Page 119 - Sothebys Important Chinese Art April 3 2018

Qing Gaozong yuzhi shiwen quanji [Anthology of imperial Qianlong poems and proses],
Yuzhi wen san ji [Imperial proses, vol. 3], juan 7: ji, pp. 4-6

The full text of the jade book is recorded in Qing Gaozong yuzhi tang on two bian’e (horizontal panels) in the 52nd year of his
shiwen quan ji [Anthology of imperial Qianlong poems and reign (1787). In addition to Jingfugong, one panel was hung in
text], Yuzhi wen san ji [Imperial text, vol. 3], juan 7, pp. 4-6. the Chengde Summer Mountain Retreat, as recorded in the
present text. The Emperor also ordered the making of related
Wufu wudai Tang (The Hall of Five Blessings and Five
seals to commemorate the occasion.
Generations) is a room in Jingfugong (Palace of Great
This rare legacy of the Qianlong era originally belonged to
Blessings). The Qianlong Emperor had a great-great-grandson
in the 49th year of his reign (1784) and all five generations Gibson Fahnestock (1888-1977), who gifted it to Blanka
were together in one Hall. The Qianlong Emperor wrote, “I was Beatrice Herda (1905-1999), the grandmother of the current
blessed to have a great-great-grandson where five generations owner. The influential Fahnestock Family co-founded First
Nation Bank of New York, the predecessor to Citigroup. Gibson
are in one Hall. This is a rare auspicious matter in ancient or
modern times. In ancient times, the blessed person may name Fahnestock lived for a time in China and was close friends with
a Hall to commemorate the occasion. Thus, Wufu wudai tang Puyi, the last Emperor. According to family tradition, the jade
is an appropriate name for the Hall that I am going to name.” book was given to him by Puyi.
The Qianlong Emperor wrote the calligraphy Wufu wudai

IMPORTANT CHINESE ART 117