Page 102 - 2021 March 18 to 19th, Important Chinese Works of Art, Christie's New York City

Property from the Whitacre Family Collection

(Lots 835-844)

In 1938, Dr. Frank E. Whitacre (1897-1971) and his family arrived
in Beijing, where he assumed the role of Head of the Obstetrics
and Gynecology department at Peking Union Medical College,
a post sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation. His wife Lillian
(1907-1986), a graduate of Oberlin College and the University of
Pittsburgh, developed an interest in Chinese furniture and works
of art, and began studying and collecting in this area.

Two years later, with the breakout of World War II, Lillian and
her two young children boarded the Mariposa headed for
San Francisco. Dr. Whitacre returned to the United States
at a later date. Reluctant to part with the collection she so
carefully created, Lillian persuaded the Rockefeller Foundation
to transport the pieces to the United States. The furniture,
paintings, and works of art collected during the Whitacre’s days
in Beijing have resided with the family since that time.
Dr. Frank E. and Lillian Whitacre, 1930s. Photographs courtesy of the family.
Photographer unknown.
Frank E. Whitacre醫生暨夫人 Lillian, 1930年間。圖片由其家族提供。攝影師不詳。`

~835
AN UNUSUAL HUANGHUALI ROUND LOW TABLE This unusual circular table was probably used to support a large
18TH-19TH CENTURY vessel or drum. A similar circular stand supported on cabriole legs
and carved with lion masks and scrolling tendrils is illustrated by
The top is set in a circular frame above a narrow waist and cusped, beaded R.H. Ellsworth in Chinese Furniture: One Hundred Examples from
aprons. The whole is raised on beaded, shaped legs joined by a circular the Mimi and Raymond Hung Collection, New York, 1996, pp. 124-
base stretcher, further supported on small tab feet.
125, no. 42.
13 in. (33 cm.) high, 33Ω in. (85.1 cm.) diam.

$20,000-30,000 清十八/十九世紀 黃花梨圓矮几
來源:
PROVENANCE:
The Collection of Dr. Frank E. (1897-1971) and Lillian (1907-1986) Frank E. (1897-1971) 暨 Lillian (1907-1986) Whitacre 伉儷珍藏,
Whitacre, acquired between 1938-1939, and thence by descent within the 入藏於1938至1939年間, 後家族傳承。
family.