Page 6 - Bonhams Sept 2016 CHINESE Furniture

John and Celeste Fleming at San Simeon, late 1990’s John and Celeste Fleming on their wedding day in Yokosuka, Japan, 1956

A TASTE FOR THE REMARKABLE:
THE JOHN AND CELESTE FLEMING COLLECTION
OF CHINESE FURNITURE AND WORKS OF ART

John and Celeste Fleming were devoted philanthropists and patrons They became loyal friends, who always had a heart for you.” Ken and
of Asian Art and music in Denver, Colorado. They left an indelible Betty introduced them to Grace Wu Bruce, who helped them develop
mark on many organizations, including the Asian Performing Arts their carefully selected collection of fine Ming dynasty huanghuali
Council, which they co-founded, Opera Colorado, and the Denver and zitan furniture, which they made an integral part of their stunning
Art Museum, whose collection has been enriched by their many Japanese style home. They augmented their collection with gems of
generous gifts. They were avid travelers, commencing with John’s early Chinese metal work, purchased from Japan and from New York
navy posting as a radiologist in Japan 60 years ago, where he and dealer James Lally and later exhibited at the Denver Art Museum.
Celeste, then the Assistant State Librarian for North Carolina public
schools, were married in 1956. They took this opportunity to travel Bonhams is proud to present the John and Celeste Fleming
extensively throughout Asia, where they formed life-long friendships collection to the international collecting community.
and began collection Japanese art and later Chinese furniture. John
and Celeste settled in Denver in 1957, where they lived for the rest
of their lives. They developed a love for Japanese painting, and
donated Japanese screens to both the Brooklyn Museum and later
to the Denver Art Museum, where they became very active from the
late 70’s onward. Betty Lo and Kenneth Chu recall “Emmy Bunker
introduced us to the Flemings. They were a wonderful couple with a
passion for Oriental art – generous philanthropists who donated to
the museum and sponsored young fledgling artists.

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