[Exhibition Note] Ptolemy Museum’s “Knowing Many Things”: When 200-Year-Old Treasures Silently Play Supporting Roles
I recently visited the Ptolemy Museum in Kwai Fong to see their annual special exhibition, “Knowing Many Things: Ancient Chinese Natural History and Hong Kong Nature Exploration.”
Before heading over, I browsed several media reviews and popular recommendations online. Most of the public’s attention seemed centered on the exhibition’s “grand narrative”—how it weaves a continuous line from the classical tradition of natural study in the Classic of Poetry and Classic of Mountains and Seas to Hong Kong’s century-long journey of local biodiversity and field research. Others raved about the “four immersive interactive installations” that allow visitors to “walk through ancient texts,” “enter the Qing Dynasty’s Imperial Zoological Garden,” or even enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Hong Kong’s mountains and seas.
To be fair, the curatorial team put immense thought into storytelling, packaging vast historical and natural knowledge in an engaging and accessible way. For general audiences and families, it is undoubtedly a fantastic experience. However, when I stepped into the gallery myself, my focus was completely stolen by something else—the ancient books and illustrations quietly sitting in "supporting roles" to complement the theme.
After finishing the exhibition, I left with mixed feelings: deeply impressed by the curatorial storytelling, yet slightly wistful for those heavy-weight collection items. This is by no means a criticism, but rather the most sincere praise and admiration from a visitor who happened to "look past the surface."
Something Didn't Add Up: Were the "Background Illustrations" All Originals?
Hanging on the exhibition walls were numerous exquisite illustrations of birds and nature, with label cards mostly introducing the species or historical context to support the main theme. But the more I looked, the stranger it felt—"Wait a minute... this paper texture, the slight indentation of the ink lines... this doesn't look like modern high-quality digital printing, or even standard offset printing?"
Driven by curiosity, I asked one of the museum staff. They were wonderfully warm and candid, revealing a hidden surprise in our conversation: The illustrations that appeared to be mere visual backdrops for the theme were, in fact, genuine, rare originals over two centuries old!
200-Year-Old High Tech: John Gould’s Hand-Colored Lithographs
What shocked me most on-site were the works by John Gould (1804–1881), the legendary 19th-century British ornithologist.
Without asking, an average visitor might assume these were simply beautiful bird prints. In reality, they are 19th-century "hand-colored lithographs"—an extraordinarily complex and expensive medium of that era:
Lithographic Outlining: Artists (such as Gould and his wife, Elizabeth) first drew the bird poses onto heavy, flat slabs of Jurassic limestone imported from Germany.
Grease and Ink Printing: Utilizing the chemical principle that oil and water repel each other, the black outlines of the plants and birds were printed onto specialized paper.
Meticulous Hand-Coloring: The most astonishing part followed—once the line art was printed, a team of top colorists worked with watercolors to paint every single print by hand, stroke by stroke, matching a master "Pattern Plate" approved by Gould.
Every single print is a blend of lithographic craft and fine manual painting. You can actually see the faint raised ink marks on feather details and the natural gradients of watercolor washes. These are not posters printed in ten seconds by modern machines; they are two-hundred-year-old historical artifacts combining scientific precision with artistic warmth.
The Soul of a Private Museum: Exquisite Taste in Antiquarian Books and Printmaking
Walking through the entire gallery gave me a deeper appreciation for the unique character of the Ptolemy Museum. The founder and curatorial team clearly possess a deep passion and refined taste for astronomy, geography, rare antiquarian books, and vintage printing crafts.
Alongside the historic illustrations, the exhibition features ancient Chinese woodblock and movable-type books (such as the Complete Classics Collection of Ancient and Modern Times). Every opened page, the subtle laid lines in the paper, and the sharp strokes of the woodblock carving embody the wisdom of Eastern and Western civilizations recording the natural world. The museum generously displayed these treasures to serve as witnesses to "ancient natural history."
Closing Thoughts: Treasures Deserve the Spotlight
I completely understand the curatorial team's intentions—they wanted to make historical natural science approachable for the general public through smooth narratives and immersive digital interactions.
Yet, from the perspective of an art and craft enthusiast, I truly feel that the artistic and technological value of these ancient books and prints has not been fully showcased!
If future exhibitions could dedicate even a small corner—or simply an extra label card—to tell visitors, "This print was created from an 180-year-old stone slab and painted by hand, stroke by stroke," I believe this added depth would inspire even greater reverence for these "supporting characters."
If you plan to visit “Knowing Many Things,” don't just treat it as a photo spot or an interactive display. Take a moment to step closer to the cases and look carefully at the works on the walls and in the display cabinets—because every line before your eyes might be a piece of history carved onto stone by a master two hundred years ago.
💡 Visitor Info:
Exhibition: Knowing Many Things: Ancient Chinese Natural History and Hong Kong Nature Exploration Special Exhibition
Venue: Ptolemy Museum (Unit 603, Tower 1, Magnet Place, 77-81 Container Port Road, Kwai Fong)
Dates: July 16, 2026 – January 10, 2027 (Closed on Mondays)
Tip: If you feel stuck or curious about a detail while browsing, don't hesitate to ask the staff on-site—the hidden knowledge they hold about the collection will surely exceed your expectations!