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Robert West (d. 1950)
A letter from Robert West to the museum in 1934 and stored today His letter further proposed to bequeath to the Museum several
in the Museum’s Archives, gives some insight into this collector. He porcelains and carvings to be selected by the Museum from his
mentions that he has been collecting works of art, chiefly Chinese, collection. At the time of his death (circa 1950) the Museum selected
and consisting of porcelains and carvings and presently has between 51 works from his estate that included Wei, Tang, Song, Ming and
250 and 300 pieces. Many of them, he believed to be of the highest Qing ceramics as well as a rare Xuande period (1426-1435) carved
quality, and rich in unusual pieces. He adds that perhaps two dozen cinnabar lacquer box and cover (acc. No. 50.221.46a, b).
are almost unique. Moreover, he had attended nearly every important
auction since 1920 but had seen nothing that even faintly resembles The remainder was sold at auction in New York in 1951.
some of his collection. He continues that he owned pieces from
famous collections that included Bahr, Ives, Bennett, Bradley, Gary,
and Van Ingen.
91 ¤
A MIRROR-BLACK-GLAZED PEAR-SHAPED VASE Provenance:
18th century Bequest of Robert West, 1950
With weighty globular body with steeply sloping shoulder and tall The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1950-present
narrow cylindrical neck, all under a mirror-black glaze with a soft brown
undertone that fades to white at the neck and the interior, supported 來源:
on a orange-burnt biscuit foot ring and white-glazed slightly concave Robert West 遺贈,1950 年
base. 大都會藝術博物館,1950 年迄今
9in (22.9cm) high
$1,200 - 1,500
十八世紀 烏金釉長頸瓶
Please note this Lot is to be sold at No Reserve. 本拍品不設底價
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