Page 10 - Bonhams Chinese Art NYC Nov 9 2017

A LIFETIME APPRECIATING
CHINESE ART

During my early childhood in Taiwan, at every Chinese New Year festival Three years later, my husband was posted to Hong Kong to serve at the
I can remember my pretty elder sister would hold my hand and take me American Consulate General. It was in Hong Kong that my eyes were
and our two brothers to visit my maternal grandparents at their home. truly opened. I met with countless collectors and experts, and joined the
As soon as we entered the main room I could see the large three-legged Oriental Ceramic Society, as well as becoming the first female member
pale-green-glazed tripod dish containing a flower arrangement of pure of the Kau Chi Society of Chinese Art. One day each month the Kau Chi
and elegant narcissus flowers. My grandfather told me that this was a Society would hold a meeting, and there would be opportunities to view
late Ming ‘Longquan celadon’ narcissus dish. At the time I had to count and inspect the treasured items that collectors brought; everyone would
on my fingers to calculate its age: it was so ancient, the late Ming period discuss and study the items. On top of this, the proprietor of the Very
was already over 400 years ago. It was at this moment that my great Good Restaurant Mr Chan arranged for delicacies to be served to the
curiosity and interest in Chinese porcelain began. sociality members. Thus, we were equally fortunate to eat fine food, at
the same time as treating our eyes to rare and
After I grew up and got married, I followed my beautiful objects.
husband to live on Mount Yangming near Taipei.
At the time, my husband was an American Several years were spent like this, until I
diplomat, stationed in Taiwan as cultural discovered that collecting was an extremely
attaché. Apart from occasionally playing golf large financial burden. I therefore decided
at the weekends, most of my leisure time that I would sell a portion of my collection by
was spent roaming around the antique shops opening a gallery. I received much support
of Taipei, the National Palace Museum, the and encouragement, and my business circle
National Museum of History and other cultural expanded, making lots of new local and
centres. Because of my husband’s work at the international friends in Hong Kong, Japan, the
time, we got to know the Curator of objects US, the UK, Taiwan, Italy and France.
d’art at the National Palace Museum Mr Wu
Yu-Chang, and there were many opportunities Around 1986, government import controls
to ask his advice regarding Chinese porcelain. were relaxed, and antiquities of all kinds from
I would often bring him pieces that I had just the mainland entered Hong Kong in larger
bought at an antique shop for him to look at; quantities. This was a big benefit to the local
but nine times out of ten he would just smile antiques trade, as well attracting numerous
patiently and explain to me that they were foreign buyers and visitors. One summer, I vividly
forgeries. Once, I thought I had bought a rare remember the great Japanese connoisseur of
treasure – a Han dynasty green-glazed roof tile. Chinese cultural relics, Mr Nakamura from Kyoto
The Curator took one look and then consoled (who was at the time eighty years old) came to
me; he said that this was a modern tile from Guangdong’s Jiaozhi kiln, my gallery and sat beside me for over three hours, carefully observing
where they still make tiles to mend a traditional roof! It was like this over the business that I made within that time. At the end, he sighed deeply
and over again, but I did not lose heart. and said: “The amount of antique dealing you have done in three hours is
equal to what I have done in thirty years! My eyes have been opened…”
Finally, one day one antique dealer told me he had received a Song Happily he then laughed, saying: “You can already retire!”
dynasty black-glazed tea bowl, with a very reliable provenance.
I hurriedly went to his shop, and saw that it was a rather unremarkable- During my career in Hong Kong, which is now more than thirty years
looking dark Song dynasty bowl. My friend who was standing next to of buying and selling Chinese art, I have also had the opportunity
me at the time said she once saw a bowl like this for sale on the to privately collect the types of Chinese ceramics that I personally
street, and walked straight past it. She laughed at me, saying how love. I never thought that after thirty years of collecting, I would have
madly obsessed with antiques I was, rather than clothes and normal assembled well over a hundred pieces which I consider good examples
things... Nevertheless, with one deep breath I bought it. According to of their different types. Although I don’t possess rare and expensive
the shopkeeper, this bowl was left behind in Taiwan by a Japanese Ru and Ge wares, what I am presenting to everyone today are the
collector who had lived there in the Japanese colonial period. I fruits of my labours and years of accumulated knowledge. I chose as
nervously yet excitedly invited Mr Wu to come to my house, and served far as possible to select pieces representative of the various kilns, and
him the finest brandy with some almonds and peanuts. His pleasantly- although the collection does not include examples from all the earlier
surprised expression told me that this was indeed an authentic Song periods, I tried my best to complete a wide-ranging selection.
dynasty Jianyao ware, much beloved by Japanese tea ceremony
enthusiasts. It was at this moment that my particular specialist interest
began in Song dynasty ceramics. Susan Chen
Hong Kong, August 2014

8 | BONHAMS