Description of the attraction
Built in the 1840s, Flagstaff House is a reminder of Hong Kong's colonial heritage. Formerly the office and residence of the British commander in Hong Kong, it is now one of the oldest examples of Greek Renaissance architecture in the city.
Its first resident was Major General G. S. D'Aguilar, who served as commander of British forces in China from 1844 to 1846 and served as lieutenant governor. Flagstaff House continued to be the commander's residence until 1978, when it was handed over to the Hong Kong government. During the Second World War, the house was twice bombed by Japanese bombers, but it was quickly repaired, because the building was requisitioned by the occupying forces.
For a time, Flagstaff House housed the marriage registration department. Today, the building holds pride of place in Hong Kong Park, and is still one of the favorite backdrops for wedding photography. The house was converted into the Tea Ware Museum and a branch of the Hong Kong Museum of Art in 1984, and in 1995 a new exhibition was added in a separate wing.
It is the first museum in the world to specialize in the study and display of tea ware. The core of the museum's collection was donated by a connoisseur, Dr. K. S. Lo. The exhibition includes about 600 pieces of crockery from the Western Zhou period (11th century BC-771 BC) to the 20th century. Half of the collection consists of porcelain tea ware, which includes bowls, cups, teapots and jugs, the other half includes objects, sculptures and objects from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to the present day. In addition, a small number of Japanese and European products are displayed at the exhibition to highlight the impact that Chinese tea ware has had on the lives of other countries.
In addition to exhibitions, the museum hosts regular workshops, tea ceremonies and lectures on the Chinese culture of tea drinking.
