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Nancy and Ed Rosenthal © Tony Walsh Photography
The NaNcy aNd ed RoseNThal collecTioN
(loTs 945-960)
Nancy and Ed Rosenthal began collecting Chinese art shortly after The Rosenthals were drawn to simple, elegant forms of Ming-style
their frst visit to China in 1987. While visiting Hong Kong after furniture, the beauty of the materials, in particular huanghuali and
leaving China, they purchased their frst piece of Chinese art, a zitan woods, and the technical ingenuity of Chinese joinery. While
large famille noire vase. With this initial purchase, the Rosenthals building their collection, they developed strong relationships with
shifted their collecting focus to exceptional examples of Chinese dealers, curators, and scholar’s within the community. These
art. They sought works in three distinct categories, Chinese Modern connections formed the foundation of their collecting ethos,
and Contemporary Painting, early Chinese ceramics, and Classical which was built around community and friendship, the pursuit of
Chinese Furniture. Their home beautifully displayed their diverse knowledge and above all, the search for beautiful objects.
collection, mixing all three collecting areas harmoniously within
one space. From late 2008 to early 2009, the Taft Museum of Art The Rosenthals consider themselves custodians of fne and
in Cincinnati, Ohio, displayed sixty works from the collection in an important objects and it is with great excitement and a touch of
exhibition entitled, Brush Clay, Wood: The Nancy and Ed Rosenthal nostalgia that they ofer their collection for sale at Christie’s. Nancy
Collection of Chinese Art. and Ed have repeatedly expressed gratitude at having had the
opportunity to live with these exceptional objects. As Ed recounts
in the introduction to the Taft Museum catalogue, “If ofered
something beautiful, just say thank you.”
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