Page 10 - 2020 September 21 Elegant Embellishment the RenLu Colelction, Bonham NYC

Elegant Embellishments

In the ‘Tributes of Yu’ chapter of the Book of Documents it is thus The flavor and appearance of gold and silver varied from era to era,
recorded: “Its articles of tribute were three types of metal (gold, silver, each with its own beauty.
and copper)”. Legend has it that more than four thousand years ago, in I first set foot in the field of Chinese antique collecting in 1979, acquiring
the era when Yu was separated into nine states, the metallic tributes from numerous objects, directing my attention towards articles made from
the areas along the Huai and Yangzte rivers were said to be separated wood, gold and silver, as well as other miscellanea. Afterwards, I
into three levels of quality. Since early times then, China has held the spent many hours crisscrossing America, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the

commodities of gold and silver as symbols of wealth and identity, Mainland. During my travels I had numerous excellent teachers and
and the collection of gold and silver decorations as the exclusive helpful friends that provided lots of assistance, including Jan Stuart,
provenance of the nobility. Na Chih-Liang, Wang Shixiang. While I was interacting with them,
The fifty lots of gold and silver forming the ‘Elegant Embellishments’ I ceaselessly studied the materials, forms, and techniques of China’s
collection is comprised of hair ornaments, earrings, necklaces, bangles, classical artworks, gradually getting a sense of the Eastern philosophy
‘ear cups,’ belt hooks and mat weights. Especially noteworthy within inherent in the techniques and craftsmanship of the ancient artisans
the ‘Elegant Embellishments’ collection are the early gold and silver of these objects.
decorations, rarely seen on the market. In 1984, I founded a company in West Hollywood. Because of
Because of the scarcity of the commodity itself, in addition to the my continued research and collection of China’s ancient arts, my
intricacy, complexity and virtuosity of the artistic creativity of their perspectives widened, and my business development process was
accomplished artisans, gold and silver objects have historically greatly inspired. Regardless of an artwork’s material or region or date of
been held in high esteem by the imperial family and the aristocracy, manufacture, the prerequisite for the creation of any good piece of art
serving variously the functions of currency, reward, tribute, and objets is to recognize clearly the relation between old and new as well as the

d’art—their preservation a valuable witness to their historical and melding of Eastern and Western elements—this has been of extremely
cultural legacy. important significance in my search for design inspiration.
Due to many varied reasons, though the early gold and silver decorations After its policy of Reform and Opening, I traveled nearly everywhere
have a high cultural and economic value, they have always been a searching for pieces I loved and that had their own artistic feel, the act
somewhat neglected category. The most readily visible of these older of collection becoming my own systematic process, creating a far-
types of gold and silver are for the most part found in the collections of reaching influence upon my design. Of these objects, the collection of
cultural institutions, inaccessible for the private collector. gold and silver was formed between 1979 and 2005. Very few pieces
The accumulation of pieces forming this dedicated ‘Elegant entered my care after that.
Embellishments’ collection was both via a lengthy process over an The objects included in this ‘Elegant Embellishments’ sale were the best
extended period of time as well as via occasional chance encounters items chosen by me from the many years I spent collecting. Gold and
of serendipity. When I was in college, I helped my father, painter Kuo silver are rare precious metals, especially gold which does not oxidize
Ming Chiao in the business of cloisonné. During its production I was or decompose easily. Though a thousand years may pass, the work
brought in contact with the field of Chinese artistry and handicrafts. still shines like new, regarded as treasure to be passed through the
It was specifically the craftsmanship of gold and silver items from the generations.
Spring and Autumn, and Warring States periods through the Eastern The soul of gold and silver collection is in the aesthetics of form and
and Western Han that struck me as particularly interesting and inspired craftsmanship, these are the things most worthy of our attention. Gold
me towards their collection and research. and silver artifacts where the form and materials are both of equally
In the ‘Elegant Embellishments’ auction, Lot 300, A rare inlaid gilt bronze high quality are not commonly seen. That I could briefly possess
belt hook, Warring States, and Lot 308, A fine and rare inlaid bronze these perfect testaments to history gives me a heartfelt sense of
garment hook, Warring States/Western Han period, one can see that gratitude and joy.
the production technology of these pieces is adapted and extrapolated The level of complexity and elegance of the craftsmanship, as well as its
from techniques for soldering and casting bronzes. Engraving, gold weight and color decide the price of a piece of gold and silver. However,
and silver inlay, and gilding are notable features of gold and silver from to a collector, to evaluate a piece’s value, it is even more important to
this era. consider its cultural and historical significance.
The decoration and form of the Song dynasty gold and silver pieces ‘A beauty’s necklace, a marquis’ kingly seal; all come dredged from
trended towards more simple elegance. The patterns and subject matter sands and waves.’ I hope that these timeless masterpieces can continue
of Lot 316, A pair of gold ‘bird’ earrings, and Lot 324, A pair of gold to elegantly accompany modern man.
bracelets took their inspiration from the natural world. The appearance ‘Gold and silver of luminous shine; brilliant beauty in all directions.’
of these shapes and motifs was closely linked to a renewed aesthetic
and artistic focus in the Song dynasty upon mood and feeling. ROBERT KUO
Objects of the Ming and Qing dynasties were cast in forms solemn,
sumptuous and resplendent, redolent of a notably imperial aura. Lot
318, A pair of gold ‘figural’ earring pendants, moves with a rustic
simplicity, whereas Lot 335, A gold ‘dragon bracelet, is an exquisite
technical tour de force, elegant and stately.

8 | BONHAMS