Page 51 - C.T. Loo A paper about his impact and activities in the Chinese art Market

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Documentation

Once an object came into Loo’s hand, it was carefully inventoried, photographed, and

researched. This process allowed Loo not only to keep track of his merchandises, but also

to prepare for his promotional and selling activities. The materials from the Frank Caro

Archive (FCA), which holds inventory cards, negatives, photographs, and research

materials of Loo’s firm, shed light onto Loo’s business operations and the life histories

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of the objects that passed through his hands from the mid-1930s to early 1950s.

Inventory-making

The properties, prices and circulation history of the objects in Loo’s hand were

carefully organized and recorded in typewritten inventory cards (sometimes with added

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handwritten notes), as illustrated by the one for a bronze phoenix vessel (Fig. 13 a,b).

On the front

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∗ “(Cat 7 (7?) 41)
∗ 50045

∗ cat. No. 12 Inv. P-5-cxppp

∗ 41 cat. #74 Inv. Oct -6-36-Mex $ axppp
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∗ bronze phoenix vessel Chow 6 th BC (early chou)
∗ h 9’’ L 5 X2400 $8500

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∗ Feb 1937 sent to London (H 9? 2 5 X2400 $8500)

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Frank Caro was Loo’s associate since 1928. In the 1980s, Caro donated the materials
including inventory cards, negatives, photographs, and other documentation and research
materials to the Visual Resources Collections, Institute of Fine Arts, New York
University.
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Handwritten notes were made when there was additional or special information on the
card.
51 Handwritten note in pencil.
52 “Chow 6 th BC” was crossed out and “early chou” was added.