A GREENISH-WHITE JADE SQUARE-SECTION BRUSH POT, BITONG
PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE MR. J. L. C. PEARCE (1918-2017) (LOTS 213-219 INCLUSIVE)Chinese Hardstone Carvings from the Late John Pearce (1918-2017) CollectionJohn Leitch Colmere Pearce was born in Hong Kong on 13 October 1918 into a family with a long connection in the Far East. His grandfather, the Rev Thomas William Pearce, spent nearly fifty years in China and worked as a missionary and translator. His father Thomas (Tam) Pearce was a prominent businessman in Hong Kong, and served as a Justice of the Peace and Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. John Pearce attended school at Charterhouse, and returned to Hong Kong to join the trading house, Hutchison International, in the mid-1930s.At the outbreak of the Second World War, John Pearce joined the Royal Artillery, manning the anti-aircraft guns near Deepwater Bay. On Christmas Day 1941, Hong Kong surrendered to the Japanese after 18 days’ fierce fighting, during which Tam Pearce was killed in action and John was incarcerated in Sham Shui Po prisoner of war camp. In April 1942, he escaped through a sewage tunnel with three comrades, swimming into Chinese territory and eventually reaching Chungking after a journey of more than 600 miles. Rejoining the war effort as an intelligence officer, he assisted prisoners of war in escaping from Japanese camps. Major Pearce drew up an evasion map which was issued to all air forces operating in the Pacific, and was appointed an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by George VI for his intelligence work.He returned to Hutchison International after the war, remaining on the board until his retirement in 1968. A steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, he was a regular at Sha Tin racecourse, where he often presented the Pearce Memorial Cup to the winner of a race run in memory of his father. Racing was his lifelong passion and he became a noted bloodstock breeder and racehorse owner. His chief ambition was to breed and run a winner of the Derby. He never did, but came tantalingsly close in 2006 when his horse, Dragon Dancer, came second by a short head. For forty years, until he was in his nineties, he lived in some splendour in a suite at the Hong Kong Mandarin Oriental hotel. Known for his courtesy, generosity and straight dealing, he once declined an invitation to join the Queen in her box at Royal Ascot because he had already agreed to meet a friend for tea.Christie’s is delighted to present the John Pearce Collection of Chinese hardstone carvings, many of which were purchased from the renowned Chinese art dealer T. Y. King (金從怡) in the 1950s and 1960s.
清十八世紀 青白玉人物圖筆筒來源: J. L. C. Pearce先生(1918-2017)舊藏, 家傳至今1963年12月23日購自香港古董商T. Y. King & Sons約翰·皮亞士J. L. C. Pearce先生(1918-2017)舊藏中國玉石雕刻精品約翰·利奇·庫彌爾·皮亞士於1918年10月13日出生於香港,家族與遠東有深遠的淵源。他的祖父湯瑪士·威廉·皮亞士牧師,在中國生活了將近半個世紀,擔任傳教士和翻譯;而他的父親湯瑪士(譚)·皮亞士則是香港知名商人,曾擔任太平紳士和香港賽馬會主席。約翰·皮亞士在英國切特豪斯公學念書,而後於1930年代中期回到香港,開始在和記洋行工作。 二次大戰爆發時,約翰·皮亞士加入英國皇家砲兵,在深水灣附近操作高射機槍。1941年聖誕節,香港在經過18天的奮戰後向日本投降,其間譚·皮亞士在戰爭中捐軀,約翰則被關進了深水埗戰俘營。1942年4月,他跟三名同袍經由污水下水道逃跑,游泳進入中國領土,經歷600多英里的旅程後,終於抵達重慶。此後,他以情報官的身分重新加入戰爭,協助戰俘逃離日本集中營。皮亞士少校擬制一份逃亡地圖,將其發送到太平洋地區的所有空軍,他也因為在情報方面的貢獻,由喬治六世授勳大英帝國員佐勳章。 戰爭結束後,他回到和記洋行,一直擔任董事直到1968年退休。身為香港賽馬會董事,他是沙田馬場的常客,時常可以在場上看到他的身影,將緬懷其父親的皮亞士紀念挑戰盃頒發給冠軍得主。賽馬是他畢生的熱情,也因此培育純種馬,成為賽馬主人。 衷心期盼能夠培育出贏得打吡大賽的名駒,但終究功敗垂成。最接近冠軍的一次是在2006年,他的「龍之舞者」賽馬以些微差距飲恨,位居第二。四十多年來,直至高齡九十多歲,始終住在香港文華東方酒店的奢華套房。他為人溫文儒雅、慷慨大方且一點也不拐彎抹角,他曾受邀與英國女王在英國皇家賽馬會的包廂觀賽,但只因為跟朋友有約在先而斷然婉拒。 佳士得很榮幸呈獻約翰·皮亞士所收藏的中國玉石雕刻系列,其中多件藏品是1950至1960年代從著名古董商金從怡(T. Y. King)手上購得。

