Page 117 - C.T. Loo A paper about his impact and activities in the Chinese art Market

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Stone Sculptures (Salmony 1940). The scholarly and educational value of the Loo’s

publication is well illustrated by the 1940 catalogue, An Exhibition of Ancient Chinese

Ritual Bronzes. The entry for the wine vessel (Met 43.25.3 a,b), for example, includes its

title, a description of its formal elements, information about its age, height, and

publication history, as well as an annotated translation of the inscription (C. T. Loo &

Company 1940b, no 22, Pl. IX) (Fig.32). Attached to the text entry is a rubbing of the

inscription. The catalogue included a photographic image for it as well as a drawing of

the decorative motifs on its surface. It is no surprise that K. Tomita spoke highly of the

catalogue. He wrote to Loo, “An exhibition arranged by you is always a great event and

the catalogue which accompanies it a source of deep gratification not only to collectors

but also to students. The present catalogue is a worthy publication of treasures in the

exhibition.” 257 Loo responded to Tomita, “I certainly appreciate your remarks regarding

this catalogue which, I think, has more information than all the others published for

ordinary exhibition.” 258

Loo also had leading scholars write articles about his exhibitions and collections.

Loo’s exhibition reviews by Alfred Salmony, Roberts Laurance, Jayne Horace, and

Martha Davidson appeared frequently in major art periodicals such as the Art News and

Parnassus.

Loo not only supplied objects for scholars to study, but also helped them with

publication. To assist the German scholarly Otto Fischer’s book on Chinese art, he

257
K. Tomita to C. T. Loo, October 30, 1940, folder C. T. Loo, box: I to L, 1936-1947,
AAOA-MFA
258 C. T. Loo to K. Tomita, October 31, 1940, folder C. T. Loo, box: I to L, 1936-1947,
AAOA-MFA.