commodities and currencies. The meeting of Asia and Europe signalled not only the beginnings of a global market but also a profound change in taste and lifestyle that still influences our lives today.
The exhibition explores the dynamic period from 1500 to 1800 through the fascinating objects that are a legacy of this encounter. Rather than presenting a narrative history, it addresses the
subject in three themes. DISCOVERIES examines how Europe reacted to the Asian wonders that came to the West. ENCOUNTERS tells the human dimension of the story, and EXCHANGES looks at the luxury goods traded between East and West.
