2021 is the 150th celebration of the Canterbury Museum and as we prepare for a much-needed rebuild we have been taking stock of our many wonderful collections. One of these is the Rewi Alley collection which contains over 1000 items given to the museum by Rewi over a number of years mainly to Roger Duff in the 1950s when he was museum director to enhance the greater understanding between the peoples of China and New Zealand.
There is a wonderful collection of historic decorated bowls, teapots and vases, all beautifully painted with local Chinese scenes from the ming and earlier civilisations. The Museum has a collection of over 10 snuff bottles which Rewi found and collected in northern China, some on the old silk road. We also have over 30 wonderful pieces of jade of various colours carved and engraved together with many ancient coins statuette and a collection of letter stamp seals used over the centuries together with many bronze pieces beautifully moulded, carved and embossed spanning Chinese History. Rewi was a great collector and had a great eye for Chinese craftmanship.
In 1947 the New Zealand government together with local farmers sent 1000 Corriadale sheep and other livestock to China to begin a stock breeding programme. 28 of the breeding stock we sent to Bailie school at Shandan which was successful. The flock is still going strong and are producing fleece today.
The museum has some wool first produced from that flock and a hand-knotted rug made from the first clip.
There have been many exchanges between China and New Zealand in recent years in memory of Rewi Alley, the Museum has a sculptured head of Rewi done by Francis Shurrock.
Rewi was responsible for the sister city agreements between Christchurch City and Wuhan City and Gansu Province. Both Selwyn and Hurunui districts have sister relationships that acknowledge the Rewi Alley as an initiator to their foundation.
Canterbury Musem and Shandan Museum have recently signed a memorandum understanding, cooperation and exchange of knowledge with each other and will enhance the memory of Rewi Alley.
Michael McEvedy – Canterbury Museum
See artefacts via links below
https://collection.canterburymuseum.com/objects?query=collection%3A%22Rewi+Alley%22