Page 243 - Christie's Hong Kong November 29, 2022 Fine Chinese Works of Art

PROPERTY FROM THE ROBERT CHANG COLLECTION

(LOTS 3057-3060)

絢麗華貴 — 張宗憲珍藏掐絲琺瑯器

(拍品 3057-3060號)

This season, Christie’s is honoured to present four masterpieces of 本季，佳士得深感榮幸呈現來自顯赫藏家及慈善家張宗憲珍藏
cloisonné enamel from the collection of the renowned collector and 的四件掐絲琺瑯傑作。
philanthropist, Mr Robert Chang.

Born in Shanghai in the 1920s, Chang opened a department store in 張宗憲於1920年代的鼎盛時期在上海出生長大，少年時期曾經
his teens before quitting for Hong Kong in 1948 during the Chinese 一手開辦並經營自家百貨公司，直到1948年為躲避戰亂而離開
Civil War. Chang arrived in Hong Kong alone, lacking academic 上海來到香港。初來乍到香港，張宗憲隨身只帶了一個箱子，
qualifications and carrying just a suitcase and $24 in his pocket. With
no friends, family or money and without speaking any English or 口袋裡只有24美元，也沒有文憑，「我沒有朋友，沒有親戚，也
Cantonese, Chang had a can-do attitude and a father who could help 沒有錢，不懂粵語也不會英文。」但張宗憲有的是樂觀自信，家
kick-start his career from afar. His father, a respected antique dealer in
Shanghai, sent his son a steady supply of objects to sell from his stall 中也為他事業的起步提供了不可或缺的重要幫助。張宗憲的父
in Cat Street Market with notes explaining why they were important 親張仲英是上海灘有名的古董商，他向兒子發送源源不斷的貨
and how to price them. Growing up surrounded by art and antiques, 物，在摩羅街的小店面中售賣。張仲英給兒子發送的貨物中總
Chang perceived his father as his teacher and inspiration.
會附上清單，寫明每件貨品的來路背景和建議售價。「父親是我
Not long after setting up on Cat Street, Chang became an important 的啟蒙老師，也是我的導師。」張宗憲如是說。
broker between Hong Kong and Taiwan. As he started making money
and his appreciation of antiques grew, he began to build a collection of 在摩羅街開設店鋪站穩腳跟後不久，張宗憲就成了香港和台灣
his own — particularly in ceramics, works of art and Chinese paintings.
Chang actively bought at a time when antiques were relatively “cheap” 間的重要商人。隨著他的財富逐漸累積，對瓷器的愛好也不斷
by today’s standards. Where British and American collectors had 增加，他開始蒐集自己的珍藏——當中又以瓷器和中國書畫為
dominated the Chinese antiquities market in the first half of the 20th 主。當時是收藏中國工藝品和書畫的絕佳時機。這裡的「絕佳」
century, Chang — along with peers such as T.Y. Chao, J.M. Hu, K.S.
Lo and E.T. Chow — was one of a few Chinese collectors who helped 其實就意味著在當今標準下，當時的價格頗為廉宜。二十世紀
turn Hong Kong into a hub in the second half of the 20th century. By 上半葉的中國古董市場由英美藏家主導，而張宗憲同趙從衍、
the 1960s, he ran five stores and became the golden boy of the Chinese
art and antiquities trade. When the traditional way of doing business 胡惠春、羅桂祥及仇焱之等同儕一起，合力推動香港成為二十
in Hong Kong was mainly private transactions between dealers and 世紀下半葉的中國藝術品交易中心。到了1960年代，他同時開
collectors, Chang helped usher in a complex new marketplace: in the 了五家古董店，儼然成為中國藝術及古董界一顆冉冉升起的新
1980s, he was instrumental in encouraging the major auction houses
to set up in the city. His contribution to the industry lies far beyond 星。
his own business.
香港做生意的傳統方式一直是藝術商和藏家之間的私人交易。
Chang attributes his success to a willingness to learn. He has never 而張宗憲幫助催生了全新的買賣市場：他為國際大型拍賣行在
stopped looking to improve his knowledge — whether reading books,
talking to other experts, or travelling the world to see art in auctions 香港順利起步發揮了重要作用。
and museums. This spirit is symptomatic of a passion for his subject
and a deep-rooted work ethic. ‘Retirement isn’t on my agenda,’ he says. 張宗憲自述自己成功的秘訣是一顆「好學之心」。無論是讀書、
‘I’m going to work till the day I drop… As long as there’s something I 與其他專家探討，還是周遊世界參加拍賣或去博物館欣賞珍
fancy — and can afford — I’m still determined to acquire it. Even if I
were 150 years old, I’d feel compelled to buy it.’ 品，他從未停止充實自我的腳步。這種勤奮好學的精神既見證
了他對中國藝術品的一生熱忱，也反映出其內心深處的刻苦工
作理念。「退休不在我的計劃內。」他笑談道。「我一定會一直
收藏藝術，做一天和尚撞一天鐘，直到最後……只要是我喜歡
的東西，也確實值得收藏的，如果我買得起就一定要得到手，就
算我現在是一百五十歲，我也要得到手。」

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