TREASURES OF THE EAST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22505, 25 February 1935, Page 15

TREASURES OF THE EAST

COLLECTION FOR MUSEUMS RARE WORKS OF ART Ono of the rarest and most valuable collections of Chinese and Far Eastern works of art is to be acquired for £IOO,OOO by the British Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum jointly. Thirty years' work is represented in this wonderful collection, which belongs to Mr George Eumorfopoulos, of Chelsea, who stated that " various circumstances" had forced him "with great grief" to part with his treasures, all of which were bought in London or Paris. Sculptures, metal-work,' jades, gokl._ silver, glass, ivories, lacquer, paintings, and pottery and porcelain, many over thousands of years old, are all included; indeed, whole groups are represented, of which the national collections up till now have contained few specimens. The price is stated to be much below that which the collection would make if sold at auction, and the public are to be invited to subscribe toward the cost. Toward the initial payment contributions have been received from the National Art Collections Fund, Sir Percival David and the Universities' China Committee, but to secure, the remainder of the collection further payments will have to be made, and it is> toward these that the members of the public are invited to contribute. "What is the real value of the collection?" Mr Eumorfopoulos was asked. "It would be several times the price at which it is being acquired," he replied.

"It would be difficult to put any value on some of the pieces." Mr Eumorfopoulos, who is a vicepresident of the Greek firm of merchant bankers,' Ralli Brothers, has made his home his museum. It is there that the collection has been housed.

The last big acquisition made for the British Museum was the Codex Sinaiticus, which was bought from the Soviet Government for £IOO,OOO. When the Codex Sinaiticus was purchased, the Government granted £41,000 toward the cost, the balance being raised by subscription.