Page 98 - C.T. Loo A paper about his impact and activities in the Chinese art Market

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collectors. In 1916, he wrote to Rockefeller to promote lacquers and sculptures, “…they

are most interesting and decorative as well as artistic and as this is the first showing of

199
really fine lacquers the price is very low…? I should like very much to have you see

them as they will surely not remain in our possession for long. I desire extremely that you

become interested in fine Chinese sculpture as it had only a very short period and it is no

longer allowed to leave China-so that I am anxious for you to see the best things which

come to this country.” 200 It is under Loo’s tutelage that Alfred Pillsbury started to collect

ancient bronzes and jades. Pillsbury expressed his appreciation for Loo’s role in the

formation of his ancient bronze collection, “I should like to pay tribute to C. T. Loo for

his part in perpetuating that tradition in this country and for the interest and cooperation

which have contributed so much to the building up of my collection.” (Pillsbury 1950,

Foreword)

In 1916, Loo gave Freer a report about the market conditions in Europe, “As regard to

the Chinese art, the market is very slow, but the prices are very high at the auctions. The

(Kennedy?) sale of last month, brought some unprecedent (sic.) prices for certain things.

Of course they are all porcelains, I don’t think there is (sic.) any early pieces to be found

here.” 201

piece under consideration. (Memorandum, April 19, 1916, folder 1318, Dreicer and Co,
1915-1920, box 133, OMR-RAC) Ralph M. Chait claimed that appraised for the J.P.
Morgan , Henry C. Frick, and other collections because of his experience and expertise in
this profession. (Ralph M. Chait to JDR Jr., February 18, 1944, folder 102, Ralph M.
Chait, 1941-1957, box 11, OMR-RAC).
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Loo referred to lacquers.
200
C. T. Loo to JDR Jr., March 3, 1916, folder 1370, C. T. Loo 1916-1949, box 137,
OMR-RAC.
201 C. T. Loo to C.L. Freer, July 16, 1916, CLFP-FGA.