Page 8 - Christie's, NYC Important Chinese Works Of Art Sept. 22-23, 2022
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Chinese Jade Carvings from the
Collection of T. Eugene Worrell
T. Eugene Worrell珍藏中國玉雕
(Lots 701–760)
“I was particularly intrigued by the combination of jade with the
legendary Chinese bestiary, with its infinite variety of sinuous dragons,
horned felines and all sorts of fanciful creatures not of this world.” T.
Eugene Worrell, A Jade Menagerie: Creatures Real and Imaginary from
the Worrell Collection, London, 1993, forward.
Thomas Eugene Worrell (1919-2006) of Charlottesville, Virginia,
was a renowned American collector of Chinese jade animal carvings
and American and European wildlife art. Born and raised in Bristol,
Virginia, Worrell first worked as a special agent with the Federal Bureau
of Investigation during World War II and later practiced law in his
hometown of Bristol. In 1949, together with his wife Anne Rowell, he
started a newspaper empire, beginning with the Virginia Tennessean,
which eventually merged with the Bristol Herald Courier. These
acquisitions marked the beginning of Worrell Newspapers, Inc., which
became one of the largest chains of daily newspapers in the United
States. Upon purchasing The Daily Progress in 1970, the Worrells
moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, where they would remain for the rest
of their lives.
Worrell was an avid philanthropist, supporting a variety of local and
national institutions, including Wake Forest University, Virginia
Intermont College, The University of Virginia, Martha Jefferson Hospital,
The Miller Center, The Salvation Army, The Charlottesville/Albermarle
Rescue Squad, The American Red Cross, The City Center for
Contemporary Arts, The Virginia Historical Society, and Leigh Yawkey
Woodson Art Museum.
T. Eugene Worrell’s self-proclaimed infatuation with Chinese jade
animal carvings began on a visit to the Victoria & Albert Museum in
London and continued throughout his lifetime. John Ayers, the then-
curator of the V&A wrote a catalogue highlighting works from the
collection, A Jade Menagerie: Creatures Real and Imaginary from the
Worrell Collection, London, 1993. The collection was housed in the
Virginia Museum of Animal Art in Charlottesville, Virginia, on idyllic
grounds that were once owned by Thomas Jefferson and his father,
Peter Jefferson.
Christie’s is honored to present the following selection of jade animal T. Eugene Worrell (1919-2006) with his wife Anne Rowell (1920-2019).
carvings from the Worrell Collection. Additional jade carvings from the Photographer unknown.
Worrell Collection will be offered in our 2023 online auctions. T. Eugene Worrell (1919-2006) 及其妻Anne Rowell (1920-2019) 佚名攝影師
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