Page 236 - Nov. 27, 2019 Christie's Important Works of Art HK

PROPERTY FROM THE STUDIO OF TEN OBSESSIONS (LOTS 3099-3107)
ډ⅕㸺Ὂⳉ䢮ሠި ⴽ䢯

fig. 1 Madam Shum Ching Chee with her painting teacher Pu Xinyu (1896-1963)
எӬ ᮨ㬱጑⯝ݯஇ⊺⩞Ⴧᵌᇵ⊻

Madam Shum Ching Chee, styled name of Wenlu, also known by her literary ➯լ
name Shichi Laoren, the ‘Elderly Lady of Ten Obsessions’, originates from
Zhongshan in Guangdong Province. She graduated from Chung Chi College ᮨ㬱጑卿ໃᙔ↻卿⽚ࢦ⍲⩞՞卿ᅓែԋྒྷ
in Hong Kong, and studied Western painting under the tutelage of Xu
՞ǯ㲞ᳰ࿶ఫໝ㩴⊳᥉卿 ㇛ᰑ⊺Ⴧᐂᇍែ
Dongbai (1900-1989), Chinese painting under Pu Xinyu (1896-1963) and seal
⎊卿இ⊺ᑌᵌᇵ⊻ἃჇ卿❨ߴᝧᯧჇᇖᇍ
carving and calligraphy under Xu Yunshu (1947- ).
㫡आǯ
At an early age, and under her father’s influence, Shum became fascinated with
antique objects. Her deep interest in antique jades began after her father gifted ཌऒᙔ⁒Ԡዴൃ㶌䁬ᛞई‪ㇼᆴ㮮卿୪፭
her a plain jade bi pendant when she was seven years old. She followed her
Ӯ့ᛞ⋁‪ㇼ㐩ԽӬ⡵∣㜩Ꮚᛞ࣊ཌऒℱ
father in browsing through a variety of antique shops, viewing many objects
over the years and learning from connoisseurs in the field. She occasionally ⊄⊂Ḽ࣡⯞㑪卿㪪ᇌ⣌჎㪪‪ㇼ㧾㘼ഌཎ
collected items of interest, developing a preference for antique jades. As there ऒⶸᄕ㢁卿ᙇࢦჺ׹Ꮢ㇦༰⁒≾അ卿Ꮢ⪡
were many later copies in the market, she furthered her knowledge on the ߿㖤⣌㴾Ӷཐ卿㧿ԋՔᝯᘘ⻦ᇵስ⁒卿ᇌ
subject by studying classic texts, and often consulted opinions of the those
սऒℱἃ㲛㚁卿਒Ⴊ㬷ӳ⮝৅≾അ卿㙖㧙
who were more experienced in her collecting circle. She benefitted from
frequenting museums within and outside of China, as well as being afforded Ⓔᝳ㨸ऒ⟐ംԆ⯝߿㖤Ւᇁ㋇⎽卿჎⯍இ
the privilege of exchanging ideas with members of the Min Chiu Society. ݤംࢷ⁒㱦㈊ᕳ⩧ᝳᏒᇑǯՔᝳჽ⯝ᘨ᭯

In her Sai Kung residence, Shum often hosts gatherings with friends where she ⠢⯣ԋ՞✙Ւᇁߏ┽ǯ
displays her collection and studies the items with her guests over a feast she
⣌჎⯝ऱൃ⏟⪝卿ᙻݯ㇛㏐ߣಘݤ卿߅▔
prepared. In the pursuit of studying with friends, she considers it as one of life’s
greatest pleasures. She not only shares her collection with like-minded friends ⻦৅卿Մ⏟㈊ᕳ卿ㇼ⯇Ӵᅊἰ㊽⧻㰱་໾卿
but combine this pursuit with fine wine and excellent cuisine. ᝳ⧻㜮צ⫚卿⯞⏌⩧᫔ԛ՞⊂ӬᦼԿԮǯ
Note: ‘The Elderly Lady of Ten Obsessions’ is a reference to Shum’s obsession
with ceramics, bronzes, bamboo, wood, stone, paintings, seals, ink stones, ㉙厍ࢦ⍲⩞՞ԛ⚨⍲卿㠩⍲卿⛛⍲卿ណ⍲卿
teapots and tea. ⒢⍲卿⊺⍲卿ࣇ⍲卿⓺⍲卿೭⍲卿ⳍ⍲ǯ

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