A Selection of Chinese Art from the Edward T. Chow Collection26 November–6 December 2023 • 11:00 AM HKT • Hong Kong
EDWARD T. CHOW
Edward T. Chow (1910 - 1980) embarked on his artistic journey at the tender age of thirteen under the tutelage of Zhu Heting, a renowned art connoisseur in Shanghai. After twenty-three years of diligent study and dedication, he held his first exhibition in 1946 under the banner of Kangxi Zhai, The Hall for Disciplined Learning, primarily showcasing Ming porcelain. This exhibition resounded from north to south, setting his reputation in stone.The figures who interacted with Chow formed the foundational landscape of art collection and trade in 20th century China. This illustrious list includes Danish magnate Jacob Emil Melchior, New York socialite Barbara Hutton, King Gustaf of Sweden, Sir Percival David of UK, R. L. Hobson of the British Museum, Michel Beurdeley of France, the "Six Companies" of Shanghai, Hu Huichun, Xu Bojiao and many more.
The renowned pieces handled by Chow have become well-known to the world. In 1988, over eight thousand treasures from his collection were exhibited in Geneva. Beyond these eight thousand, there are still those treasures passed down within his household, carefully preserved by descendants and hidden from public view. Today, we select more than thirty pieces, evoking a reminiscent glimpse into the exquisite past of the Kangxi Zhai.
太倉仇焱之（1910 - 1980），生於揚州，十三歲從上海行家朱鶴亭學藝，勤學篤力，廿三年後之一九四六年以“抗希齋”之名首度展出藏品，明瓷為主，聲震南北。與仇氏往來之人物構成了二十世紀中國藝術品收藏與交易之基本版圖：丹麥巨賈Jacob Emil Melchior、紐約名媛芭芭拉·赫頓（Barbara Hutton）, 瑞典國王古斯塔夫、英國大維德爵士，大英博物館霍布森（R. L. Hobson）、法國米歇爾·伯德萊（Michel Beurdeley）、上海灘“六公司”、胡惠春、徐伯郊等等，聲名顯赫，紙短難盡。 仇氏經手名品，世人已經熟諳，此不一 一。一九八八年，仇氏身後八千餘件珍品悉數展於日內瓦，八千之外，更有家中流傳者，後人精心庋藏不曾示人。今選三十餘品，追想抗希齋舊日麗影。
