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Atlas Moves Exhibition of Chinese Treasures

Atlas was named the official carrier of a truly unique museum exhibit called the "Imperial Tombs of China." This incredible exhibition was made up of more than 250 priceless objects excavated from the tombs of China's most prominent emperors and ancient rulers. Spanning seven dynasties dating from 500 B.C. to 1900 A.D., the items included:

• the entire throne room from the last emperors of the Quiq Dynasty...
• nine-foot-tall, 1,500-pound guardian lions from Beijing's Forbidden City...
• gold, jade, and gems from the valley of the Ming tombs...
• life-sized terra cotta warriors, buried to guard the mighty emperor Qin Shi-haung-di...
• and many other treasures that had never before been out of China!

The Han Imperial Burial Shroud of Jade.

"Imperial Tombs of China" is without a doubt the best exhibition that has ever been sent to the United States," said Wu Xi Hau, director of the Foreign Affairs Division of the People's Republic of China's State Bureau of cultural Relics.

The Exhibit was designed to focus on the imperial tombs because funerary objects are works of art representing the finest materials, design and craftsmanship of the era. They also serve as visual records important to understanding the life and culture of ancient China.

Terra Cotta Warriors Guard the Chinese Tombs

"Galleries throughout the exhibition are designed to replicate the layout of actual tomb complexes," noted Glen Campbell, who headed up the project on behalf of the Memphis International Cultural Series. "This layout puts the objects in context and brings visitors into the atmosphere and environment of the imperial tombs."

Inside the tombs, furnishings designed to support a comfortable afterlife included the items and people that the emperor had used throughout his life. Since the lives of royalty revolved around power and wealth, their mortuary goods reflected that same extravagant lifestyle.

Gold Burial Mask from Liao Dynasty (916 to 1125 AD)

An important burial garment included in the exhibit was a Ming Dynasty empress's dragon and phoenix headdress dating back to 1368 A.D. Its exquisite design verifies the important position of its owner. Gold filigree dragons symbolizing the emperor and brilliant blue feather phoenixes representing the empress are mounted against a background of pale blue enameled clouds with gold thread. More than 100 rubies and sapphires and 2,000 pearls complete the decoration of this crown. This magnificent headdress had never before been shown outside Beijing.

Ming Dragon and Phoenix Crown

As a general rule, no more than 15% of the items in an exhibit of this nature consist of what are considered to be national treasures; according to Campbell, national treasures accounted for about 60% of this particular exhibit.

The exhibit toured the United States through 1997, with stops in Memphis, Tennessee; Provo, Utah; Portland, Oregon; Denver, Colorado; and Orlando, Florida.

Blue Bird Transfer provided drivers to move the exhibit from Portland to Denver.

While the exhibit was in Portland, Blue Bird Transfer sponsored an invitation-only tour.  It was a grand event with over 400 guests made up of clients from the Portland, Oregon area.

Blue Bird is a family owned Portland Moving Company in existence since 1928. If you are looking for Portland movers for residential moves or corporate relocations, call us at: 503-233-5271 or use our inquiry form here. We not only move within the Portland Metro area, but also throughout the Northwest, the US and internationally.