Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities

The Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, known in Swedish as Ostasiatiska museet, is a public museum in Stockholm, Sweden, dedicated to the archaeology, classical arts, and contemporary culture of Asia. Established by the Swedish government in 1926, the institution holds one of the most comprehensive collections of Asian cultural artifacts in Europe, with particular strengths in Chinese archaeology and art. Beyond its exhibitions, the museum maintains a large research library open to the public and publishes an annual scholarly journal focused on ancient East Asia. Since 1999, it has operated as a component of the Swedish National Museums of World Culture.

The museum's holdings encompass nearly 100,000 objects, covering archaeology, classical arts, and contemporary culture from China, Japan, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia. The primary focus remains on Chinese archaeology and art, rooted in Andersson's foundational prehistoric collections. Through subsequent acquisitions and generous donations, the museum has significantly expanded its scope to include substantial material from Korea, Japan, India, and other parts of Asia. Notable additions include the collection of old Chinese objects bequeathed by King Gustaf VI Adolf, who participated in the early archaeological expeditions and maintained a deep interest in Chinese art and East Asian history. The museum also houses a major East Asian research library, which incorporates book collections from the Royal Library and the University Library.

The signature holdings of the museum are the archaeological assemblages from China assembled by Johan Gunnar Andersson during his 1920s expeditions. These artifacts, dating back to the Stone Age, represent a previously unknown East Asian prehistory and constitute the foundational core of the institution. The museum also holds the important collection of historical Chinese objects donated by King Gustaf VI Adolf. Additionally, the museum's intellectual holdings include the Bulletin of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, an annual research journal founded by Andersson in 1929, and a comprehensive catalog published in 1963.

The museum is situated on the island of Skeppsholmen in central Stockholm. It occupies Tyghuset, the former arsenal of the Swedish navy, a structure dating to the year 1700. The island setting places the museum in close proximity to other cultural institutions, specifically the Museum of Modern Art and the Architecture Museum.

The Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities is located on Skeppsholmen in Stockholm, Sweden. As a public institution, it has been part of the Swedish National Museums of World Culture since 1999. In addition to its permanent and temporary exhibitions, the museum operates educational facilities and maintains a research library accessible to the public. Further information regarding exhibitions and visits can be found on the institution's website.