Page 311 - Christie's Asia Week March 2024 Chinese Art

IMPORTANT CHINESE ART INCLUDING THE COLLECTION OF DOROTHY TAPPER GOLDMAN

Property from the Fine Arts

Museums of San Francisco

(Lots 1194–1200)

he following group of exceptional jade works was donated to the railroad magnate, Charles Crocker. With an eye for the exquisite,
Legion of Honor in 1975 by the American sugar heiress Helene Helene spared no expense when it came to her surroundings. Using
TIrwin Fagan (1887-1966). the fortune inherited from her parents she purchased land in Pebble
Beach on which to build her home, securing the architect George
Helene Irwin Fagan was born in the territory of Hawaii in the city of Washington Smith for the task. As an example of her lavish taste, the
Honolulu in 1887. The only child of William G. Irwin and Fannie Marie 10,000 square foot building, later coined ‘The Crocker Mansion’ was
Ivers Holladay Irwin she was the heiress to the family’s fortune formed opulently faced with stone cut from Mt. Vesuvius and was faced with
by her father. William G. Irwin gained his wealth in the sugar business 45 marble columns sourced from 16 countries.
through a very lucrative partnership with Adolph Claus J. Spreckels. It
was Spreckel’s son, Adolph B. and his wife, Alma de Bretteville Spreckels The couple divorced in 1928 and Helene went on to marry Paul I.
who later founded the California Palace of the Legion of Honor museum Fagan in 1929. They settled in multiple homes on the west coast as
in 1924. The close business partnership between Irwin and Spreckels well as a 10,000 acre ranch in Hawaii and a resort in Maui. Helene
no doubt continued to the next generation and the loyalty between died in 1966 and a number of works from her collection were donated
the families was likely the impetus behind Helena Irwin Fagan’s later to the Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco, and formally
donations to the Legion of Honor which included the jades in this sale. accessioned in 1975. The generous donation illustrates the continued
bond between the Irwin and Spreckels families, with the proceeds
After the Irwin family’s relocation from Hawaii to San Francisco, from the current sale supporting the acquisition fund of the Legion
Helene married Charles Templeton Crocker, the grandson of the of Honor museum.

PROPERTY FROM THE FINE ARTS MUSEUMS OF SAN FRANCISCO
1194
A VERY RARE PAIR OF MASSIVE SPINACH-GREEN
JADE EWERS AND COVERS
QIANLONG INCISED SIX-CHARACTER MARKS IN A LINE AND PROBABLY
OF THE PERIOD
Each 22q in. (57.2 cm.) high
$250,000-350,000
PROVENANCE:
Helene Irwin Fagan (1887-1966) Collection, California.
Donated to the Legion of Honor Museum, San Francisco in 1975.
(marks)
舊金山美術館珍藏
或為清̖隆ǎ碧玉龍紋執ૐˏ對ǎ單行Ս字楷書描金ח款
Ϝ源
Helene Irwin Fagan 1887 1966
珍藏, ؟州
於1975年㈌與舊金山榮ق宮博ḵ館

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