Musée Guimet - East Asian Art

I expected the worst reaching the Musée Guimet at place Iéna Saturday morning for its first public opening day. It had been closed for nearly two years for remodelling. The Musée Guimet has the richest collection of oriental art in the western world.

Established in 1898 by the industrialist Emile Guimet, it became the fold of all oriental art coming to Paris. During the colonies most objects were brought back by French "missions" or military officers, priests passionate about Asia from Alexander the Great's days to the glorious times of the colonial empire.It opened up narrow minded Europe to a new world, and new philosophies.

The entrance hall has remained the stunning introduction to the hermetic universe of the most populous religion on earth. Indian sculptures of gods and goddesses crowded by us puny spectators who know so little or nothing.

In a circular layout the rooms around the entry hall are dedicated to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia. On the next floor above visit China, Tibet, Nepal, et al.

Whether it's a Mahakala, Buddha, Amitabha, Darmapala, Citipati (a vicious devil you rather avoid), Avalokitesvara, Dalai Lama, Boddhisatva, Milarepa, or Heruka, you will find them all. Do you know the difference? Samvara, does it touch your soul?

The light is great, the rooms are spacious, the porcelain is divine: black, blue, green, even red! Guimet's round library has been opened to the public for the first time in a century: look but don't touch!

The last floor has a fabulous view from the once magical dome of the palace of oriental culture that has been turned into somewhat of a tourist boutique remaining however a marvelous rendezvous between East and West.  

Musée Guimet