Page 175 - Christie's London May 14, 2019 Chinese Works of Art

THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE GERARD ARNHOLD (1918-2010)
(LOTS 214-233)

Gerard Arnhold (1918-2010).

I frst met Gerard Arnhold in 1967 when I was 21 and had just started at Spink & Son,
the distinguished dealers and crown medalists in London. He careered through the
Spink galleries like a small tornado, looking at a variety of Asian works of art, fring of
questions, and occasionally allowing a thoughtful smile to cross his face. From then
on, he became a constant in my life with his indefatigable energy, curiosity and need to
collect antiques.
Gerard was a collector of works of art on a major scale and, in the process, he also
collected people from all walks of life whom he would introduce to one another, whether
or not they had anything in common.
Born in Dresden in 1918, the grandson of Georg Arnhold, a banker celebrated for his
philanthropy, Gerard studied in Dresden and Switzerland. As conditions in 1930s
Germany worsened, the Arnhold family left and in 1937 Gerard began his studies at
King’s College, Cambridge. He spoke with happiness of his time there and was proud
of his British passport and that he served in the British Army from 1940. However,
his commitment to Dresden was unwavering and he and his family often visited after
reunifcation. He was a great supporter of the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, and
also supported the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen and the Völkerkundemuseum, among
other projects in the city.
Settling in Brazil in 1953, Gerard ran a successful business but philanthropy was always
an important part of his life – he gave to museums, zoos, nature preservation schemes
and music projects, including the Wexford Opera Festival in Ireland. He was, however,
always on the move and would suddenly appear in my ofice as if he had never left,
asking what treasures we had that he could buy. If I happened to be out he would leave
provocative notes on my desk, letting me know that he was of to visit other dealers and
auction houses.
Gerard was described as dificult by some of his family, friends and curators, but I
preferred to think of him as challenging, and whatever scrapes or situations he found
himself in, he seemed able to extricate himself with his innate, subtle and rather
seductive charm. Often impatient, I remember on one visit to Brazil, his knocking loudly
on my bedroom door at six in the morning asking if I was awake and how soon could we
start checking and listing his jades!
His home was a mass of paintings and works of art, many of which were purchased in
the twenty years after the war, but he never stopped collecting. His huge collections of
Chinese and Asian art were scattered all over the apartment, in particular his study and
gallery room.
It is often said of people that their like will not come again, and in Gerard’s case it is true.
His need to explore and acquire works of art on such a scale is unlikely to be seen again,
and his deep curiosity and his background meant that conversations with him were the
best of history lessons. His personal taste survives in his collection of paintings and
works of art, many of which are now to be seen in museums and private collections
around the world.
Roger Keverne

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