We are pleased to present our winter exhibition, which is held to coincide with Asian Art in London. The pursuit of the rare and unusual has, as ever, been our endeavour. It is a testament to the breadth and depth of the work of China’s artists and artisans that so many fine and remarkable works of art were produced over the centuries, and many still remain with us today, having been appreciated and treasured for many generations. However, the rarest and best never seem to be quite as available as one would like, and we consider ourselves fortunate to have acquired this collection.

Sophisticated and thought-provoking bronze vessels were produced in China centuries before other cultures, and we are offering some of the earliest examples here. China is also known throughout the world for its pre-eminence in the use of clay and the production of ceramics, and the evolution, versatility and refinement achieved by Chinese potters over the centuries can be seen in our catalogue. The majority of our small but diverse group of jades have come from private collections. We are also pleased to present some works of art made for export to the West that highlight the relationship between Europe and China that commenced in the seventeenth century, when the Middle Kingdom began to fascinate and interest Europeans.

While some of the collectors who previously owned objects in our exhibition wish to remain anonymous, we are fortunate to be able to offer works of art formerly in the collections of The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Mr and Mrs Eugene Bernat, Major John Court, The Idemitsu Museum of Art, Mr J. A. Lloyd Hyde, Mr George de Menasce, Dr A. F. Philips, Mr Floyd Segel, The Toguri Museum of Art, Mr H. A. Van Oort and Lady Ward, among others.

Roger Keverne

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