Page 29 - Christies March 16, 2017 The Varata Collection NYC

which to be an Asian art collector in New York.

New York had become the epicenter of the East

Asian auction market, with numerous sales of

Chinese painting and exhibitions of Chinese

art at local museums, the Asia Society, and

the China Institute. There were a number of

dealers in Chinese art, Japanese art, and Indian

and Southeast Asian art present in the city,

Stools. 17th-18th CE. China, late Ming (1368-1644) or early Qing (1644-1911) dynasty. all ofering quality objects for sale. This very
Wood (jichimu), H. 16 3/16 in. (41.1 cm); W. 20 15/16 in. (53.2 cm); D. 29 15/16 in. (53.2 cm). special period perhaps had its apogee when the
Gift of Robert Hatfeld Ellsworth, in memory of Alan Priest, 1977 (1977.77.1-2). © The Metropolitan Museum of Art made China the
Metropolitan Museum of Art. Image source: Art Resource, NY centerpiece of their Asian galleries, opening in
succession the Astor Court in 1981, intended for
明十七/清十八世紀雞翅木方櫈一對 高16 3/16 吋. (41.1 公分); 寬 20 15/16 吋 (53.2 公分); 深 29
15/16 吋 (53.2 公分)。安思遠紀念Alan Priest之饋贈，1977年。圖片版權所有：大都會美術
館。圖片來源：Art Resource,紐約。

the display of Chinese furniture, much of which

was bought from Ellsworth; and the Dillon Galleries in 1982, intended for Chinese paintings

and works on paper.

It was in the 1970s, too, that Boney invited my husband and me to meet a young married
couple (Luis and his wife) and asked us to “look after them.” That was a momentous day for
us. An introduction by Alice Boney (who also introduced me to Herbert and Florence Irving
some years later) was momentous, but I had not yet realized that it meant you became a
friend for life. Boney also introduced both the Viratas and me to Robert H. Ellsworth, her star
protégé whom she referred to as “Bobby.” In 1977, Ellsworth had just moved from his elegant
townhouse (which he called the “Asia Society watering hole” since Asia Society was just a
block away) to a spacious apartment on Fifth Avenue and 77th Street. Whereas Alice was low
key, Bob was famboyant; both valued a “good eye” in their clients. In their view (and in mine),
all the Viratas—Mrs. Virata, Luis and his wife Elizabeth, and sister Vanna—had that innate
gift, as well as a great appetite for learning. All were well read and intent on assessing objects
for their age, authenticity, and value.

What magic those days in the 1970s and 1980s Bebe Virata and the Virata family visiting Robert Ellsworth,
were for all of us, visiting with Alice Boney and Connecticut, 1982.
wandering around the Ellsworth apartment
with a glass of whiskey in hand, chatting about 碧碧•維勒泰與家人造訪安思遠，康州，1982年。
everything from Chinese furniture to paintings,
ceramics to whatever else, then going out to
dinner at the Gibbon, Ellsworth’s restaurant in
the East 80s. The weekends at Bobby’s house
in the country, where Bobby himself used to
polish the silver and wax the furniture, were
enjoyable for the Virata family. Yet while Mrs.
Virata visited Connecticut twice, she was more
taken with the dealer’s Fifth Avenue abode,
and of course with Ellsworth himself, whose
company she enjoyed immensely. The objects
in Mrs. Virata’s Manila home and on sale here
come from these idyllic times in New York.

THE MARIE THERESA L. V I R ATA C O L L E C T I O N OF ASIAN ART: A FAMILY LEGACY 27