Introduction

"The hunt is more exiciting than the find."
Alex Rendon

My first home in Hong Kong was located in Wyndham Street not far from Hollywood Road commonly known as Cat Street. Cat Street is the center of antique trading in Hong Kong island. Living in such proximity and the fact that my first boss was Ian McLean, the well known antique dealer-decorator, I could not help but be attracted to Chinese antiquities; particularly, Chinese paintings. Fourteen years later, I would come back to the same location to put up my own art and antique gallery.

Chinese painting scrolls appealed to me because I could directly relate them. Moreover, I was attracted to their portability and ease in storage. I don't speak nor write Chinese but did this not deter me from pursuing the beginnings of a collection. I was fortunate to meet a Chinese painter-restorer who was very knowledgeable about antique Chinese paintings. Mr. Wong, as I call him, helped me with remounting and restoration of the paintings which almost always come tattered or soiled. Aside from that and for a small token, he greatly helped me to research, identify, and translate the calligraphy of each painting I buy from the market. Without him, I would have lost in my study of this foreign subject.

In buying Chinese paintings, I relied mainly on my innate aesthetic sense and intuition. Rummaging in the back rooms of antique dealers and discovering a cache of old scrolls seemingly abandoned is the biggest thrill for me. Patiently, I unfurl one by one the dusty finds and will only buy the pieces I feel instant reaction to. I was quick in dismissing certain paintings and equally quick in buying the ones that appeal to me. In the early seventies in HK, there were still a lot of finds because the antique market has not focused on them yet. However, in the early 80's Southeby's started to auction Chinese paintings and succeeded in awakening the local and international market.

I am offering my collection to the public because I feel it is time to pass them on to other people who would equally appreciate and take care of them. I have lived with them for many years and have absorbed their inner essence. Owning artworks while giving us pleasure is also an obligation which at this point I am prepared to relinquish. I am only a caretaker but in so doing learned a lot from them. I hope the next owners of the collection does the same as they are imbedded in my personal and professional history.

Enjoy your virtual visit to my former gallery in Hong Kong by clicking the pictures or the links on bottom. I operated this gallery and design office from 1986 up to 1989 when my interest shifted to Thai silk flowers.

Chinese Paintings

(CP1) Pheasants on Peach Blossoms
Circa 1920s, By Qian Songyan (1898-1985), ink and color on paper, brush and finger technique. Unsigned with 2 seals of the artist and a collector's chop. 58.4 x 47 cm., framed.
(CP2) Fairy on a Unicorn
19th c. ink and color on paper, 47 x 127 cm., framed.
(CP3) Crabs
18th c. ink and color on paper, 4 panels, 33 x 128 cm. each, framed.
(CP4) Boy on Water Buffalo
18th c. Literati painting, ink and color on paper, 4 panels, 33 x 128 cm. each, framed.
(CP5) Ladies under Peach Blossoms
18th c. Literati painting, ink and color on paper, 4 panels, 33 x 128 cm. each, framed.
(CP6) Chinese Landscape
18th c. Literati painting, ink and color on paper, 4 panels, 33 x 128 cm. each, framed.
(CP7) Sparrows on Plum Blossoms
16th c., Ming Period . Signed Lu Zhi (1496-1576) with 4 collectors seals, ink and color on paper, 43 x 147.3 cm. (for remounting and/or framing.)
(CP8) Old Mand & Attendant
18th c. Literati painting, ink and color on paper, 4 panels, 33 x 128 cm. each, framed.
(CP9) Poet on a Journey
18th c. Literati painting, ink and color on paper, 4 panels, 33 x 128 cm. each, framed.
(CP10) Female Ancestral Portrait
18th c. Literati painting, ink and color on paper, 4 panels, 33 x 128 cm. each, framed.
(CP11) Family Outing
18th c. Literati painting, ink and color on paper, 4 panels, 33 x 128 cm. each, framed.
(CP12) Portrait of a Gentleman
18th c. Literati painting, ink and color on paper, 4 panels, 33 x 128 cm. each, framed.
(CP13) Offerings to the Sage

Japanese Paintings

(JP1) Japanese Lady
19th c. By Shiranuhi, ink and color on silk, 41 x 122 cm. in scroll.
(JP2) Landscape and Pagoda
19th c Emaki. Hakubyo Style. ink monochrome, 93 x 33 cm., mounted but unframed.
(JP43 Horseman
19th c Emaki. Hakubyo Style. ink monochrome, 91 x 33 cm., mounted but unframed.
(JP4) Musical Procession
19th c Emaki. Hakubyo Style. ink monochrome, 184 x 32.4 cm., mounted but unframed.
(JP5) Battle Scene
19th c Emaki. Hakubyo Style. ink monochrome, 186 x 33 cm. framed.
(JP6) Fighting on Foot
19th c Emaki. Hakubyo Style. ink monochrome, 94 x 33 cm., framed.
(JP7) Royal Procession
19th c Emaki. Hakubyo Style. ink monochrome, 139 x 33 cm., mounted but unframed.
(JP8) Procession of Colors
19th c Emaki. Hakubyo Style. ink monochrome, 139 x 33 cm., mounted but unframed.
(JP9) Procession of Palaquins
19th c Emaki. Hakubyo Style. ink monochrome, 183 x 32.4 cm., mounted but unframed.
(JP10) Procession of Carriages
19th c Emaki. Hakubyo Style. ink monochrome, 183 x 32.4 cm., mounted but unframed.
(JP11) Royal Palace
19th c Emaki. Hakubyo Style. ink monochrome, 180.3 x 32.4 cm., mounted but unframed.

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