清閨澤華——黃金澤宜珍藏特展 Everyday Elegance: Daily Lives of Women in Late Qing China

In the Late Qing period (1800–1912 CE), China’s population of approximately 450 million people lived and worked through uprisings, invasions, and natural disasters. A time of both difficulty and opportunity, women outside of the imperial court navigated living within traditional frameworks of womanhood and a rapidly changing country. What did life look like for these women? 

This exhibition explores the daily lives of women who lived in urban communities in Late Qing China—what they wore, what they ate, what they did for work and for fun. From silver hairpins to wood cake moulds to gilt lacquer boxes, these functional yet elegant objects reveal that women in 1800s China expressed their individuality in creative ways. They far exceeded the duties they were expected to fulfil, making important contributions to the successes of their families and communities. 

These stories are told through the public debut of the Huang Kam Chak Yee Collection. Comprising over 300 objects, this collection was brought together by Mrs Huang Kam Chak Yee over a period of 40 years. Beyond offering glimpses of the everyday lives of women in Late Qing China, it also reflects Mrs Huang’s own life, interests, and philosophies. The collection was generously donated to the Oriental Museum by her husband Dr Chenya Huang in 2024, along with a generous gift to support into researching this collection, and the refurbishment of the Oriental Museum. In grateful recognition of Dr Huang’s gift, this exhibition therefore coincides with the official dedication of the Huang Kam Chak Yee Gallery in honour of Mrs Huang.