Page 142 - Sotheby's Asia Week March 2024 Chinee Art

PROPERTY FROM

THE FLEISHER FAMILY COLLECTION
LOTS 295–306

Fleisher 家族珍藏藝術品

編號295-306
Known as the ‘unofficial American ambassadors’ to Japan in was formally established in April of that year, with several
the early years of the twentieth century, the Fleisher family Japanese cabinet ministers and business leaders serving as
of Philadelphia began its residency in Yokohama with the charter members, as well as many prominent Americans who
arrival of Benjamin Wilfrid Fleisher (1870-1946) in 1907. Son were living in Japan at the time.
of Simon B. Fleisher (1840-1919), founder of the Fleisher Yarn Fleisher’s family was also instrumental in his efforts to serve
Company of Philadelphia, Ben embarked on his adventure
to become owner and editor of a newspaper, the Japan as an ‘unofficial ambassador’. After he moved the Advertiser
Advertiser, after losing his personal fortune to ill-considered business from Yokohama to Tokyo in 1913, his wife and family
financial speculation. From 1908 to 1940, Ben built the joined him, helping to bolster his growing reputation as a
successful political and cultural emissary. He and his wife
reputation and prestige of the once-flailing enterprise into
one of the best edited and respected English-language (née Marie Blanche Blum) enjoyed positions of leadership in
newspapers in East Asia. By 1911, through a combination the foreign community of Tokyo, as well as an active social life
of ambition, hard work, and a little bit of good luck, the that brought them into contact with Japanese officials at the
highest level. They owned two homes, one in Tokyo and the
newspaper’s reputation for journalistic excellence was
established not only in Japan, but throughout the Far East. other in Karuizawa, a mountain resort, which both provided
comfortable venues for meetings between influential
World events also aided in Fleisher’s success as he developed Japanese officials and dignitaries from across Europe and
a flair for organizing and publishing special issues of the the United States. Their son, Wilfred Fleisher (1897-1976)
Advertiser as responses to the unstable political relationship grew up immersed in this cultural and political milieu and,
between the United States and Japan. The first of these after graduating from the Columbia School of Journalism and
events occurred in 1908, when the United States announced working for the Unite Press in Paris and Siberia, he returned
a goodwill visit to Japan by a naval fleet. Some Americans to Japan to work on his father’s newspaper as Editor-in-Chief.
living in Japan were initially alarmed, fearing that the
presence of the U.S. military in Japanese waters might meet Upon his return to Japan, Wilfred began to acquire a
with hostile protests. However, sensing an opportunity that large collection of Japanese and Chinese works of art. He
was born out of a personal desire to maintain a peaceful purchased the majority of his pieces from reputable dealers
relationship between the two nations, Fleisher responded of the time, including Mayuyama & Co., Kochukyo Co. Ltd.,
to those concerns with a series of illustrated editions which and Yamanaka & Co.. Consisting mostly of ceramics and
included descriptions of all things Japanese for the benefit jades, the entire collection was obtained during the 1920s
of American visitors, as well as explanations of all things and early 1930s, and is impressive for the attention paid to
American as a resource for the Japanese people. The opening the quality and rarity of the works. After the outbreak of World
of the Panama Canal in 1915 provided yet another opportunity War II, the Fleishers were forced to sell the Advertiser and
for publishing special editions of the paper, for which Fleisher leave Japan due to deteriorating relations between the U.S.
garnered endorsements from Woodrow Wilson, Ōkuma and Japan. By the 1950s, Wilfred had moved to Sweden with
Shigenobu, and Katō Takaaki. Current events continued to call his Swedish wife where he continued to nurture an active
on his diplomatic skills when, in 1917, World War I broke out interest in Asian art. He met regularly with an organization
and he organized the America-Japan Society to help maintain known as the China Club, which included King Gustaf VI Adolf
friendly relations between the two countries. The society of Sweden as a member.

The Fleisher family household. Benjamin Fleisher seated at center with his son, Wilfred, standing behind.
Fleisher 家族合影。Benjamin Fleisher坐于中間，其子Wilfred Fleisher站于其後。

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