18TH CENTURY

細節
清十八世紀 青白玉人物圖筆筒

來源:
J. L. C. Pearce先生(1918-2017)舊藏, 家傳至今
1963年12月23日購自香港古董商T. Y. King & Sons

約翰·皮亞士J. L. C. Pearce先生(1918-2017)舊藏中國玉石雕刻精品
約翰·利奇·庫彌爾·皮亞士於1918年10月13日出生於香港,家族與遠東有深遠的淵源。他的祖父湯瑪士·威廉·皮亞士牧師,在中國生活了將近半個世紀,擔任傳教士和翻譯;而他的父親湯瑪士(譚)·皮亞士則是香港知名商人,曾擔任太平紳士和香港賽馬會主席。約翰·皮亞士在英國切特豪斯公學念書,而後於1930年代中期回到香港,開始在和記洋行工作。

二次大戰爆發時,約翰·皮亞士加入英國皇家砲兵,在深水灣附近操作高射機槍。1941年聖誕節,香港在經過18天的奮戰後向日本投降,其間譚·皮亞士在戰爭中捐軀,約翰則被關進了深水埗戰俘營。1942年4月,他跟三名同袍經由污水下水道逃跑,游泳進入中國領土,經歷600多英里的旅程後,終於抵達重慶。此後,他以情報官的身分重新加入戰爭,協助戰俘逃離日本集中營。皮亞士少校擬制一份逃亡地圖,將其發送到太平洋地區的所有空軍,他也因為在情報方面的貢獻,由喬治六世授勳大英帝國員佐勳章。

戰爭結束後,他回到和記洋行,一直擔任董事直到1968年退休。身為香港賽馬會董事,他是沙田馬場的常客,時常可以在場上看到他的身影,將緬懷其父親的皮亞士紀念挑戰盃頒發給冠軍得主。賽馬是他畢生的熱情,也因此培育純種馬,成為賽馬主人。 衷心期盼能夠培育出贏得打吡大賽的名駒,但終究功敗垂成。最接近冠軍的一次是在2006年,他的「龍之舞者」賽馬以些微差距飲恨,位居第二。四十多年來,直至高齡九十多歲,始終住在香港文華東方酒店的奢華套房。他為人溫文儒雅、慷慨大方且一點也不拐彎抹角,他曾受邀與英國女王在英國皇家賽馬會的包廂觀賽,但只因為跟朋友有約在先而斷然婉拒。

佳士得很榮幸呈獻約翰·皮亞士所收藏的中國玉石雕刻系列,其中多件藏品是1950至1960年代從著名古董商金從怡(T. Y. King)手上購得。
5 ¼ in. (13.3 cm.) high
來源
With T. Y. King & Sons, Hong Kong, 23 December 1963.

更多來自 中國瓷器及工藝精品

查看全部
查看全部