Page 36 - Christie's Fine Chiense Works of Art November 2018 London

gave to the British Museum. In the last forty- 40s and 50s, Japanese art was generally more
seven years of handling uncounted numbers of
ceramics, I have never seen another example half
its equal in brilliance of design and it remains for
me the ‘king’ of all kendis.
Equally accurate and more signifcant was an
opinion Soame expressed in the early 1950s
to the curator of one of the most important
Japanese museums. In a friendly atmosphere
he had been shown around the museum by the
curator and his staf and had rightly praised some
of the most signifcant exhibits. Then they came
to a superb pair of red, blue and gold-decorated
Imari vases. The curator explained that these
were ‘national treasures’ and among the fnest
examples of Japanese ceramic art. Soame agreed
completely about their quality, then added, ‘but
you do realise they are Chinese don’t you?’ After
that there was a tangible change in atmosphere
and the visit was concluded politely but quickly.
From then until the late 1960s, Soame had no
contact with this museum. Then a letter arrived,
thanking Soame for his opinion on the Imari
vases, acknowledging they now agreed with it
and welcoming him to pay a return visit.
One of the most exciting events for me in the
early 1970s was paying a visit to Soame’s house
and seeing his own collection. I was surprised
at the high proportion of his collection that was
Japanese, but Soame explained that in the 1930s,
Other fees apply in addition to the hammer price – see Section D of our Conditions of Sale at the back of this Catalogue
afordable than Chinese in England because
there were fewer collectors of it. In his collection
almost everything was in one way or another
rare and interesting. There was literally nothing
second-rate; it must have been weeded out long
ago.
Soame Jenyns was, in my view, the best type
of pre-1914 Englishman and this aspect of his
character was the one that came across on one’s
frst encounter with him. However, I think there
was another dimension to Soame, which some of
his acquaintances never knew. Perhaps Soame’s
most lasting monument will be his works on
ceramics, not necessarily easy to read for a
beginner, but essential for the serious student.
Out of print, these have changed hands for over
thirty times their original cost, clear proof of their
enduring practical value.
In addition to these Chinese ceramics and works
of art from the collection in this sale, Christie's is
delighted to ofer The Soame Jenyns Collection of
Japanese and Chinese Art in a single owner online
auction from the 1-8 November 2018.