CHINESE ART

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23149, 22 September 1938, Page 19

CHINESE ART

NOTABLE COLLECTION LOAN FOR TWO YEARS MANY CHOICE EXHIBITS \ • - Among the valuable collections displayed in the notable Chinese Art Exhibition organised by Captain G. Humphreys-Davies two years ago was that belonging to Mrs, C. L. Rutherston and her daughter, Mrs. Christopher Powell. By Mrs. Rutherston s permission the collection remained in New Zealand after the return of the other specimens to England and France and has been on exhibition during the past year in the museums at Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland, where it now is. Mrs. lintherston, who is at present visiting Auckland, has now deposited the collection in the Auckland Museum for a further period of years. News of this was received with gratification at the meeting of tho Council of the .Museum and Institute yesterday. "It is very satisfactory to know that Ave are to have this very beautiful and interesting collection for a period of two voars," said the president, Mr. C. R. Ford. Compliment to Museum Mr. Ford added that Mrs. Rut,herston had spent a considerable time ill the museum, and she had told him that .she had been actuated in leaving her collection here for a further period by tho excellent arrangement of this museum. Sho was familiar with museums overseas, but she knew of none in which the collections wero arranged in so informative and instructive a way as they were here. Mr. G. Arcliey, director of the museum, said the collection came here in October, 1936. so that it would be away from Home for four years. It was decided to express the council's thanks and appreciation to Mrs. Rutherston and Mrs. Powell and also to Captain Humphreys-Davies for undertaking the arrangement. Bronzes, Jades and Pottery The Rutherston collection includes bronzes, jades and pottery of the earliest period of Chinese civilisation. There are bronze chariot poles and axle decorations of the 17th century, 8.C., equally ancient votive and ritual ornaments in jade, the earliest glazed and painted pottery, as well as examples of the thin, hard, resonant porcelain which the Chinese invented a thousand years ago. The art itself in these pieces is as notable as the technique. Even the miniature size of the pottery and carved wood figures of priests and officials cannot lessen their calm dignity and the cast and sculptured animal figures also convey an impression of virility and strength far beyond their tictual volume. The Chinese section of the museum has a gratifying completeness at th»' moment, for, besides the Rutherston collection, it includes pottery figures presented two years ago by Captain Humphreys-Davies and the dollection lent by Captain C. W. Collins, of Rhodesia. Captain Humphreys-Davies has also lent bis own collection of pottery. porcelain and jade vases and ornaments, and the council is further indebted to him for undertaking the whole of the arrangement of the present augmented display.