Page 20 - Sotheby's Sir Quo Wei Lei Collection Oct. 3, 2018

Sir Q.W. Lee was undoubtedly one of the most remarkable bankers, philanthropists and
collectors of his generation. To be taken under his wing in all of these important areas
was one of the greatest blessings of my life.
Although the Lee and Lam families had had a close relationship for over seven decades,
it was not until the passing of my husband, Paulo Lam Sou-Leung, that I developed a
more personal relationship with Sir Q.W. and his family. Sir Q.W. encouraged me to join
the Hang Seng Bank after I qualified as a solicitor in 1978. Thereafter he mentored me
through my entire banking career, guided me with a firm hand and solidified my pursuit
of distinction. Under his tutelage, I came to admire Sir Q.W.’s meticulous attention to
detail, always setting a high standard for himself and those around him; and most of all,
his tenacious quest for perfection.
Sir Q.W.’s extraordinary commitment to excellence was manifested abundantly in all
facets of his professional and personal life, but none more so than in his passion for
collecting antiques. While he was one of the earliest and most senior members of Min
Chiu Society, the group of knowledgeable and respected collectors, he also generously
shared his interest with myself and others who were new to antiques. It was with great
kindness, patience and enthusiasm that he introduced me to the art of collecting and I
am forever grateful to him for opening my eyes and initiating me to the joy of searching
for and acquiring antiques across many categories.
Sir Q.W. applied the same dedication to his personal collecting which he displayed in
his professional life. During my visits with him to various dealers and the flea markets,
I noticed he always examined each object of desire, regardless of its price, with the
stringent standards he adopted for anything he approached in life.
Sotheby’s Hong Kong began auctions of Chinese ceramics in 1973 under the late
Julian Thompson (1941-2011). Julian was a true academic and connoisseur and he
encouraged the local collectors to approach each work of art with rigour and pursue
their collecting dreams by bringing top Chinese ceramics and works of art from Europe
to Asia. Julian became a good friend and trusted advisor to Sir Q.W. and influenced
much of his collecting. When I retired from banking and became Chairman of Sotheby’s
Asia, Sir Q.W. and I crossed paths again. He was already on Sotheby’s International
Advisory Board, bringing with him his tremendous insight into Chinese antiquities, his
understanding of the Asian market as well as his highly regarded business acumen.
This collection to be auctioned at Sotheby’s is notable not merely for its scale and
scope but as an unerring reflection of Sir Q.W.’s legendary diligence and integrity as the
consummate perfectionist of his time. Many pieces had been purchased from Sotheby’s
in the 1970s to 1980s with guidance from Julian. The Lee Family has generously chosen
to honour Sir Q.W.’s friend and advisor Julian Thompson with the proceeds of lot 106 to
endow an annual internship at Sotheby’s for able art students from Hong Kong.

Dr Alice Lam