Page 6 - Golder Collection Snuff Bottles

THE DR. SYLVAN AND FAITH GOLDER COLLECTION

It is rare to meet such an elegant couple as Faith and Sylvan Sylvan, together with Faith, was a lifelong international traveler, and
Golder, whose interests and hobbies were completely aligned with often, it was on these travels that they added to their collections
the other throughout their lives together. Married for 71 years, Faith of Chinese archaic jade, scholars’ objects and their great passion
and Sylvan lived their whole life in and around Cincinnati, where - snuff bottles, of which they purchased their first examples
Sylvan practiced medicine in Covington, Kentucky for over 45 in 1967. On their travels, they met dealers the world over and
years, excepting his service in WWII as an Army doctor. from the beginning kept meticulous records of their acquisitions
from established dealers such as the Asian Art Studio (Clare
Faith was born in Cincinnati growing up there with her brother, Billy, and Michael Chu), Frank Caro, John Ford Assoc., Fu Ming Fair
with whom she remained very close throughout their lives. She Antiques, Robert Hall, Hartman Rare Art, Robert Kleiner, Jade
always had an intense curiosity and love of learning, earning two House, Wang Ning and Y. F. Yang.
scholarships at Walnut Hills High School to attend the University
of Cincinnati. Whilst at UC, majoring in science, she met Sylvan, The Golders loved yellow jade bottles and bought marvelous
staying in touch with him after she left college, and marrying him examples, which are offered as the opening lots and star
in 1943. After their two children, Pat and Stuart, were grown Faith attractions of this auction (lots 101, 102, 106, 112, 113, 114, 115,116
returned to UC to major in French Literature, graduating in 1982. 146 and 147, among others). Lot 101, a brilliantly carved bottle,
Faith not only loved French literature, but also everything about shows an official in the midst of achieving higher office, replacing
France, taking regular trips there with Sylvan for over thirty years, one hat with another of higher status, surrounded by symbols of
and recording every detail in her treasured scrapbooks. Faith long life. symbols. Lots 102 and 106 came from Frank Caro, the
and Sylvan lived life at full speed, showing a cheerful passion former carved with paired ‘auspicious’ characters in seal script
and energy for even the simplest things, taking family members on the face, and the latter with a luohan reversed by a dragon, the
and many close friends along with them on their adventures near figures finely carved into the rich russet skin. Two ‘Master of the
and far. Rocks School’ examples (lots 186 and 188) illustrate the successful
juxtaposition of the yellow surface with two narrative scenes of a
Without exception, Sylvan’s friends, and patients, all speak of He He twin and Boya Ziqi.
him as a true gentleman, with a consistently gentle spirit and a
goodness that touched many people’s lives. The Rabbi at his
memorial service described Sylvan as “Gold on the inside and
outside” in his approach to living his life and in helping to care
for others.

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