Museum of East Asian Art

The Museum of East Asian Art is an art museum in Bath dedicated to objects from China, Japan, and Korea. The collection of roughly 2000 pieces includes ceramics, jade, bronze, and bamboo carvings that span different regions and periods of East Asian art history.

The museum was founded in 1993 by Brian McElney, a lawyer who had spent years practicing in Hong Kong. His collection began in 1958 with the purchase of an ivory carving and eventually grew into one of Britain's significant collections of East Asian art.

The collection features porcelain pieces commissioned by 18th-century Bath families, decorated with their coats of arms and made in China. These objects reflect the personal connections that linked the city to distant trading networks of that era.

The museum opens Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00, and Sunday from 12:00 to 17:00. Wheelchair access is limited, so it is worth checking in advance which areas you can reach.

In 2018 the museum fell victim to a theft in which 48 objects were stolen. Thanks to police work, several of these valuable pieces were later returned to the collection.

Location: Bath and North East Somerset

Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access

Address: 12 Bennett St, Bath BA1 2QJ

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-17:00; Sunday 12:00-17:00

Phone: 01225464640

Website: https://meaa.org.uk

GPS coordinates: 51.38642,-2.36344

Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:41