Page 150 - Important Chinese Art Sothebys March 2019

THE NICKERSON COLLECTION OF CHINESE JADES

NICKERSON 珍藏中國玉器

samuel mayo nickerson (1830-1914), an 8th paintings, prints, and drawings with 18th and Samuel Mayo Nickerson（1830-1914），第
generation american born in massachusetts, left 19th century asian decorative arts, including 八代美國人，生於麻省，少年時代離開新
new england early in his adulthood in search of Chinese and Japanese ceramics, Japanese inro, 英格蘭尋找機會，開創事業，曾於佛羅
opportunity and a promising career. Following a netsuke, and other lacquers, Indian jewelry, 里達州與其兄開雜貨店，後於1860年移居
generally unproductive time running a general mughal jades, and an impressive collection of 芝加哥，開設酒廠，大展鴻圖，隨即以酒
store with his brother in Florida, he embarked Chinese jades.
on a new venture. he moved to Chicago around the couple’s passion for the arts extended into 廠所得利潤轉投金融界，創立第一國家
1860 and found success starting and running his their philanthropic endeavors. mr. nickerson 銀行，任職副總裁（1865-1867）及總裁
own distillery. he quickly parlayed the profits of served as a founding trustee of the art （1867-1898）。1865年，Nickerson 獲選成
his liquor business into a more reputable career Institute of Chicago and a prime initiator in the 為芝加哥城市馬拖式鐵路公司總裁，即後
as a banker, as founder, vice president (1865- development of both the Chicago historical 來的芝加哥城市鐵路公司。事業有成，讓
1867) and then, president of the First national society and Lincoln park. In 1900, upon his Nickerson 成功創富，因而得以盡情享受
bank (1867-1898). he was elected president of retirement from the bank and a planned move 生活及藝術收藏。
the Chicago City horse railway company in 1865 to new York City, the nickersons presented the
which later became the Chicago City railway art Institute of Chicago with more than 1,300
company. the affluence that resulted from these works of art, including the present selection 在文化事業方面，Nickerson 與其妻
prominent positions allowed him to indulge his of jades. Like many wealthy collectors of the Matilda 合作無間。1881年，二人聘請芝
passion for art. 加哥著名建築師 Edward J. Burling （1819-
time, the nickersons purportedly acquired
In this cultural quest, he had an important ally in their asian works of art during several world 1892）以及三位室內設計師聯手計劃建造
his wife née matilda pinkham Crosby (1837-1912). tours that included Japan, China, and India. the 了一棟家族宅邸。1883年其宅落成之時，
In 1881, the couple hired one of Chicago’s most original nickerson gift included Imperial Chinese 據說是芝加哥最大、最豪華之私人宅府。
prominent architects, edward J. Burling (1819– porcelains and jades that were frequently 該宅現為德里豪斯博物館。Nickerson 伉
1892) along with three interior designers to plan, exhibited in the galleries. the nickersons were 儷曾親身參與大宅設計，特別在其藝術收
build and decorate a massive new home for the closely involved with the installation of the 藏之陳設方面，更是關注密切。二人的品
family. nickerson house, known as the ‘marble galleries that bore their name. For years, mrs. 味獨特，不依成規，融合十九世紀西方畫
palace’, was reported to be the largest and most nickerson personally oversaw the periodic 作、版畫和素描，以及十八、十九世紀亞
extravagant private residence in Chicago at the cleaning and rearranging of the art in the
time of its completion in 1883. now the Driehaus galleries. In addition to the art, samuel nickerson 洲裝飾藝術如中國瓷器、日本瓷器、日本
museum, the building has been meticulously provided a generous endowment to the museum 印籠、根付及其他漆器；印度珠寶；莫臥
renovated in order to highlight its Gilded age in 1915. the extraordinary group of jades on 兒玉器；以及中國玉器珍藏，兼收並蓄，
splendor. the nickersons were very involved in offer from the nickerson Collection provides 紛呈可觀。
the design of the house, particularly concerning an opportunity to engage a new generation of
the display of their art collection. their taste connoisseurs and collectors, and ensures that 二人對藝術之熱愛，亦延伸至慈善事
was eclectic, combining 19th century Western the nickerson legacy will endure.
業。Nickerson 乃芝加哥藝術博物館創院
信托人之一，並是芝加哥歷史協會及林肯
公園發展背後主力發起人之一。夫妻二人
數度遊覽日本、中國及印度，期間著意物
色藝術珍品。1900年，Nickerson 正式退休
後移居紐約，二人將逾一千三百件藝術藏
品贈予芝加哥藝術博物館，其中即有本次
拍賣之玉器。二人最初捐贈之藝術品，包
括中國御瓷及玉器，皆為芝加哥藝術博物
館時常展出之品。Nickerson 伉儷還曾參
與以其命名之展館設計，Nickerson 夫人
更親自監督藝術品定期清潔及更改擺放位
置。除了捐贈藏品之外，Nickerson 還於
1915年慷慨捐贈了一筆款項予該館。本次
特別呈獻 Nickerson 伉儷珍藏之美玉，望
能吸引新一代藏家繼續譜寫這個傳奇收藏
的下一華章。

photo of the nickerson Galleries, art Institute of Chicago, circa 1900
Courtesy of the richard h. Driehaus museum archives.
Nickerson 展館，芝加哥藝術博物館，約1900年
圖片版權：the richard h. Driehaus museum archives

148 SOTHEBY’S Important ChInese art