Page 194 - C.T. Loo A paper about his impact and activities in the Chinese art Market

194

eve of his retirement Loo announced publicly, “I can say that not one single object has

been removed by me from its original site. For example, the two Chargers of T’ang T’ai

Tsung, now in Philadelphia, were originally removed from the Chao Ling (Mausoleum of

the Emperor T’ai Tsung ) by a foreign dealer. These bas-reliefs were stopped at the

provincial border and taken back to Sian Fu, where, years after, we bought them from the

then local authorities in power. Those sculptures were transported by the Army to Peking

and the money was used to build schools.” (Loo 1950, 3)(Fig. 20 a, b)

Loo also argued that his business served philanthropic purposes. He remarked, “When

I had surplus money I gave it to charities, to the neediest. I have even established, in

1938, an irrevocable perpetual trust, the income of which is to be used to send Chinese

students to be educated in this Country in engineering and medicine.” (Loo 1950, 3) In

the offer of a Kangxi porcelain figure of Guanyin to John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Loo

pleaded his art-for-philanthropy cause, 392 “This figure belonged to the Temple of Hu Deh

San in Shansi Province. It was sold by the chief Monk and in exchange he built a new

Kwan-Yin Hall in the Temple.” 393

Another justification for his dealing is that his business was conducted according to

market rules. Loo stated, “…whatever I have exported from my Country was purchased

in the open market, in competition with others” (Loo 1950, 3).

More importantly, Loo labeled himself as an art lover, a preserver and promoter of

Chinese art. He emphasized that the objects he secured were from neglected or ruined

392
Loo’s message was delivered to make this offer appeal to John D. Rockefeller, Jr.,
who was actively funding many international restoration and philanthropic projects.
393 C. T. Loo to JDR Jr, December 9, 1916, folder 1370, C. T. Loo 1916-1949, box 137,
OMR-RAC.