Abstract
Philadelphia merchant and philanthropist Nathan Dunn (1782-1844) made his fortune as a mercantile trader in Canton, China in the 1820’s. He amassed a vast collection of objects representing both fine arts and daily life in a Chinese society that granted only limited access to foreigners. Upon his return to Philadelphia, he displayed his collection in a museum that drew international attention. For its tens of thousands of visitors, Dunn’s museum taught much about a land few of them would ever be able to see for themselves. In the wake of the Opium War, Dunn relocated his museum to London in hopes of improving English public opinion of the Chinese. This monograph was written as an undergraduate honors thesis for Department of History at the University of Pennsylvania in 1986 under the supervision of Dr. Susan Naquin. In addition to describing Dunn’s experiences and his museum collection, the thesis explores public knowledge and sentiments regarding China among early 19th century Philadelphians and the early history of American museums and exhibitions.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
