Following the Dragon Members-Only Guided Tour
June 23 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Following the Dragon Members-Only Guided Tour
Jamestown Settlement
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 • 10:00 AM
Discover how delicate sherds of porcelain reveal a surprisingly global story at the heart of early Virginia! Members of Jamestown Settlement are invited to an exclusive, intimate guided tour of the exhibition “Following the Dragon: Chinese Ming Porcelain in Early Jamestown.” Led directly by Jamestown Senior Curator Dr. Bly Straube, this special tour offers an insider’s look at the remarkable international connections revealed through Ming porcelain uncovered right at the 1607–1625 fort site at Historic Jamestowne.
Dr. Straube will share fascinating archaeological insights into the Chinese porcelain vessels discovered through excavations. The exhibition beautifully brings together 31 excavated pieces alongside their complete counterparts borrowed from world-class museums and private collections across the globe.
Audiences will get an up-close look at a rare Ming bottle with gilt-bronze mounts—one of only three known to exist in the entire world—on loan for the first time ever from the Royal Collection, where it is typically on display at Buckingham Palace! See its elegant depiction of the fenghuang (a mythical bird symbolizing joy, peace, and sincerity) displayed right next to matching fragments unearthed from the Jamestown dirt.
Together, these extraordinary objects illuminate how early Virginians acquired and used global luxury goods, offering a deeper understanding of status, trade, and cultural exchange in the early 17th-century colony.
🎟️ Admission: Free and exclusive to current membership holders. Not a member yet? Individual memberships start at just $65 and grant you access to exclusive curator tours like this one all year long! Join today online or at the visitor center.
