Page 17 - Sotheby's October 3 2017 Bajixiang Bowl
P. 17
fig. 5 fig. 6
Edward T. Chow (1910-1980) T.Y. Chao (1912-1999) at Sotheby’s Hong Kong
Besides the present and the Palmer bowl, only of Chinese art, began at an early age to work in sought out classical paintings and calligraphies
two bowls of this form were ever offered at this field and to assemble his collection, first in as well as jades. An exhibition of one hundred
auction, both without covers: a bowl of the same Shanghai, later in Hong Kong, and eventually in Ming and Qing porcelains from his collection
design as the present piece, in our New York Switzerland. His expert knowledge of Chinese art, was held at the Hong Kong Museum of Art in
rooms, 4th December 1985, lot 233; and one his high aesthetic standards and his relentless 1978. Recognizing the rare opportunity the Chow
with detached flower scrolls in these rooms, 24th demand for quality made him one of the favourite sales provided, he became one of the major
November 1981, lot 84. addresses for the major collectors of the time, buyers there, despite the very high prizes. Many
such as Sir Percival David, King Gustaf Adolf of pieces from the Edward T. Chow sales therefore
Like all remarkable designs of the Song (960- Sweden, Eiichi Ataka, J.M. Hu, or Barbara Hutton, re-appeared on the market in 1987, when the
1279) and Ming periods, these bowls found their many of whom he managed to advise and as T.Y. Chao collection itself was offered in two
echo in the Yongzheng era (1723-1735), when the such to play an important role in the formation auctions, also at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, echoing
imperial kilns in Jingdezhen revived the shape, of collections, as for example, the Meiyintang the success of the Chow sales.
albeit with a more prominent knob in the form collection. The sale of his own collection in three
of a chicken, see Geng Baochang, Ming Qing ciqi parts at Sotheby’s Hong Kong and London in
jianding [Appraisal of Ming and Qing porcelain], 1980 and 1981 created a splash in the art world
Hong Kong, 1993, figs 414 and 429. and heralded an explosion of prices in this field.
The Edward T. Chow collection remains one of
This bowl belonged to two of the most important the most coveted provenances for a piece of
Asian collectors of Chinese art in the twentieth Chinese art.
century, Edward T. Chow (fig. 5) and T.Y.
Chao (fig. 6), and figured in two of the most T.Y. Chao (1912-1999), shipping magnate and
memorable sales in Hong Kong, which have made leading real estate developer of Hong Kong,
auction history. Edward T. Chow (1910-1980), had collected Chinese art for decades prior to
one of the most renowned dealers and collectors the Chow sales and besides porcelains, also
THE EDWARD T. CHOW ‘BAJIXIANG’ BOWL 15
