THE BISHOP COLLECTION. INVESTIGATIONS AND STUDIES IN JADE

George Frederick Kunz (1856–1932), Robert Lilley (1839-1914), Stephen Wootton Bushell (1844–1908) et. al.

Footnotes

1906年 精裝限量編號版《畢曉普珍藏：玉器探考》二冊全

編著：喬治·弗雷德里克·昆茨（George Frederick Kunz, 1856-1932）、羅伯特·利萊（Robert Lilley, 1839-1914）及卜士禮（Stephen Wootton Bushell, 1844-1908）等
版本：初版初印，限量100套，此套編號14，英文版

Provenance
Nicholas II (1868-1918) Emperor of Russia, (presentation binding with his arms on covers, Winter Palace bookplate); Alan and Simone Hartman (bookplate)
Christie's London, 29 November 1972, (lot unlisted)
Charles W. Traylen, British bookseller
Alan and Simone Hartman Collection (post 1972)

來源
俄皇Nicholas II (1868-1918)，皇室徽紋燙金於封面；艾倫與西蒙哈特曼（內頁圖）
倫敦佳士得，1972年11月27日（未列拍品編號）
英國書商Charles W. Traylen
艾倫與西蒙哈特曼（1972年後）

The opulent catalog dedicated to jade meticulously documents the entire jade collection of Heber Reginald Bishop (1840-1902), a prominent entrepreneur, collector and philanthropist in New York's high society at the turn of the 20th century. He held a preeminent status as an American collector of Asian jade during his era. His remarkable collection, comprising over 1,000 jade pieces, some hailed as masterpieces, was generously donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1902, several months prior to his passing and four years before the completion of the present catalog. A selection of over 100 pieces from the collection graces the exhibition "A Passion for Jade: The Heber Bishop Collection" at the Met.

The catalog, limited to 100 numbered sets, held a prestigious place in various international circles. The first eight sets were distributed among Bishop's heirs, while two sets were sent to the Library of Congress to obtain copyright. The remaining sets were presented to esteemed heads of states across Europe and Asia and were entrusted to important public institutions and libraries. Following the completion of printing, the type was disbanded, and the plates were subsequently destroyed.

This monumental work was a collaborative endeavor, harnessing the expertise of numerous specialists, most notably mineralogist and mineral collector Dr. George F. Kunz, physician and sinologist Dr. Stephen Wootton Bushell and Dr. Robert Lilley, who served as the editor for both volumes. The two volumes comprise five sections. They commence with a general introduction, followed by explorations of the historical significance of jade in Chinese culture. Additionally, the volumes delve into jade from a scientific perspective, along with introductions to the various methods employed in working with jade and the end products of such labor.

A brilliantly written short article by Chris Wright 'An American Tome of Chines Stone' published in the Antiquarian Book Review, November 2003, pp. 6-7, is well worth the effort of tracking down. The author notes amongst many other fascinating facts that when the two volumes were published it was hailed as one of the most expensive books ever produced. Heber R. Bishop, an east-coast patrician and Presbyterian fund raiser established himself as a sugar exporter in Cuba before insurrection forced him off the island in 1868. As a goods transporter he turned his sights nationally, finally becoming a director of three railroad companies. But Bishop's legacy would be defined by his interest in jade, of which at the time it was said he had the largest accumulation in the world. Wright continues "that his collection housed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is almost as famous as the gargantuan catalogue that accompanies it, a catalogue that testifies to the consumerism, megalomania and intellectual insecurity of the late 19th century tycoons". One-hundred sets were produced by the De Vinne Press, each volume comprising 36 color lithographs, 31 copperplate engravings, 17 woodcuts and 13 watercolor drawings. The project took 20 years to complete at a cost of more than $200,000.

Interestingly Bishop did not visit China until his 53rd year in 1892. Prior to this he had amassed his collection from the comfort of his luxurious Fifth Avenue townhouse. Bishop was surely conscious that his own collection was his passport to posterity and thus it ended up at the Metropolitan Museum in a fire-proofed and Louis XVI style furnished room fitted by the best decorators of Paris, with fifteen cases of gilt bronze and plate glass to house the artifacts with an estimated value of half a million dollars. According to Wright, as he lay on his deathbed, he spelt out the conditions of his philanthropy. The two volumes would be limited to 100 copies, and none was to be sold for commercial gain. A list was drawn up of the institutions and royal families around the world would receive a copy. One was given to the British Museum, another to the Prince of Wales. However, the high proportion of American museums on the list has meant that three or four copies have been deaccessioned in the past 97 years.

Of the four volumes that have appeared at auction to date, can be included the following:

1. Two volumes (the present example: Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia) were sold at Christie's London, 29 November 1972, (lot unlisted) and purchased by the esteemed British bookseller, Charles W. Traylen and which entered the Alan and Simone Hartman Collection, New York (post 1972)

2. An example that was owned by Elizabeth T. Harriman, one of four daughters of Heber R. Bishop and thence by descent, sold at Christie's New York, 15 Sep 2009, lot 157 (numbered 53 of 100)

3. Another deaccessioned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art was sold at Christie's New York, 17 Sep 2010, lot 1141 (numbered 2 of 100)

4. Another that passed through the Heber Bishop family was sold at Christie's New York, 15 Sep 2011, lot 1412 (numbered 10 of 100)

For a more extensive article on the jades in the Heber R. Bishop Collection, see Zhixin Jason Sun, 'A Story of Passion, Heber Bishop and his Collection of Jades', Arts of Asia, Hong Kong, March-April 2016, pp. ??.