CHINESE ART

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22628, 16 January 1937, Page 18

CHINESE ART

DISPLAY AT MUSEUM MANY VALUABLE EXHIBITS BEAUTY OF LINE AND COLOUR The loan exhibition of Chinese art which, with Captain Humphreys-Davies as honorary curator, has boon arranged in Now Zealand by the trustees of the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum, was opened yesterday afternoon at the War Memorial Museum by the president of the Auckland Institute and Museum, Sir Carrick Robertson. Reauty of line and harmony of colour has removed many of the exhibits from the world of mere ornaments, and them a peace and mellowness acquired by their existing untouched through many ages. Fashioned by the skilful hands of unhurried craftsmen concerned only with the translation of beauty into purity ol' line, colour and design, sonic of the exhibits would transform the most perfectly arranged room into a mere frame for their loveliness. In iho exhibition is collected the quaintness, the grotcsquencss and the simple beauty of Chinese art. 1 here is the pure'sheen of porcelain, the dull transllicence of jade in white, green and brown, and the lustre of many different glazes. Many of the exhibits have been lent by well-known collectors. There is the small and beautifully lined elephant lent by Captain Humph revs-Day ies, the body covered with a turquoise blue glaze with a very fine crackle stained a dark blue. A melonshaped jar of dark earthenware, pure in lino and covered with a thin greenish turquoise glaze, very finely crackled, symbolises refreshment and solace.

Exhibits In Bronze A square plaque of jade in the centre of which is carved a "cash," symbol of wealth, surrounded by a swastika conveying the wish for a long life, was lent by Mrs. M. G. Moore, of Christchurch, and forms one of the most beautiful of the exhibits. Supposed to be of the colour and ware alluded to by ancient Chinese connoisseurs, who wrote of "pottery thin as paper, resonant as n musical-stone, and blue as the bky newly washed by rain,'' is a bowl of fine earthenware characterised by its purity of line and a thin pale blue glaze. Among the bronze exhibits are two figures lent by Mrs. C. J. Carr, of Auckland, one excavated from a temple site in Honan and the other representing the last reincarnation of the Buddha before attaining Nirvana, the ultimate peaco. An unrivalled example of Chinese needlework regarded as an Imperial piece is the large square of silk embriodered finely in a brilliant and yet delicate combination of colours, lent by Lady' Wavertrce. of Eotorua. Measuring 17ft. by 13ft. in size, it is one of tlie most beautiful of the exhibits.

As interesting as it is unusual is the album of engravings and coloured drawings of the banners of the Chinese army representing victories in 'Western China, This lias been lent by Mrs. E. H. B. Milsom, of Auckland.

Visitors Entertained During the afternoon the many visitors were entertained to tea in the board-room. Among those present were: Ladv Robertson, Lady Rivett (Melbourne), Mrs. Humplireys-Davies, Mrs. David Nathan, Mrs. Trevor Davis, Mrs. Gilbert Arcliev, Mrs. N. V. Corhell (Sydney), Mrs. R. K. Williams (Perth), Dr. Gladys Rowley, Mrs. G. A. Kirkby (Canberra), Mrs. P. Peacocke. Airs. Wvim Williams, Mrs. F. C. Mappin, Mrs. L. W. Delph (New Plymouth), Mrs. J. .1. Coats (Adelaide), Mrs. D. Grant (Adelaide), Mrs. A. Houghton (Melbourne), Mrs. J. C. Allan, Dr. Margaret Huston (Sydney), Mrs. R. L. Houton (Sydney), Mrs. W. H. Cocker, Miss Peacocke, Miss M. A. Geddes, Miss Mova Gresham (Rotorua), Miss Winifred Barker, Miss D. M. Lowe.