Page 59 - C.T. Loo A paper about his impact and activities in the Chinese art Market

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1924. Upon his arrival, Loo fanfared his fabulous new acquisition and the upcoming

sale/exhibition in major newspapers and art periodicals. An Art News article, for

example, announced that Loo “has just returned from France, bringing an unusually fine

collection of bronzes and pottery as well as paintings and other objects recently obtained

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in China.” Loo’s publicity campaign was intensified during the exhibition. On the

opening day of the exhibition, the article titled “Loo Exhibits Rare Bronzes from China”

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appeared in the Art News. An article in the New York Times on December 7 gave a

report on the exhibition at length in a rather flattering tone, “The Exhibition of C. T.

Loo’s collection of antique Chinese bronzes, ceramics and paintings at the Montross

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Galleries is not one to be light-heartedly appraised.” A few days later another report

related to Loo’s show was given by the Art News. Entitled, “Diplomat Buys an Ancient

Chinese Bronze”, the report presented the first object in the 1924 catalogue, a bird-

shaped bronze in a striking photograph (Fig. 16). The text beneath the image announced,

“Bronze Libation Vessel, Shang Dynasty. This bronze libation vessel in the form of an

owl, dating from the Shang dynasty (1766-1122 B.C.) has been purchased from the

collection of C. T. Loo now on exhibition at the Montross Galleries. Mr. and Mrs. Robert

W. Bliss were the purchasers. Mr. Bliss, who is Minister to Sweden, is now on his way to

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Europe. He is loaning the piece to the Metropolitan Museum during his absence.” This

report was not only an announcement of an acquisition by a celebrity, but also an

acknowledgement of the quality of Loo’s collection at the exhibition. It also sent a

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“Loo Brings Bronzes Buried for Ages,” Art News, November 29, 1924.
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“Loo Exhibits Rare Bronzes from China,” Art News, December 5, 1924.
78 “Art Notes: Antique Art from China,” New York Times. December 7, 1924.
79 “Diplomat Buys an Ancient Chinese Bronze,” Art News, December 13, 1924, 6.