Page 12 - Bonhams UK Marsh Collection Art for the Literati November 2, 2022

A View of True Collectors

Collectors and dealers who have a shared interest tend to Sam and Marion’s passion is infectious, and I am always
find one another, and Sam and Marion are part of “we happy excited to find a piece I know they might like. One of my
few” who get excited about “blobby dot” borders and anhua favourite sales to them took place in the service lift of the
bands. Indeed, when we first met - and I note that one of Park Lane Hotel, which in those days was the venue for the
the lots in this auction that came from me was purchased as International Ceramic Fair. The queue for the fair was very
far back as 1991 - the collectors and dealers in the genre of long and Sam and Marion were quite far back, but I was
seventeenth century Chinese porcelain were undoubtedly few. so keen for them to purchase this large jar that I told them
to come to the goods entrance. I brought the jar up in the
We owe much of the knowledge of seventeenth century service lift and that was that, deal done.
Chinese porcelain to a select group of scholars. Sir Michael
Butler was a leading light in creating a chronology of Travelling and collecting go hand in hand and a small group
seventeenth century pieces, culminating in his book Shunzhi of us had great fun going to Jingdezhen where Sam gave
Porcelain, Treasures from an Unknown Reign (2002). His a lecture to the Institute of Ceramics on the evolution of the
daughter Katharine Butler together with Teresa Canepa made brushpot which was enthusiastically received by a large
a further illustrious contribution with their recent publication audience of students.
Leaping the Dragon Gate (2021). John and Julia Curtis flew
the flag in America, as did Stephen Little with his book and Chinese art is a field where the importance of provenance
accompanying exhibition held in 1984; both have lectured all has increased greatly over the years. The Marsh collection
over the world. Ni Yibin helped bring to light the fascinating is judged as exemplary in this regard, and deservedly so.
iconography behind so many of the painted scenes, adding This provenance has been further enhanced both by loans
greatly to our enjoyment of the pieces. to the Oriental Ceramic Society and other exhibitions and
by Sam’s recent publication of his first book. It focuses on
Parallel to these scholarly investigations, a handful of dealers a selection of brushpots from the Marsh collection, and, in
were instrumental in bringing this extraordinary genre of Sam’s very straightforward way is titled Brushpots. Reading
works to a wider public. Sam and Marion were very fortunate the book brings home the enthusiasm, obsession, and sheer
to have, by happy coincidence, the dealer and collector enjoyment that the collector feels when making a purchase.
Adrian Joseph living in the same block as them in Hong Every brushpot tells a story, whether about Sam’s opinion on
Kong. Meeting Adrian, who became their first teacher and its dating or how and from whom Sam and Marion came to
advisor, led to their initial purchases and a lifelong passion for buy it.
collecting.
This auction presents a wonderful opportunity to buy into that
The London trade played a major role in helping Sam and provenance and to own an object imbued with the passion of
Marion build their collection. Richard and Stuart Marchant true collectors.
held many exhibitions promoting porcelains from the Wanli
to the Kangxi period and many pieces in this sale came from
them. Indeed, Sam and Marion purchased from many of the
London dealers; there are pieces in this catalogue from Roger
Keverne, A & J Speelman, Sydney L. Moss and Priestley and
Ferraro, amongst others. From further afield, they bought from John Berwald
JJ Lally and PC Lu. They are always keen to take advice from London, September 2022
dealers with years of experience to enhance their growing
connoisseurship.

As we see from this catalogue and the accompanying online
sale, they gravitated over time from buying mostly wooden
brushpots and various works of art to a more porcelain
focused collection with a strong emphasis on the Transitional
period. They continued, however, to buy any object that
Lot 7 delighted them or that they felt added to the collection.
(detail)