Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum

Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum


I'm very delighted to introduce the museum which used to be a residence of Prince Asaka in Shirokanedai. The former Prince Asaka residence, whose overall design was executed by the Imperial Household Ministry's Construction Bureau and whose main rooms were designed by French interior artist Henri Rapin, was completed in April 1933 - and thus it was that a piece of Art Deco architecture esteemed all over the world came to appear in Tokyo's Shirokanedai. The members of the Asaka collateral branch of the Imperial family lived in the building until 1947, when they lost their Imperial status.
Subsequently, between 1947 and 1954, the building was used as the public residence of Shigeru Yoshida, Foreign Minister and then Prime Minister.

From 1955 until the renovation of the Government Guesthouse in Akasaka in 1974, it served as a guesthouse for state and government guests. In 1981, the land and building became the property of Tokyo Metropolitan Ward, and on 1 October 1983, the building was opened to the public as the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum.

In 2015, in recognition of the superlative craftsmanship on display therein which provides an invaluable resource for education about Art Deco, the building was designated as one of the Japanese nation's Important Cultural Properties.
Front Entrance Hall :
The glass relief doors were especially designed for the residence by Rene Lalique. Created with pressed glass, the doors feature a motif of a standing female figure with spread wings.

Great Hall :
The elegant walnut panelling on the walls of the Great Entrance Hall sets the tone for this spare, stately space.
The Great Dining Hall can be separated off from the Salon juxtaposing it using the sliding doors set with silver-frost etched glass by Max Ingrand.


The room was designed to be used for holding dinner parties for guests, and this fact is reflected in the fruit motifs used in the Rene Lalique lighting fixture, entitled "Pineapples and Pomegranates".

Main Staircase :
Three different kinds of marble are used for the steps, the panelling and the handrail, including bianco carrara stone. The design of the handrail features the characteristic Art Deco zigzags, and the metal fixings are made from oxidised bronze.

North Room

Veranda
Salon
Library
Work by Kan Yasuda

To see more information
www.teien-art-museum.ne.jp

Thank you.

*Original text quoted from the brochure issued by the museum.