BRONZES FROM CHINA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17966, 16 December 1921, Page 7

BRONZES FROM CHINA.

AUCKLAND ART TREASURES. ADDITION TO MUSEUM. GIFT FROM CITIZENS. It has long been known that there exists in Chinese temples and monasteries largo statues or allegorical figures of bronze, although such seldom leave China itself. It is therefore interesting to learn that two remarkably good specimens of these " templo bronzes," as they may be called, are now in tho possession of the Auckland Museum. Between 1809 and 1821, when General Macquarie was Governor of Now South Wales, tho Chinese Government presented the bronzes in question to him in acknowledgment of certain important personal services rendered by him to China. After General Macquarie's death his estate was gradually dispersed, ami since then the bronzes have several times changed handn. A few months a.-o thev jwere purchased bv Mr. A. Butler of i Karangaliape Road, brought to Auckland, and exhibited in his show-rooms, Hero they were seen and admired by several | Auckland residents, who expressed the | opinion that articles of such merit should I find a rcstine place in tho museum. Dlti j matoly Mr. R. E. Vaile volunteered t<> raise a fund for their purchase. A sum of j£lls was collected, the subscribers being | Messrs. H. E. Vaile, J. Kenderdine, Mir I tin Trcnwith, A. Geddes, G. H. Wilson, | Dr. T. W. Leys, and Mr. Cecil Leys. A : small balance required to complete the [purchase was defrayed from tho funds of | the museum itself.

j The bronzes are about 7(t. high, and j have a circumference of about 6ft. 6in l They are profusely covered with beauti | fully-modellod representations of mythical ! animals—dragons, lizards, snakes, tigers, jowls, eagles, pheasants, etc. Various kinds iof vegetation, fruits,' etc., are also freely j introduced. The two bronzes are works of ! art of considerable merit, wril worth the inspection of visitors. In the present i crowded state of the museum it is difficult I to exhibit them in a satisfactory manner, I but for the present, and during the Christmas holidays, they will bo placed in the assistant's room immediately to the right of the entrance.