One of the relationships we've built up in Nottingham in recent years is with Ningbo in China. Chinese people place great importance on the exchange of gifts and since the sister city agreeement between Nottingham and Ningbo was signed every meeting has been marked by the exchange of small but culturally important items. One of the most significant trades over the centuries with China has been around silk and often the gift from a Chinese official or dignitary will be a silk tie, scarf or even pyjamas. Needless to say they are all beautiful items and represent a historic exchange that goes back into medieval (and possibly earlier) times. Nottingham has a more recent (but, sadly, now mainly historical) tradition of lace products, and these have often formed part of our gifts to the people of Ningbo. Recently some of our Museums officers met with Ningbo officials to discuss bringing an important exhibition to Nottingham on the Silk Routes and their cultural and historical significance and we hope to hold this at some point in the next couple of years.
No comments:
Post a Comment