Page 71 - C.T. Loo A paper about his impact and activities in the Chinese art Market

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bronzes to the Hotel Plaza-Athenee, where they stayed during their visit to Paris, for their

109
study and enjoyment over the weekend. It was a common practice for Loo to deliver
objects to the museum so that the curator could study the object, show it to museum

benefactors, and even put it on public display before the acquisition decision was

made. 110

Packing, Shipping, and Insurance

In the process of offering objects to prospective clients, packing, shipping, and

insurance were aspects that Loo and his staff must have dealt with on a regular basis due

to the heavy traffic of objects passing through their hands. Loo often had objects

delivered to his prospective buyers at his own expense. In some cases, clients could pick

up the object from Loo’s store. Loo’s instruction to W. Gordon, director of the RISD, as

how to pick up a mural piece from his store gives us a vivid picture of his operation. Loo

wrote, “We will have it packed carefully in a small case…we will have the case ready in

the service elevator, which is next to the entrance of the building…your truckman can

call us up a few minutes before, so that our men will wait for him downstairs with the

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case in the elevator service.” If a return occurred, Loo would also cover the shipping

fee. Loo, for example, gave an instruction to Lodge as how to return the objects, “They

can go by the mail with value of $1000 for the scroll and (?) if possible, I wish you let

109 JDR Jr. to C. T. Loo, November 17, 1930, folder 1370, C. T. Loo 1916-1949, box 137,
OMR-RAC.
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When an object was delivered to potential buyers on approval, it would be considered
as a loan, which has the potential to become a commodity.
111 C. T. Loo to G. Washburn, March 25, 1949, folder, C. T. Loo & Co. 1945-1949,
RISDA.