Page 6 - Christie's, The Palmer Family Collection May 31 to June 1, 2023 Hong Kong

A HERITAGE OF CONNOISSEURSHIP:
SELECTED TREASURES FROM THE PALMER FAMILY COLLECTION

ROSEMARY SCOTT, INDEPENDENT SCHOLAR

William Howard Palmer (1865-1923) and his wife Ada Reginald Howard Reed Palmer (1898-1970) and his wife Lena (1900-1981)
(1870-1953) 浩瑋·帕默及妻子艾達 雷金納德·帕默及妻子莉娜

It is rare that a group of pieces from such an admired and who, with his wife Lena (1900-1981), added the greatest
long-established European collection of Chinese art comes number of pieces to the family’s collection of Chinese art.
to the market. The Palmer collection perfectly represents Interestingly, while Lena eschewed the contemporary fashion
the fine English collections of the late 19 and early 20 th for jadeite jewellery, she was fascinated by jade – especially
th
centuries which were accumulated by informed collectors nephrite jade - and was responsible for a number of very fine
who not only appreciated each item as a unique art object, jades being added to the collection. The couple had two sons
but who lived with them in their homes – sometimes William and Richard, who were each bequeathed a portion
arraying them alongside art from other cultures in such a way of the collection. William Alexander Palmer (1925-2020),
that each piece could be appreciated individually, while also who married his wife Cherry in 1949, was father to the
complementing the others. owners of the pieces in this catalogue, and it is from his part
of the Palmer Collection that these items have been drawn.
This remarkable collection was started by William Howard William (Bill) and Cherry Palmer continued the family
Palmer (1865-1923, great-grandfather to the current owners tradition of connoisseurship. Not only did Bill assemble
and known as Howard) and his wife Ada (1870-1953). The historical information regarding the pieces in the collection,
collection then passed to their only son, Reginald Howard but when he and his wife generously invited Chinese art
Reed Palmer (1898-1970, grandfather of the current owners), specialists to their home, the opinions and comments made

香港佳士得2023年帕默珍藏專拍序言 Howard Reed Palmer，1898-1970年，現任藏家祖父) 繼

鑑古遺芳：帕默家族珍藏選粹 承。帕默珍藏的中國藝術品數量如斯可觀，雷金納德·帕默
蘇玫瑰 (獨立學者) 與妻子莉娜 (Lena，1900至1981年) 居功至偉。有意思的是，
莉娜雖對當時備受追捧的翡翠無動於衷，但對中國玉 (軟玉
綜觀歐洲的中國藝術珍藏，聲名之隆、淵源之久遠如帕默收藏 尤然) 卻一往情深，更是納藏若干極品玉器的功臣。二人有子
者，拍賣市場上難得一見。十九世紀末及二十世紀初，一批慧眼 維廉和理查，各自繼承了一部份藏品。威廉·帕默 (William
獨具的英國收藏家精心庋藏了不少奇珍異寶，他們視每件珍藏 Alexander Palmer，1925至2020年) 與謝麗 (Cherry) 結縭
為獨立的藝術品，並置於家中朝夕相隨 (甚或伴以文化背景迥 於1949年，其兒女繼承了他名下的珍藏，亦即本圖錄拍品的現
異的藝術品)，如此一來，每件藏品既可獨當一面，彼此之間亦 任主人。威廉·帕默 (又名「比爾」) 及夫人秉持好古善鑑的家
互為呼應、相得益彰，而帕默珍藏正是箇中的佼佼者。 風，比爾對藏品文獻上下求索自不待言，當夫婦二人誠邀中國
藝術專家作客時，對於後者鑑賞之後提出的意見和言論，他倆
這批稀世珍藏創始於浩瑋·帕默 (William Howard Palmer， 無不鉅細無遺地一一記存。
人稱「Howard」，1865至1923年，現任藏家之曾祖) 及妻子
艾達 (1870至1953年)，後由其獨子雷金納德·帕默(Reginald 帕默家族企業名為Huntley & Palmers (「H & P」)，這是一

4 A HERITAGE OF APPRECIATION