The program focuses on collections assembled between 1700 and 1939 in a geographical area that extends from Eastern Siberia to Southeast Asia, including India and the Far East. Focusing on the construction of the Western vision of Asia through the prism of its material culture -in an approach at the crossroads of economic history, art history, and cultural history- entries highlight the collecting intentions of the individuals through which objects acquire meanings, destinations, and temporality. The complex global history of relations with Asia is outlined through these individual trajectories and the objects that accompanied them. The focus on a large number of dealers invites the study of their role as promoters of Asian objects and their contributions to the  evolution and structuring of the market, from the marchands merciers of the 18th century to the specialized merchants of the second half of the 19th century.

The bilingual (English/French) database contains over 250 biographical notes written by nearly 140 international specialists. These entries are the result of a major effort to locate, research, and promote Asian art collections throughout France. They highlight individuals, amateurs, travelers, soldiers, merchants, and artists, who contributed to shaping an image of Asia through material culture.