Page 55 - Sotheby's New York Chinese Jade Auction September 13, 2018

frst met Gerard Arnhold in 1967 when I was 21 and had just started at Spink & Son, the
I distinguished dealers and crown medalists in London. He careered through the Spink
galleries like a small tornado, looking at a variety of Asian works of art, fring off questions,
and occasionally allowing a thoughtful smile to cross his face. From then on, he became a
constant in my life with his indefatigable energy, curiosity and need to collect antiques.

Gerard was a collector of works of art on a major scale and, in the process, he also collected
people from all walks of life whom he would introduce to one another, whether or not they
had anything in common.
Born in Dresden in 1918, the grandson of Georg Arnhold, a banker celebrated for his
philanthropy, Gerard studied in Dresden and Switzerland. As conditions in 1930s Germany
worsened, the Arnhold family left and in 1937 Gerard began his studies at King’s College,
Cambridge. He spoke with happiness of his time there and was proud of his British passport
and that he served in the British Army from 1940. However, his commitment to Dresden was
unwavering and he and his family often visited after reunifcation. He was a great supporter of
the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, and also supported the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen and
the Völkerkundemuseum, among other projects in the city.

Settling in Brazil in 1953, Gerard ran a successful business but philanthropy was always an
important part of his life – he gave to museums, zoos, nature preservation schemes and music
projects, including the Wexford Opera Festival in Ireland. He was, however, always on the
move and would suddenly appear in my offce as if he had never left, asking what treasures we
had that he could buy. If I happened to be out he would leave provocative notes on my desk,
letting me know that he was off to visit other dealers and auction houses.

Gerard was described as diffcult by some of his family, friends and curators, but I preferred to
think of him as challenging, and whatever scrapes or situations he found himself in, he seemed
able to extricate himself with his innate, subtle and rather seductive charm. Often impatient,
I remember on one visit to Brazil, his knocking loudly on my bedroom door at six in the
morning asking if I was awake and how soon could we start checking and listing his jades!

His home was a mass of paintings and works of art, many of which were purchased in the
twenty years after the war, but he never stopped collecting. His huge collections of Chinese
and Asian art were scattered all over the apartment, in particular his study and gallery room.
It is often said of people that their like will not come again, and in Gerard’s case it is true. His
need to explore and acquire works of art on such a scale is unlikely to be seen again, and his
deep curiosity and his background meant that conversations with him were the best of history
lessons. His personal taste survives in his collection of paintings and works of art, many of
which are now to be seen in museums and private collections around the world.

Roger Keverne

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