Day Trip to Salem:The Peaboby Essex Museum

by Nancy Kalajian, photos by Kayte Deioma

The Peabody Essex Museum, in Salem, MA, is a gem. Located north of Boston, it has been recently transformed into a splendid showcase featuring exceptional artistic and cultural collections from Asia, Asia Export, and Africa, as well as Native American, American, Oceanic, Maritime, and Photography exhibits. The museum is sprawling, and contains parks, gardens and 24 historic properties.

Entering the spacious, glass-filled, atrium main lobby can somewhat brighten an otherwise dreary day. The museum’s displays, descriptions/interpretations, and lighting are quite up to date, and most inviting to visitors. One very special feature is a 200 year old house from China, the only example of Chinese domestic architecture – from the Late Qing Dynasty – on display in the US. Experiencing this home gives one insight into family life long ago and far away.

Many traveling exhibitions also visit the Museum. The Kingdom of Siam, The Art of Central Thailand, 1350 -1800, is on display until October 16, 2005. Eighty treasures from Ayutthaya, a kingdom that flourished for more than 400 years, are displayed in their magnificence. The exhibit includes gold, bronze and stone Buddha images, Hindu sculptures, temple furnishings, jewelry and illustrated manuscripts. These priceless pieces are from collections in Thailand, Europe, and the US.

There are four rooms to peruse; exhibited items are spaced appropriately so that viewers can give each object ample reflection time. The short film shown in the back of the first room in periodic intervals serves as a good introduction to the exhibit. Curators lead guests to Thailand to view ruins of Ayutthaya, and bring understanding of this religious, architectural, diplomatic and trading center

The third room in the exhibit has a very comfortable section with couches and informative reading materials – in case you need to rest and contemplate the majestic exhibit. The last room centers on architecture, temples and furnishings. The miniature temple buildings are fascinating. On a nearby wall is a large fragment from a full-size temple’s gable decoration with Vishnu, a Hindu deity, mounted on Garuda, the manbird, being surrounded by numerous demonic figures. Mother-of-pearl inlay, seen in a door and cabinet, attest to the high artistic achievement from this period. The catalog, prepared for this exhibit, is remarkable.