CHINESE ART

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 243, 27 July 1935, Page 5

CHINESE ART

CRUISER’S VALUABLE CARGO.

FABULOUS WEALTH REPRESENTED.

FOR EXHIBITION IN LONDON.

(United Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 25.

The cruiser Suffolk reached Portsmouth to-day with a consignment of art treasures of a value /variously estimated at between £2,000,006 and £10,000,000. This probably is the first time that a British warship has carried works of art.

The Suffplk, which has returned for a refit, by special arrangement between the Chinese and British Governments, transported the exhibits, which are being lent from the Imperial collection for an exhibition of Chinese art, to be held in London in the autumn at _ Burlington House, on the lines of the Italian and Persian exhibitions of recent years.

Special precautions had been taken during each stage of the journey. After unloading nearly IQO cases containing more than 1000 items, including ivories, bronzes, sculptures, paintings, carvings, porcelain, jewels and rare books, were taken by road to Loudon on Government lorries under a strong police escort. Museum exports will arrive later from China to supervise the unpacking of the objects, which illustrate 4000 years of Chinese art. —British Official Wireless.

When the Suffolk, a 9800-ton cruiser of the sth Squadron, steams to Portsmouth she will be making history, stated a writer in an Englsh paper last month. She will carry Chinese arttreasures of such fabulous worth that no one can yet make a reckoning.

Along with these treasures, which are for the Winter Exhibition of Chinese Art opening in November,, will travel two Chinese secretaries, unofficial guardians of the treasure. But the collecting, packing, and storing' of the treasures from Shanghai, HorigKong and Singapore will be under the command of two naval men, Admiral Sir Frederick Dryer, Commander-in-Chief of the China Station, and Gaptain Errol Manners, A.D.C.

This is the first time a warship has carried such extraordinary cargo. The idea grew out of a request by the Chinese authorities for an armed escort for the original treasure ship through waters where pirates lurk. As the exhibition is going to be held, for the first time, under partpatronage of the British Government, the. Admiralty lecided 1 to lend the cruiser.