Asian Souvenirs

During an era when Japonism was popular among collectors, Alfred and Ada Pope purchased numerous Asian objects during their European travels. Later, John and Theodate Pope Riddle also collected 18th- and 19th-century Asian souvenirs while touring the East. Netsuke, inro, chops, snuff bottles, carved ivory miniatures and ink pots and brushes number among the objects in the collection today. An impressive ivory chess set features three concentric carved and pierced balls on the base of each chess piece; the red pieces are dyed with cinnabar.