Page 12 - Christies Asia Week 2015 Chinese Works of Art

A Walk Through History

Christie’s is proud to present the following works of art from the family collection of
K’ung Hsiang-Hsi, one of Asia’s most prominent families.

A 75th generation descendant of Confucius, K’ung Hsiang-Hsi was a passionate
advocate for education. In the 1910s, the Oberlin College and Yale University graduate
helped to set up schools in his hometown of Shanxi Taigu to fulfill his vision of
strengthening China through education. K’ung also engaged in business, trading
internationally in kerosene and other natural resources through his Xiang Ji Company
in Taigu, known as the Wall Street of China. Serving in critical government posts in
his later years, K’ung enacted important economic reforms and was among the key
architects of China’s modern fnancial and industrial systems as the country’s frst ever
central bank governor.

K’ung Hsiang-Hsi married Soong Ai-ling (1889-1973), the eldest of the three famed
Soong sisters, and was brother-in-law to Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek.As a highly
educated and sophisticated businessman, K’ung enjoyed the resources and the aesthetic
sensibilities to appreciate fne works of art. His pivotal role in the government and
close connections with infuential people in China and abroad also provided him with
ready access to important artists and collections. To appreciate the treasures in K’ung
Hsiang-Hsi’s family collection is to embark on a journey in history through the eyes
of a true connoisseur.

傳奇風華

佳士得隆重呈獻孔祥熙家族珍藏工藝精品，重現此顯赫世家的傳奇風華。

孔祥熙為孔子第七十五代孫，自始致力推動教育，1910年代自美國歐柏林
學院及耶魯大學學成歸國後，於家鄉山西太谷縣辦學，作育英才，冀以教
育強國。孔祥熙亦以經商見長，於有中國華爾街之稱的太谷成立祥記公司，
從事煤油進口與天然資源貿易，其後於民國政府屢居要職，推行多項重要
經濟改革，在中央銀行總裁任內，更著力為中國現代金融及工業體制發展
奠定基礎。

孔祥熙與宋氏長女宋靄齡成婚，與孫中山及蔣介石同為宋家女婿。孔氏學
養深厚，營商有道，其重要政績及海內外關係成為收藏各類珠寶藝術精品
的根基。佳士得有幸呈獻孔祥熙家族珍藏，回溯一代望族的歷史足跡，與
有榮焉。