New China Eyewitness : Roger Duff Rewi Alley and the Art of Museum Diplomacy

At the centre of the book is the eloquent diary kept by Canterbury Museum director Dr Roger Duff, detailing his efforts to bring to Christchurch the collection of antiquities gifted to the museum by long-time China resident, New Zealander Rewi Alley. Through Alleys contacts with premier Zhou Enlai and Duffs diplomatic skills they obtained the sanction of the Chinese government to circumvent its own export ban on antiquities and permit the gifting of seven crates of treasures to Christchurch.

These objects were the basis for the museums Hall of Oriental Arts and their arrival led to a collections policy dedicated to Chinese art.

Beautifully written and illustrated, New China Eyewitness offers a rare glimpse of foreigners views of China during a period of rapid social, political and cultural change, and at a time of unusual political and cultural tolerance.

Dr James Beattie is professor of history and director of the Historical Research Unit at the University of Waikato.

Dr Richard Bullen is the head of art history and theory at the University of Canterbury and a research fellow at Canterbury Museum.

Chinese translation by Xiongbo Shi who is a doctoral student in the Department of Art History and Theory, University of Canterbury.

Featured in the 11 December 2017 New Zealand / Pasifika Newsletter.
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