Page 107 - C.T. Loo A paper about his impact and activities in the Chinese art Market

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T. Loo and museums. 225 In 1945, K. Tomita, informed Loo that he found in the

museum’s collection about 20 pieces, which might be applied toward an exchange with

226
Loo’s collection.

Loans

It was common that museums borrowed objects from dealers who amassed a large

collection of antiquities. As the RISD was planning to have an exhibition of furniture,

paintings, and ceramics of the Ming through the Qing Dynasties, Loo was asked to lend a

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number of the late paintings. In response, Loo boasted, “We can surely loan you

anything you want…either paintings or porcelains or potteries and we can always gather

a nice selection for you to examine before we send them over for your exhibition. As you

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know, we have many things in nearly all the fields in Chinese arts!” Loan
arrangements between the dealer and the museum created a situation beneficial to both

sides. The museum did not have to make an immediate decision to purchase the loans

while having the benefit of displaying them in the museum. Loo’s collection of Ancient

225 Another mode of transaction between dealers and museums is illustrated by the
MFA’s acquisition of the Offering shrine with engraved figures and inscriptions (MFA
37.340) from Yamanaka & Co. partly in exchange and partly in cash. "Voted: To
recommend to the Trustees that a Chinese stone sarcophagus, A.D. 527, offered by
Yamanaka and Company, New York, for $20,000.00, be acquired by the exchange of a
Chinese peach-bloom bottle (Reg. no 35.733, exchange value $10,000.00) and of three
stone heads (Reg. Nos. 10.330, 10.322, 10.335, exchange value $300.00) and a cash
payment of $9,700.00." (April 1, 1937, Collections Committee minutes, curatorial file,
MFA, Joseph Scheier-Dolberg, email message to author, October 11, 2007)
226 K. Tomita to C. T. Loo, May 10, 1945, Folder C. T. Loo, box: I to L, 1936-1947,
AAOA-MFA.
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G.B. Washburn to C. T. Loo, April 20, 1948, C. T. Loo & Co. folder 1945-1949,
RISDA.
228 C. T. Loo to G.B.Washburn, April 27, 1948, C. T. Loo & Co. folder 1945-1949,
RISDA.