Page 47 - Important Chinese Art Hong Kong April 2, 2019 Sotheby's

Fig. 1 Fig. 2
Famille-rose ‘nine dragon’ vase, tianqiuping, seal mark and period of Famille-rose turquoise-ground ‘dragon’ vase, seal mark and period
Qianlong of Qianlong
Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 8th October 2010, lot 2700 Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2nd May 2005, lot 509
圖一 圖二
清乾隆 孔雀藍地粉彩海水九龍圖天球瓶 《大清乾隆年製》款 清乾隆 松綠地粉彩趕珠雲龍紋長頸瓶 《大清乾隆年製》款
香港蘇富比2010年10月8日，編號2700 香港蘇富比2005年5月2日，編號509

vase enamelled with two twisting dragons amongst clouds captain involved in the mercantile trade. Taber Jr made his
on a turquoise ground, in the Tokyo National Museum, mark as an oil executive, eventually rising to become board
is included in the Illustrated Catalogue of Tokyo National member with the Gulf Oil Company. He taught himself
Museum. Chinese Ceramics, Volume II, Tokyo, 1990, pl. 664, engineering and became known for his contribution towards
with its pair sold in these rooms, 2nd May 2005, lot 509 the advancement of oil refinery techniques. It is said that his
(fig. 2). For examples of turquoise ground vases of different love for Chinese objects was ignited after one of his relatives
forms and decoration, from the Qing court collection, see brought back some beautiful objects from his travels
The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. in China. Taber Jr became an avid collector of Chinese
Porcelains with Cloisonné Enamel Decoration and Famille ceramics and jades, building up an impressive collection
Rose Decoration, Hong Kong, 1999, nos 115-119. with a discerning eye. He generously loaned and gifted
many of his pieces to museums which include the Philbrook
The present vase was formerly in the collection of George Museum of Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to form the core of its
Hathaway Taber Jr (1859-1940) and then handed down Chinese collection. He passed away in December 1940 at
to his family members by descent. The Taber family, from
Dartmouth and Fairhaven in Massachusetts, USA, were the age of 81, upon which his collection was split up between
chiefly involved in local government and mercantile activities. his descendants and part of it sold in our New York rooms,
7th/8th March 1946.
Taber Jr was the son of Captain George Hathaway Taber
(1808-1901), resident of Fairhaven, who served in various 1 See Wu Hung, ‘Emperor’s Masquerade – “Costume Portraits” of Yongzheng
capacities in town government for about twenty years and and Qianlong,’ Orientations, July/August 1995, p. 25.
was also the President of the Fairhaven Bank. Prior to his 2 Hajni Elias, ‘Qianlong. The Imperial Collector,’ Arts of Asia, 2006, 36.2, pp.
68-9.
involvement in town government, he had been a ship’s

45