NLC Starts Online Store to Promote Rare Collection-related Products
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THE NLC (National Library of China) once again took the lead in China in running its online shopping business on Taobao.com in April, selling “circumjacent products” whose design and making are inspired by the ancient collections under its custody, rather than books as the first likely reaction by most people in learning the news.
Being posted in the NLC Taobao store named “国图旺店 (the popular NLC online store )” are icons of an array of chic, elegant, stylish “cultural and creative products”. See the oracle bones whose delicate casing and texts are still clearly identifiable? They are actually handmade soaps sold in 12-pic set representing the Chinese zodiacs, produced by replicating the original NLC oracle bone items – the NLC is home to the largest oracle bone collection on the planet, amounting to 35,651 pieces and one fourth of the world’s total that has survived. By merchandising the “oracle soaps”, the NLC is showing off its proud repertory of oracle bones in a funny way. Available online are also public transport cards, wooden brush pots and engraving bookmarks carrying images of Chinese princess and primus (“状元”, scholar who achieved the highest score on highest level of the Chinese imperial examinations) and the legendary Monkey King Sun Wukong (孙悟空). These are designed on the basis of the exquisite holdings of colorful opera figure paintings, which were produced by the Shengpingshu (昇平署), a Qing dynasty governmental agency responsible for organizing opera performances for the imperial family. Still in a trial stage, the NLC online store now sells some 60 kinds of different items, which are expected to grow to more than 150 by the mid of May when the official opening is scheduled. And the NLC views its online store as an “extra reading room” of the Library, a special platform through which the knowledge and information about its ancient collection is spread and promoted. |