Page 8 - Bonhams Wen Tang Collectiont, October 2014 Hong Kong
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A LIFETIME APPRECIATING CHINESE ART
During my early childhood in Taiwan, at every Chinese New Year eyes were truly opened. I met with countless collectors and experts,
festival I can remember my pretty elder sister would hold my hand and joined the Oriental Ceramic Society, as well as becoming the
and take me and our two brothers to visit my maternal grandparents first female member of the Kau Chi Society of Chinese Art. One day
at their home. As soon as we entered the main room I could see the each month the Kau Chi Society would hold a meeting, and there
large three-legged pale-green-glazed tripod dish containing a flower would be opportunities to view and inspect the treasured items that
arrangement of pure and elegant narcissus flowers. My grandfather collectors brought; everyone would discuss and study the items.
told me that this was a late Ming ‘Longquan celadon’ narcissus dish. On top of this, the proprietor of the Very Good Restaurant Mr Chan
At the time I had to count on my fingers to calculate its age: it was arranged for delicacies to be served to the sociality members. Thus,
so ancient, the late Ming period was already over 400 years ago. It we were equally fortunate to eat fine food, at the same time as
was at this moment that my great curiosity and interest in Chinese treating our eyes to rare and beautiful objects.
porcelain began.
Several years were spent like this, until I
After I grew up and got married, I followed discovered that collecting was an extremely
my husband to live on Mount Yangming large financial burden. I therefore decided
near Taipei. At the time, my husband was that I would sell a portion of my collection by
an American diplomat, stationed in Taiwan opening a gallery. I received much support
as cultural attaché. Apart from occasionally and encouragement, and my business circle
playing golf at the weekends, most of my expanded, making lots of new local and
leisure time was spent roaming around the international friends in Hong Kong, Japan, the
antique shops of Taipei, the National Palace US, the UK, Taiwan, Italy and France.
Museum, the National Museum of History
and other cultural centres. Because of my Around 1986, government import controls
husband’s work at the time, we got to know were relaxed, and antiquities of all kinds from
the Curator of objects d’art at the National the mainland entered Hong Kong in larger
Palace Museum Mr Wu Yu-Chang, and there quantities. This was a big benefit to the local
were many opportunities to ask his advice antiques trade, as well attracting numerous
regarding Chinese porcelain. I would often foreign buyers and visitors. One summer,
bring him pieces that I had just bought at I vividly remember the great Japanese
an antique shop for him to look at; but nine connoisseur of Chinese cultural relics, Mr
times out of ten he would just smile patiently Nakamura from Kyoto (who was at the time
and explain to me that they were forgeries. Once, I thought I had eighty years old) came to my gallery and sat beside me for over
bought a rare treasure – a Han dynasty green-glazed roof tile. The three hours, carefully observing the business that I made within that
Curator took one look and then consoled me; he said that this was a time. At the end, he sighed deeply and said: “The amount of antique
modern tile from Guangdong’s Jiaozhi kiln, where they still make tiles dealing you have done in three hours is equal to what I have done in
to mend a traditional roof! It was like this over and over again, but I thirty years! My eyes have been opened…” Happily he then laughed,
did not lose heart. saying: “You can already retire!”
Finally, one day one antique dealer told me he had received a Song During my career in Hong Kong, which is now more than thirty years
dynasty black-glazed tea bowl, with a very reliable provenance. of buying and selling Chinese art, I have also had the opportunity
I hurriedly went to his shop, and saw that it was a rather to privately collect the types of Chinese ceramics that I personally
unremarkable-looking dark Song dynasty bowl. My friend who was love. I never thought that after thirty years of collecting, I would
standing next to me at the time said she once saw a bowl like this have assembled well over a hundred pieces which I consider good
for sale on the street, and walked straight past it. She laughed at me, examples of their different types. Although I don’t possess rare and
saying how madly obsessed with antiques I was, rather than clothes expensive Ru and Ge wares, what I am presenting to everyone today
and normal things... Nevertheless, with one deep breath I bought it. are the fruits of my labours and years of accumulated knowledge. I
According to the shopkeeper, this bowl was left behind in Taiwan by chose as far as possible to select pieces representative of the various
a Japanese collector who had lived there in the Japanese colonial kilns, and although the collection does not include examples from
period. I nervously yet excitedly invited Mr Wu to come to my house, all the earlier periods, I tried my best to complete a wide-ranging
and served him the finest brandy with some almonds and peanuts. selection.
His pleasantly-surprised expression told me that this was indeed an
authentic Song dynasty Jianyao ware, much beloved by Japanese I have now asked Bonhams to assist in publishing a memorable
tea ceremony enthusiasts. It was at this moment that my particular Auction Catalogue to recall fondly in the future my treasured pieces.
specialist interest began in Song dynasty ceramics. I respectfully invite all my friends who cherish the same ideals and
follow the same interests, to share with me their comments and
Three years later, my husband was posted to Hong Kong to serve information, thereby continuing to accompany me on what has
at the American Consulate General. It was in Hong Kong that my become my life’s course.
Susan Chen
Hong Kong
August 2014
6 | Bonhams
