Page 179 - Sotheby's Fine Chinese Art NYC September 2023

PROPERTY FROM

THE COLLECTION OF

DR. MAURICE BERGER

Dr. Maurice Berger 博士（1956-2020年）是
Maurice Berger (1956-2020) was a noted cultural historian of 20th
著名的二十世紀藝術和視覺文化史學家，
century art and visual culture, whose influential essays were published
其文章深具影響力，曾發表於重要博物館
in major museum catalogs, art magazines and in his award-winning
New York Times monthly column. He was also a passionate collector and scholar 圖錄、藝術雜誌及他為《紐約時報》撰寫、
of Chinese Art, which Berger was drawn to, at first, because of what he saw as its 屢獲殊榮的每月專欄。 此外，他也是一位
醉心中國藝術的收藏家和學者，而最初讓
aesthetic relationship to twentieth century Minimalism. Far more consequential to 他對此產生興趣的，是中國藝術與二十世
Berger’s collecting activity and particular fascination with Song Dynasty ceramics, 紀極簡主義的美學聯繫。 然而，對 Berger
however, was his decades-long friendship with Myron and Pauline Falk, friends and 博士的藝術收藏（特別是宋瓷收藏）更具
mentors whose spectacular collection of Chinese Art was world-renowned. 影響力的是他與 Myron 和 Pauline Falk
伉儷長達數十年的友誼，他們的中國藝術
It was during Berger’s many visits to the Falk’s Park Avenue apartment (where their
珍藏享譽全球，與 Berger 博士亦師亦友。
extensive holdings were displayed in a museum-like setting) and weekend home
(where pieces were more casually displayed) that Berger’s direct engagement with Berger 博士多次參觀 Falk 伉儷在公園大
道的公寓（他們把收藏的珍品以博物館的
Chinese Art blossomed and his connoisseurship evolved. Handling, studying and 形式在公寓内展示）和渡假屋（該處的藏品
conversing at length with the Falks, both about art and the art of collecting, fostered
陳列比較隨意），由此 Berger 親身接觸中
not only his nuanced appreciation of the workmanship of individual pieces, but also 國藝術，鑒賞力與日俱增。 多年以來，他與
his commitment to studying their art-historical significance and provenance. Falk 伉儷就藝術鑒賞和收藏藝術深入研究
與交流，不僅培養了他對每件藝術品細緻
It was after Pauline Falk’s death in 2000 that Berger began, in earnest, to assemble
入微的理解，還讓他對其藝術歷史意義和
a collection of his own. A rigorous researcher, he read and re-read the Falk auction 出處份外關注。
catalog entries nightly, then went on to assemble his own reference library of rare
2000年 Pauline Falk 離世，Berger 博士開
books and catalogs about Chinese Art. He examined pieces in museums, galleries,
始積極收集屬於自己的藝術收藏。作為一
auction houses and online. And over two decades, he acquired objects from
名嚴謹的鑒藏家，他會每晚反復閲讀 Falk
prominent dealers, distinguished collectors and at auction, many of which had
的拍賣圖錄，同時組建自己的參考叢書，包
been featured in museum exhibitions and discussed and illustrated in scholarly 含中國藝術的珍貴文獻和圖錄。 他在博物
articles. Ultimately, Berger assembled a refined and distinctive personal collection 館、畫廊、拍賣行和網上仔細研究，二十多
– one focused on, but not limited to, the inventive palette, austere formal strength 年來從藝術銷售商、傑出藏家和拍賣會上
and beauty of Song material – that he meticulously cataloged, examined and 購入藏品，其中許多藏品都曾在博物館展
enjoyed daily. “I’m fascinated by these beautiful objects, “ Berger once explained, 覽，並有學術文章詳細討論和出版插圖。
Berger 博士最終集成了一個精緻而獨特
and “how their forms derive from nature, their everyday and ritual uses.” He was
的個人收藏，專注於新穎色彩、樸雅形式和
equally interested in the ways that history, traditions and inventiveness become
宋瓷美感，同時卻又不為之所限，每天精心
embedded in collected objects and appreciate over time, as they are passed down
編目，靜心鑒賞及研究藏品。「我對這些美
from one collector and one generation to the next. 麗的藝術品深感著迷，」伯傑曾經解釋道：
Dr. Maurice Berger (1956-2020) © Seher Sikander
Maurice Berger (1956-2020) 博士 © Seher Sikander 「它們的形狀來自自然，也來自它們的日常
用途以及作爲禮器的用法。」此外，他亦非
常關心藏品背後的歷史、傳統和創意，更喜
愛古物日久彌珍，薪火相傳的獨有魅力。

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