CHINESE ART

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22627, 15 January 1937, Page 14

CHINESE ART

LOAN EXHIBITION MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY MANY CHOICE TREASURES OPENING THIS AFTERNOON The overseas loan exhibition of Chinese art, which is being arranged in New Zealand by the trustees of the National Art Gallery and Dominion .Museum, with Captain («. HumphreysDavies as honorary curator, will he oflieiall.v opened at the War Memorial Museum this afternoon bv the president ol the Auckland Institute and Museum, Sir Carrick Robertson. The exacting task of arranging it for public display in about a dozen show cases has now been completed, though there are one or two more objects to be added on Monday. This collection of more than 'IOO objects from all periods of Chinese art is bewildering in its variety and astonishing in its richness and rarity. Lt. is not an exhibition that will disclose itself to a casual glance, but it is one that will abundantly repay careful and thoughtful study, especially with such aid as is supplied by the very fine descriptive catalogue that has been prepared. It is no exaggeration to say that it is rich in world-famous treasures, and the marvel is to see so many of these released for the delight and instruction of the people of this far corner of the earth. Generous Collectors ]n his design of organising this exhibition Captain Humphreys-Davies received most generous support from the authorities of the Victoria and Albert Museum and from the greatest private collectors, headed by Hrr Majesty Queen Mary and the Lady Patricia .Ramsay. More than a score of private collections have been laid under willing tribute, among these being the Ru thereto n collection and those of Mr. Oscar Raphael and Mr. George Eumorfopoulos. The spirit animating the many who have assisted was expressed by Mr. Eumorfopoulos when be t.old Captain Humphreys-Davies that he was going to lend only his very best, because he did not want the people ot Australia and New Zealand to come to any false conclusions about Chinese art.

The exhibition includes within its scope pottery, bronze, jade, jewellery, porcelain and pictures dating from the 25th century, .8.C., to the 18th century, A.D. They have been arranged chronologically, and in the case nearest the entrance are to be found il?e very oldest, including such objects as a pair of unverified earthenware birds apparently used as portable chalices nearly 5000 years ago, and a fine scarlet "bird of the southern quadrant" probably dating from before the Christian era. Objects with a History Most of the objects on view have been displayed in special exhibitions in European museums and galleries and 25 of them were in the great Chinese exhibition held by the Royal Academy in Burlington House a year ago. These are distinguished by red tabs attached to their numbers.

Amid such profusion of representativo objects it is impossible to enter at any length upon individual descriptions. Each one of the 400 has a history, and ari interest and a claim to attention of its own. There is. for instance, a large jar of grey earthenware covered with lustrous hlack gla7.e of the Sung period lent by Dr. Lindley Scott from the Victoria and Albert Miisuem. Four silver sprays beautifully cut and tooled from a royal tomb of the T'ang dynasty were originally set in larjuer in a wooden frame, but all but the silver has now perished. A World-famous Piece A porcellanous vase with bluish-grey glaze and bold floral design is from tlx? Hutherston collection and is a worldfamous piece to be found illustrated "in all the expensive books on the subject. One rase contains one of the finest collections of ancient ceremonial ritual jades to be found anywhere, and another is devoted to magnificent specimens of celadon glaze. A magnificent pale green jade recumbent buffalo is from the Sir George Grey collection. The dark green jade incense burner lent by Her Majesty Queen Mary will not be received until Mondav.

The collection will remain on exhibition in Auckland for a period of six weeks, after which it will be passed on to the other three centres of thrs Dominion. As befits a treasure whose market value, apart from its aesthetic worth, is to he counted by tens of thousands of pounds, it is being kept under guard day and night.