QM presents Boats Floating Afar: The Maritime Trade of Ancient Chinese Ceramics at NMoQ

Qatar Museums will unveil Boats Floating Afar: The Maritime Trade of Ancient Chinese Ceramics at the National Museum of Qatar on October 26, 2026. This exhibition, part of the legacy of the Qatar-China Year of Culture, showcases over 120 objects from the National Museum of China, complemented by a selection from Qatar Museums' own collections. The journey through more than a millennium of Chinese ceramic production and maritime trade spans from the Tang to the Qing dynasties (618-1911 CE).

Featuring vessels, bowls, plates, and jars, Boats Floating Afar traces the evolution of Chinese ceramic techniques, forms, and decorative traditions alongside the maritime routes through which these works traveled. The exhibition will span from Tang dynasty white-glazed and celadon wares to Ming blue-and-white porcelain and Qing dynasty pieces, illustrating the changing influences and markets.

Speaking at the event, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Hamad Al-Thani, Director of the National Museum of Qatar, highlighted the exhibition's significance as the latest in a series of successful exchanges between the two museums, celebrating their decade-long partnership. In a parallel statement, Luo Wenli, Director of the National Museum of China, emphasized the historical role of Chinese ceramics in fostering cross-cultural ties.

He noted that since the Tang Dynasty, ceramics have traversed the seas, facilitating friendly exchanges among nations.

Objects on display will hail from key production centers such as Jingdezhen, Longquan, Dehua, Changsha, and Yue. The exhibition concludes with two installations drawing on QM's collections and archaeological finds from Qatar, including artifacts from the 10th-century Cirebon shipwreck in the Java Sea and fragments of Chinese pottery discovered in Qatar. This local dimension underscores the broader narrative of maritime trade and cultural exchange.

Boats Floating Afar serves as a pivotal milestone in the cultural relationship between Qatar and China. This exhibition follows the National Museum of Qatar's 2026 show, "On the Move," which explored the creativity of Qatar's nomadic and semi-nomadic communities from the 18th century to the discovery of oil. Together, these exhibitions embody the spirit of the Qatar-China Year of Culture, showcasing the ongoing collaboration through the exchange of collections and scholarly dialogue.

As part of Qatar Creates Fall/Winter 2026-27, Boats Floating Afar: The Maritime Trade of Ancient Chinese Ceramics continues Qatar's dedication to cultural exchange, creative dialogue, and global interconnection.