Page 148 - 2019 September 11th Sotheby's Important Chinese Art

EARLY CHINESE CERAMICS

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

芝加哥藝術博物館藏高古陶瓷

THE KATE STURGES BUCKINGHAM GIFT LOTS 687-700

Born in Zanesville, Ohio, Kate Sturges Buckingham Between 1921 and 1938 a large and impressive
(1858-1937) became known as ‘Chicago’s Grandest collection of Chinese ritual bronzes and early
Spinster’, a title which does not remotely convey her pottery (some of which is included in this sale) and
remarkable generosity and dedication to supporting porcelains was gradually donated to the Art Institute
the arts. Living a privileged and increasingly of Chicago in memory of her sister Lucy Maud.
sheltered life, she was intensely interested in the While she modestly never donated in her own name,
world of the arts. Her association with the Art she was confident as a collector and, rather than
Institute of Chicago began about 1889, when her taking a comprehensive approach, she purchased
mother passed away, and Kate, at age 32, took charge pieces that were interesting and appealed to her
of the family’s great wealth, which extended into both aesthetically and intellectually. Her generous
banking, steel, and real estate. donation formed the foundation of the Art Institute
Her earliest recorded purchases and later gifts of Chicago’s impressive Asian art collection with
to the museum were a selection of snuff bottles many pieces, particularly several notable archaic
and miniature figures in jade, lapis, amber, and bronzes, being universally considered among the
porcelain, bought to please her disabled sister Lucy best examples known.
Maud Buckingham. From these somewhat humble Kate Buckingham donated her collection of
beginnings grew a fine collection of Chinese bronzes, medieval sculpture, tapestries, and decorative arts
ceramics, and Japanese prints. She also ventured into to the Art Institute of Chicago in 1924, where they
gothic and medieval art. Kate intensified her role of were installed in a ‘gothic period room, named
art patron after the death of her brother Clarence in in Buckingham’s honor. In 1925 she donated her
1913 and sister Lucy Maud in 1920. An article on the brother’s collection of thousands of Japanese prints
collector notes that white was Lucy’s favorite color to the museum. Perhaps her best-known gift to
and in 1917, Kate purchased a number of white wares, the citizens of Chicago was Buckingham Fountain,
such as the lion-form pillow (lot 693) knowing that it memorializing her brother Clarence and designed
would please her beloved sister. It also stated that ‘in by architect Edward H. Bennett of the Chicago firm

1981 she added several fine specimens of Chün ware, of Bennett, Parsons and Frost. The fountain was
but little else.’ The author also reveals that she did dedicated on August 26, 1927 and she established a
much of her shopping for Chinese art in New York trust fund to maintain it.
and, amusingly, hoping to retain her independence Kate Buckingham died in 1937, at age 79, having
and avoid the attentions of eager dealers, the famous supported and encouraged, in her quiet and
collector made sure that her name did not appear on unassuming way, numerous cultural institutions
the register of any hotel when she stayed in the city.
throughout Chicago establishing an inspiring and
enduring legacy.

146 SOTHEBY’S IMPORTANT CHINESE ART