PRICELESS ART.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 5

PRICELESS ART.

"GIFT" TO NATION.

GREAT CHINESE COLLECTION BY MAN NEVER IN CHINA. (From a Special Correspondent.) (By Air Mail.) LONDON, January 12. A bf-oken-hearted old man stood in a deserted room of a Chelsea mansion, his head bowed, watching carters at work. They were taking away priceless sculptures, bronzes, and ornaments of jade—the finest collection of Chinese art in the world —which the old man had jiifit "given" to the British Museum for £100,000. a fraction of its real worth. Mr. George Etimorfoponlos was the old man. He is British-born, of Greek parentage, and he has devoted most of his 71 years of life and most of his fortune to the pursuit of beauty in art. You cannot buy a catalogue of his collection for less than £150.

As the carters finished their.task, Mr. Enniorfopoulos said, "My treasures were too expensive to keep. My house is tno large for the times. My treasures ocr-u----pied five rooms in it. Expenses became too great. I may have to give up my home. When I am lonely I shall go to the British Museum io vieit my 'old friends. , " Then ho told a strange t ],i n <r He—the most famous collector of Chinese art-has never been to ChinaBut now that he has parted with Jim collection he is o s cliatcly to see the ravaged"* O f China winch have provided h* vitll