Page 34 - 2019 September 11th Sotheby's Important Chinese Art

possess of a courteous refinement that made him an honored
and conspicuous figure whenever he appeared’. In accordance
with his will, his collection was divided amongst his surviving
relatives, with the Chinese porcelain inherited by his niece
who later bequeathed her entire home and collection to a local
cultural institution.

Little has been written about Bonham’s collecting activities,
although several documents offer some insight as to how
these works may have been acquired. An invoice from 1895
shows that Bonham purchased a number of porcelains from
an auction house in Washington D.C., M.B. Latimer & Co (fig.
2). Several Chinese and Japanese works were also purchased
on 24th January 1896 from A.A. Vantine & Co. of New York,
including a ‘Chinese blue vase’ and a ‘Chinese glaze vase’ (fig.
3). Founded by Ashley Abraham Vantine (1828-1890) in 1866,
Vantine & Co., known as ‘The Oriental Store’, opened on 834
Broadway and specialized in Chinese and Japanese antiques and
curios imported directly from Asia. As one of the first galleries
in America to specialize in Asian Art, Vantine & Co. dominated
the market during the boom era of the 1880s, and regularly
Fig. 1 John Milton Bonham (1835-1897) 圖一 advertised their wares in New York daily newspapers. However,
by the end of the century Vantine’s prominence at the forefront
of the Asian art market in New York would be eclipsed by the
The Chinese porcelains from the reigns of the Kangxi, success of the Japanese dealers Yamanaka & Co.
Yongzheng and Qianlong Emperors collected by John Milton In March 1896, a Japanese vendor of Asian art, Kimma
Bonham (1835-1897) (fig. 1) offer a fascinating insight into the Fukushima, was invited to provide a descriptive inventory
nascent years of Chinese art collecting in America. Bonham, a of the entire collection. Fukushima, like Vantine, had built a
highly esteemed lawyer, oil entrepreneur and author, amassed business specializing in the import of art from China and Japan
a great fortune during the boom years of the late 1800s and as indicated by an advertisement placed in The New York Journal
formed a noted collection of Asian art, which was later described and Advertiser in November 1899 announcing his auction of
by John Pope, then director of the Freer Gallery in Washington a ‘Grand Collection of Japanese and Chinese Art Objects just
D.C., in 1967 as ‘a superb example of the nineteenth century arrived from the East’. The accurate descriptions provided in
collector at work’. Fukushima’s inventory allow for identification of the works sold
John Milton Bonham was born 26th November 1835, to Samuel here, and correspond to the numbering system inscribed on
Cox Bonham (d. 1856), a noted Democrat and friend of President each piece:
Buchanan, and Elizabeth Strickler (d. 1867). He was educated B2.11 / (13D-84) / 13
at Wesleyan Institute, Middletown, Connecticut, together with Old Chinese vase of Blue and White porcelain globule shape. Signed
his twin brother Horace, the noted artist, and went on to read King-lung (1736-1795)
law at Princeton, being admitted to the Bar on 23rd February
1857. He practiced law in both Missouri and Pennsylvania until B2.19 / (16D-87) / 16
1875 when he embarked on a second career in the oil industry. Chinese Vase – Spotted green glaze on iron luster ground. Signed
He joined the firm of Brough & McKelvy, which along with Yong-Ching (1723-1736)
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Conduit Company, B2.48 / (22D188) / 22
established the first through pipeline for transporting petroleum Old Chinese flower vase and stand. Blue and White Ten Sages in
from the oil region to the sea board. Additionally, both Bonham Paradise, waves and cloud represent upper world. Signed King-lung
and Brough were large holders of land in Franklin County, (1736-1795)
Ohio, where significant oil deposits were discovered. In 1878 B2.20 / (519D24) / 24
Bonham retired from active business and devoted himself to Old Chinese Cabinet piece. Floral design in peach red color on white
the study of literature. In his later years, he authored a number faience. Kang hsi (1662-1722)
of books including Industrial Liberty (1888), Railway Secrecy and
Trusts (1890) and Secularism (1894). It is also recorded that he B2.8 / (258-26) / 26
was widely traveled and spent much time in Europe in later life. Chinese egg shell bowl. Soft paste with transparent floral design
The obituaries written upon Bonham’s death in 1897 described (‘grains-of-rice’). Signed King-lung (1736-1795)
him as ‘a scholarly polished gentleman – gentle in manner and

32 SOTHEBY’S IMPORTANT CHINESE ART