Page 236 - Christies Fine Chinese Works of Art March 2016 New York

A SELECTION OF CHINESE WORKS OF ART FROM THE
COLLECTION OF DR. RALPH C. MARCOVE, NEW YORK

(LOTS 1505-1514)

I knew Ralph as a friend, rather than as the distinguished physician and surgeon he most certainly was. We met more than thirty fve years ago, in the summer
of 1979, when Ralph dropped by my ofice at Harvard’s Fogg Art Museum, wanting to examine several works of Asian art on reserve in our storerooms. He
had just completed a week-long seminar on Middle Eastern archaeology conducted by Fr. Carney Gavin (1939–2014), who was then associated with Harvard’s
Semitic Museum.
Apart from his family, whom he loved, cherished, and ceaselessly praised, Ralph had four passions: medicine, Asian art, golf, and jazz. He made his mark in
each of those areas, having treated countless patients, pioneered new surgical techniques, and published several standard reference works; having acquired
a specialist’s knowledge of Asian art and having assembled a surpassing collection of Chinese art, part of which now resides at the Harvard Art Museums,
thanks to Ralph’s characteristic generosity; having achieved such stature on the greens as to become friends and sporting companions with golf legend Chi-
Chi Rodriguez, among others; and having attained suficient skill with sticks and drums to have accompanied a number of jazz greats.
Ralph Marcove was exceptionally generous, contributing works of art not only to Harvard but to a number of other institutions, as well, including the
Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the Newark Museum, Boston University, and the Palmer Museum at Pennsylvania State University. Ralph
chose the recipients of his largesse not on the basis of an institution’s name, importance, or fame, but on the basis of his own relationship with the institution
or with individuals who worked there—a true measure of his loyal and enduring friendships. Ralph strove for excellence; when he found it in others, he
rewarded it generously.
Robert D. Mowry
Senior Consultant, Christie’s, and Alan J. Dworsky Curator of Chinese Art Emeritus,
Harvard Art Museums

PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF DR. RALPH C. MARCOVE, NEW YORK

1505

A SMALL GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF A BODHISATTVA
LIAO DYNASTY (AD 907-1125)

The slender fgure is shown standing on two lotus socles on top of a
waisted square plinth. He holds a string of beads in his folded hands,
wears layered robes that fall in crisp folds to his bare feet, and a cowl
that drapes over the high topknot and crown.

4Ω in. (11.4 cm.) high.

$6,000-8,000

PROVENANCE

Dr. Ralph C. Marcove (1929-2001) Collection, New York.

遼 銅鎏金菩薩小立像

1506

A POLYCHROMED WOOD FIGURE OF GUANYIN
SONG-JIN DYNASTY (AD 960-1234)

The bodhisattva sits in rajalilasana on a rockwork-form base, dressed in
voluminous robes. The face, held in a serene expression, has heavy-
lidded eyes, and the hair is tied up in a chignon.
18¬ in. (47.3 cm.) high

$10,000-15,000

PROVENANCE

Dr. Ralph C. Marcove (1929-2001) Collection, New York.

宋/金 彩繪木雕觀音坐像

1505

234