PHOTO RELEASE

OCTOBER MARKS 5^thANNIVERSARY OF PEABODY PLACE MUSEUM

Home to one of the largest collections of 19^thcentury Chinese art in the nation

Peabody Place Museum is celebrating its fifth anniversary throughout October. To thank the community for their support in the past years, the Museum will feature a few of the pieces from its permanent collection.

Featured this week is a bronze and gilt sculpture of General Kwan. This tribute sculpture depicts General Kwan and his legendary weapon, the Kwan Dao. His elongated earlobes are symbolic of the wisdom he possessed. The dragon on his breastplate and skirt of his armor shows the Emperor's support of General Kwan. The Kwan Dao is held in his right hand almost negligently, belying the weight of the weapon and emphasizing the strength and fortitude of the General. This is one of the Museum's original pieces. It has always held a place of prominence and is a favorite of the staff.

Peabody Place Museum houses one of the nation's largest collections of 19^th century Chinese art. The permanent exhibit at the Museum includes objects created for Chinese nobility during the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). The collection includes intricately carved jade sculptures, beautifully crafted enamelware pieces and rare objects created from ivory. The Museum has smaller collections of fossils and minerals, contemporary European art glass, Russian lacquer boxes, Judaic art and more. Please call the Museum for details at 523- ARTS.

Peabody Place Museum is open from 10:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon until 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Ticket prices are $5.00 for adults, $4.50 for seniors and $4.00 for students. Group rates and tours are available at Peabody Place Museum, located at 119 South Main Street, The Pembroke Square Building, on the Concourse Level in downtown Memphis.