Scientific Research in the Field of Asian Art: Topics in Ancient Metallurgy

To celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the publication of The Freer Chinese Bronzes, by J. Rutherford Gettens, the Fifth Forbes Symposium on Scientific Research in the Field of Asian Art will be dedicated to the discussion of topics in Asian metallurgy. The symposium, organized by the Department of Conservation and Scientific Research of the Freer and Sackler Galleries, will be held in the Meyer Auditorium on October 28 and 29, 2010.

Topics will include Southeast Asian, Chinese, and West Asian copper alloys. The symposium and proceedings will be in English only. There is no cost associated with the symposium, but registration is required and will be available soon.

Preliminary Program

Symposia Series

Scientific Research in the Field of Asian Art is a series of biannual symposia to highlight recent scientific and technical studies of the arts of Asia. In addition to serving as a means for disseminating research results, the symposia provide a forum for discussion and interaction among an international group of researchers.

The first Forbes Symposium was held in 2001, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Freer Gallery’s initial pursuit of scientific endeavors, to survey the state of scientific research in Asian art. Subsequent symposia have focused on such topics as the pictorial and sculptural arts of Asia and historic Asian ceramics. Links to proceedings that are available for purchase are listed below.

The series is supported by the Edward W. Forbes Fund. This bequest to the Freer Gallery was made by John Thacher in honor of his former colleague, Edward Waldo Forbes, a past director of the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University and an early proponent of applying technical examination to the study of art.

Previous Symposia
Papers presented at the symposia are available as a series of volumes. The below list includes links to details about proceedings that are currently available.

Scientific Research in the Field of Asian Art

Scientific Research on the Pictorial Arts of Asia

Scientific Research on the Sculptural Arts of Asia

Scientific Research on Historic Asian Ceramics

For More Information:
Forbes Symposium 2010/DCSR
Freer Gallery of Art/Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Smithsonian Institution, MRC 707
P.O. Box 37012
Washington D.C. 20013-7012
U.S.A.

Email: dcsr@si.edu

Fax: 202.633.9474