Borrowed Landscapes: China and Japan in the Historic Houses and Gardens of Britain and Ireland - Hardcover
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Borrowed Landscapes: China and Japan in the Historic Houses and Gardens of Britain and Ireland
Longlisted for the 2024 Berger Prize.
This beautifully illustrated volume examines how Chinese and Japanese material culture shaped the historic houses and gardens of Britain and Ireland from the seventeenth century onwards. Published in association with the National Trust, Borrowed Landscapes features extensive new photography documenting orientalism across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Chinese and Japanese Influence on British Design
The importation of Chinese and Japanese luxury goods fundamentally transformed British interior design and garden aesthetics. Domestic designers and artisans created interpretations of 'oriental' art, developing the hybrid styles known as chinoiserie and japonisme. These movements represent broader orientalism—the complex relationship between Western perception and Eastern culture.
National Trust Collections and New Research
Drawing on original research, author Emile de Bruijn demonstrates how elements of Chinese and Japanese culture were simultaneously desired and misunderstood, dismembered and treasured, idealised and caricatured. The book surveys the National Trust's extensive collections, revealing how these cultural exchanges manifested in architecture, decorative arts, and landscape design.
Emile de Bruijn serves as Assistant National Curator Decorative Arts at the National Trust. His previous publications include Chinese Wallpaper in Britain and Ireland (Philip Wilson Publishers, 2017), establishing his expertise in cross-cultural decorative arts history.
Key Features
- Longlisted for the 2024 Berger Prize
- Published in association with the National Trust
- Extensive new photography of historic houses and gardens
- Covers England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
- Examines chinoiserie and japonisme movements
- Original research on orientalism in British design
- Hardcover format with high-quality illustrations
This comprehensive survey appeals to those interested in British history, Asian art, decorative arts, garden design, and cross-cultural studies. The book documents how Eastern aesthetics became integral to British architectural and landscape traditions, creating a lasting legacy visible in historic properties today.
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