Name: Oriental Museum
Rating: 5.0

Oriental Museum

Oriental Museum, Elvet Hill Road, South Road, Durham DH1 3TH, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

The Oriental Museum, formerly the Gulbenkian Museum of Oriental Art and Archaeology, is a museum of the University of Durham in England. The museum has a collection of more than 23,500 Chinese, Egyptian, Korean, Indian, Japanese and other Far East and Asian artefacts.

From Ancient Egypt to modern China, we are the only museum in the North of England devoted entirely to the art and archaeology of the great cultures of Northern Africa and Asia.

The Oriental Museum is free entry. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

China: The Oriental Museum’s Chinese collections include more than 10,000 objects, with particular strengths in ceramics and jade and hardstone carvings.The ceramic collection of around 1,000 pieces ranges in date from the Neolithic (around 2500 BCE) through to contemporary works by leading ceramic artists such as Li Lihong and Zhu Le Geng. More than 400 pieces from the collection were originally owned by the Rt. Hon. Malcolm MacDonald (1901-1981), who collected fine examples from the Song, Ming and Qing dynasties. These include several imperial ceramics that would have been used by members of the imperial household.
Korea: The Oriental Museum’s Korean collection is not large, numbering fewer than 1,000 objects. However, it is varied and highly unusual in that it includes material from both South and North Korea.
History of the Museum: Oriental languages have been taught at Durham since the University was founded in 1832. After the Second World War, Durham was selected as one of five British universities to be developed as centres for the teaching of Oriental languages. As a result, the University established a School of Oriental Studies in 1951.
Egypt and Sudan: There are more than 7,000 objects in the Oriental Museum's Ancient Egyptian collections, ranging in date from the Pre-Dynastic (5500-3100 BCE) to the Coptic periods (after 395 CE). These objects cover almost all categories, from monumental sculpture to incredibly well-preserved woven sandals.
South Asia: The history of South Asia is one of mighty empires, vast wealth and great diversity. The Oriental Museum’s South Asian collections reflect the rich and varied art and archaeology of the region.
Oriental Museum Ceramic Study Centre: In response to national and international recognition of the importance of the Oriental Museum’s Asian ceramic collections and associated scholarship (both within the Museum and the University’s Academic Departments), the Oriental Museum's Ceramic Study Centre was established in May 2024 as a focus for teaching, research and inter-institutional collaboration in this field.
Himalayas and Central Asia: The Oriental Museum’s Himalayan and Central Asian collections are dominated by the Tibetan collection, which is strongly focused on Buddhist religious material. Buddhism was introduced into the area in the 7th or 8th century CE, and then spread into Mongolia and other central Asian areas.
Southeast Asia: The Southeast Asian collections at the Oriental Museum reflect the many varied cultures of this area.The Museum is home to collections from almost every country that makes up the region. The objects range from ceramics to textiles, as well as musical instruments, wood carvings, lacquerware, and arms and armour.
Oriental Museum Publications: Find out more about the Oriental Museum, our collections and influential donors who have helped to shape the collections.
Japan: The Japanese collections at the Oriental Museum have expanded considerably in recent years.Works date mostly from the Edo (1615-1868) and Meiji (1868-1912) periods, but with some objects from earlier periods such as the Muromachi (1336-1573) and Momoyama (1573-1615). Increasingly, curators have also sought to collect 20th and 21st century material.
West Asia: The term West Asia is used to define the region where Africa, Europe and Asia meet. Standing at the crossroads between continents, this region has an enormously complex and rich history.

Facilities

Parking: The Oriental Museum has a small car park with two designated disabled parking bays. There is also limited payable roadside parking available close to the Museum on Elvet Hill Road and Potters Bank.
Food & Drinks: We sell a range of delicious coffees, speciality teas, cold drinks and a variety of savoury and sweet treats. Child-friendly and healthy drinks and snacks are on sale, and we can provide a highchair if required. There are books and activity sheets available to use within the café area.
Toilets: Toilets are located on the ground floor by the reception area. There is a unisex accessible toilet which also contains baby changing facilities and toilet aids for our younger visitors.
Lockers: Visitors may leave their belongings in a locker for the duration of their visit. Lockers are free of charge.

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Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 11am – 4pm.
Wednesday: 10am – 5pm.
Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holidays: 12pm – 4pm (Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day)

Address: Oriental Museum, Elvet Hill Road, South Road, Durham DH1 3TH, UK

Post Code: DH1 3TH

Council: County Durham

County: County Durham

Arriving by car: The Oriental Museum has a small car park with two designated disabled parking bays. There is also limited payable roadside parking available close to the Museum on Elvet Hill Road and Potters Bank.
Parking: The Oriental Museum has a small car park with two designated disabled parking bays. There is also limited payable roadside parking available close to the Museum on Elvet Hill Road and Potters Bank.