Asiatic Museum, Eastern studies museum on Vasilievsky Island, Saint Petersburg, Russia
The Asiatic Museum is an Eastern studies collection on Vasilievsky Island in Saint Petersburg. It holds manuscripts, textiles, ceramics, and sculptures from various Asian regions and is now operated as the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The Russian Academy of Sciences founded the museum in 1818 with Arabic manuscripts from French consul Jean-Baptiste Rousseau's collection. In 1930, it merged with the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts and has remained part of the Academy ever since.
The collections feature artworks and objects from China, Japan, Korea, India, and Central Asia, giving visitors insight into different Asian societies. These pieces span various periods and traditions, telling stories of how people across Asia lived and created.
The building is located on Vasilievsky Island near other academic institutions like the Kunstkammer and the Twelve Collegia. Visitors can easily find the building by its neoclassical design and can explore the area comfortably on foot.
The neoclassical building was designed by Italian architect Quarenghi and reflects European influence in Saint Petersburg's academic quarter. Its location between the Kunstkammer and the Twelve Collegia makes it a key part of the city's architectural and intellectual landscape.
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