Page 109 - C.T. Loo A paper about his impact and activities in the Chinese art Market

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Patronage and Friendship

Loo’s business success for a large part depended on his cultivation of friendship with

museums. Loo posed himself as not just a merchant but also a museum benefactor. In his

initial contact with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Loo used gifts to start his business

relationship with the museum. From 1915 to 1917, he made at least six gift offers. 232

Loo’s gifts to museums served as his advertisement. In 1916, C. T. Loo offered as a gift

to the MFA a stand for the Lohan statue (MFA 15.255) with the condition that a

permanent label in large visible type to be attached to the stand, “‘This base is a gift from

233
Lai-Yuan & co. C. T. Loo, New York.’”

In addition to gifts, Loo offered monetary donations and other assistance to

museums. 234 His role was recognized by the Met director F.H. Taylor, who wrote to Loo,

“My colleagues and I appreciate far more than I can say your constant friendship and

interest in the Museum. I know that we may call upon you for help from time to time as

we have so often done in the past.” 235

It is true that museum purchases were made as the result of institutional decisions. It is

also true that Loo’s personal relationship with curators and directors often played a

significant role in his business. It is evident that over the years Loo became close friends

with some of the leading American museum professionals. The Met curators and their

232 May 22, 1916, November 20, 1916, February 24, 1917, folder Loo, C.T., L. 871;
December 20, 1915, October 16, 1916, October15, 1917, folder Lai-Yuan & Co. 1915-
1917, L 1405, Met.
233
C. T. Loo to J.E. Lodge, May 17, 1916, folder: Lai-Yuan Co., box: Unofficial
Correspondence L, 1910-1922, AAOA-MFA.
234 C. T. Loo to F. H. Taylor, March 19, 1946, folder Loo, C.T., L. 871, MetA.
235 F. H.Taylor to C. T. Loo, March 20, 1946, Loo, C.T. L. 871, MetA.