Page 122 - C.T. Loo A paper about his impact and activities in the Chinese art Market

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from the outset had complete confidence in your knowledge, your judgment and your

utter disinterestedness and because it has been such a delight always to work with you, I

have been able to go forward in the development of this interesting and elevating hobby

as would not have been possibly without you…I shall never cease to be grateful to you

267
for the important part you have played in this development.”

C. T. Loo often approached Hobby with his objects first, knowing Rockefeller would

receive a report from Hobby afterwards. In 1932, Hobby brought to Rockefeller’s

attention of a porcelain vase from Loo, “ You will be interested to know that I have

received a letter from Mr. C. T. Loo in which he says: ‘ I am glad to notify you that I

have just discovered a fine black beaker with red peonies which I am feeling will meet

the taste of Mr. Rockefeller, so I am bring it over and show it to you first.’” 268

In 1931, Hobby informed Rockefeller that Loo wrote to him and S. C. Bosch Reitz, the

former curator at the Met. Hobby quoted the letter from Bosch Reitz, who called Hobby’s

attention to a Ming porcelain vase from Loo, “I just had a letter from Loo who asks me

assistance, the usual thing, he wants to make a sale and over-rates my influence in the

matter. As you know I generally get out of these affairs as best I can, but this time it is

different because I know the pieces and because I think they would be an addition to Mr.

Rockefeller’s collection.” 269 In the letter, Bosch Reitz gave a description of the object and

its provenance, “The pieces in question are beakers, enamel on yellow ground, marked

267 JDR Jr. to T. Hobby, December 15, 1949, folder 104, box 11, OMR-RAC.
268
T. Hobby to JDR Jr, November 3, 1932, folder 1354:10 West 54 th Street: Theodore
Hobby, 1914-1939, box 136, OMR-RAC.
269 T. Hobby’s quotation from S.C. Bosch-Reitz’s letter to T. Hobby, T. Hobby to JDR Jr,
August 28, 1931, folder 1370, C. T. Loo 1916-1949, box 137, OMR-RAC.