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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
19 Hankow Road
Shanghai
December 21, 1928.
My dear Gertrude,
Your telegram from Eugene has been relaid [sic] to me from Peping [sic]and has just reached me. I am glad to know you are so pleased with the pictures (MWCh32:), for it is always an uncertainty as to whether what pleases one person will please another. The paintings that I sent you were all good even though they are not signed by great masters. So often these signatures and seals have little meaning and it is always the painting itself which counts. I do not know whether or not you had already seen the pictures when you cabled me, but if not I am sure that you will be more delighted than ever when you see them. I will keep in mind your request to spend another $2,000 for you and it is possible that either here or in Peping I may be able to find some more picture which will please you.
You will not find it much trouble to have them framed and covered with glass, though by rolling up both ends you would be able to exhibit them as they are on the wall of any room which did not have too low a ceiling. Personally I favor putting them into frame and cutting off all the surroundings which often detract from the beauty of the pictures.
Again I am not to be home at Christmas or new Year’s but will spend the days with the children and grandchildren here. The two Marys will be by themselves in Peping but they will not be alone, for we have invited a goodly number of foot-loose people to dinner in our house.
Much love to you and all good wishes for the New Year which is so near at hand and will be already passed before this reaches you.
As ever,
John
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
3 Hsi-Chao [sic] HutungPeking, China
July 8, 1927.
My dear Gertrude,
Your letter of June 13th has just arrived and I want to thank you at once for your propt arrangements with the University of Chicago Press. They have written me also concerning the matter and state that the book will probably be issued this autumn.
I am glad to hear also that the three Museum boxes and the box of rugs have arrived in excellent condition. I am sure that when you come to open them you will enjoy their contents even more than you did when we were purchasing them together here in Peking. I sent you sometime ago a clipping concerning a rug owned by Mr. Ballard, which will help you to appreciate even more your own two beautiful rugs.
My wife and Mary have been in Peitaiho for a couple of weeks and I am expecting to join them shortly. I have been delayed here by some necessary work. Some timid souls left here as soon as it was possible for them to get their breath they returned to Peking or Peitaiho. Civil war is about us on all sides, but that condition has been more or less permanent for the last five years. No one know how long we shall be under our present military overlordship in Peking, but even if a change comes the probability is that it will make but little difference to us. When you are living in such bad times, it does not matter much whether they are a little better or a little worse. At any rate, we expect to be able to stay here, so that if you decide to come back again this winter you may hope to find us with the same latch-string open for you.
With kindest regards to your mother and all best for yourself,
Yours as ever,
John
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
3 Hsi-Chiao Hutung
Peking, China
November 21, 1928.
My dear Gertrude,
I wrote you on November 16 just before leaving Shanghai. This morning I found on my table waiting for me after my arrival late last night your two telegrams, the first sent from Chicago on Nov. 6th asking me to “Purchase” and the second on Nov. 11th from Eugene stating “No screens. Await letter. Purchase. Hold. First National Bank Eugene.” From your second telegram I have inferred that whereas you intended at first to purchase the second screen of which I wrote you on September 27th, you found on reaching Eugene that the screen could not be used to advantage in your Museum. On the whole, I am glad that you decided not to purchase the screen, for I think that the money would be better expended in the purchase of those pictures which I sent you from Shanghai. I will hold the tables subject to your further order and in the meantime will look anxiously forward to another cablegram from you stating that you are “Pleased” with the paintings which I sent you. I am very keen about them on your behalf and I am certain that you will be greatly delighted when you see them.
My grand-daughter Stella and I had a good trip up from Shanghai and the sea was as smooth as it could be. On arrival we fund my wife and daughter very well. Both of them join in sending much love to you.
Yours as ever,
John
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Possibly by Gertude Bass Warner to John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
1928
Sinnanpao Shanghai
Purchase red—
Gertrude.
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
3 Hsi-Chiao Hutung
Peking, China
February 23, 1927.
Dear Gertrude,
Under separate cover I am sending you lantern slides made from the photographs of the things which you bought at Peking during your last trip. I think that you will find them to have been very well made and they will be a marked addition to your collection.
We are anxious to hear about your arrival at home. We are struggling along here in the same old way and the essential features of the situation remain just as they were.
My wife and daughter join in love to you and in kind regards to your mother, to Sam and his wife,
Yours sincerely,
John
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
Peking, China
September 15, 1925.
My dear Gertrude:
Your letter of July 20th came while we were at Peitaiho, where we spent more than two months. It was the first long vacation I have ever had in my life and I enjoyed it to the limit. After the investigating committees had reported on the Shanghai incident of May 30th and I had made my own reports to the government, I felt sure that several months would pass before any definite action. At the same time the military forces of Chang Tso-lin and Feng Yu-hsiang were so evenly balanced that there were no prospects of any fighting during the summer. This forecast of conditions allowed me to go to Peitaiho on the understanding that if I was needed at any time I would come back at one. Fortunately my judgments in this instance proved correct; nothing happened and I had my long vacation.
The outbreaks which have taken place in China since May have been part of the political struggle for supremacy which has been going on continuously since Sun Yat-sen set himself up against President Yüan Shih-k’ai. After the death of Sun Yat-sen last March, a large portion of Kuomintang Party adopted his communistic ideas. In this action they were strongly supported by the Soviet Ambassador Karakhan and by the agents of the Third International [Borodin, Sneevliet, Roy]. The Russians spent large sums of money in stirring up trouble among the workmen, in subsidizing teachers and students, in corrupting the press and in maintaining all forms of propaganda. All of this fanned into flame the slow-burning embers of discontent which have been a constant factor in the situation in China for the last one hundred years. It was only an accident that the trouble broke out in Shanghai and there it was caused by the ill-advised action of the Municipal police. If this occurrence had not happened in Shanghai advantage would have been taken of some trifling incidents somewhere else. The outbreak was bound to come for the internal pressure need some channel of escape. It is idle to talk of a revival of Boxerism or of China coming under the control of the Soviets. One must not confuse the alarming symptoms with the real disease. There is no doubt that China is sick, but her sickness is caused by misgovernment and by some means or other the younger generation in China intend to have a better government for themselves than their fathers of grandfathers had. They may undertake the job in a very unintelligent and foolhardy way, but the principle underlying their actions is right; they want to make China a better country to live in.
Mary arrived from home ten days ago and will be here with us this winter. My wife has enjoyed the summer at Peitaiho and is now not only very healthy but vigorous. We all join in much love to you and in kind regards to Sam and his wife.
Yours as ever,
John
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
Peking, China
April 17, 1925.
My dear Gertrude:
Your letter of March 21st has just arrived with its enclosure of a check for $175.00, thus clearing our account. I know that you would remember the mistake in the price of one of those pictures and I am hoping that when you have an opportunity to open the box you will be as pleased with your things in their Western setting as you were when you saw them here in my house.
Mary and I have had a long visit of more than a month in Shanghai. Now Helen with her sister-in-law, Mrs. May, is visiting us here for a couple of weeks. As soon as they are gone Mary will have an opportunity of writing to you at greater length. This is only an acknowledgment of the receipt of your check.
Please give our very best regards to your mother and accept our love for yourself,
As ever,
John (C. Ferguson)
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
Copy
Peking, China
January 12, 1925.
My dear Gertrude:
Today is the first opportunity that I have had of sending your box. The American Express Company are taking a shipment of goods to Tientsin two days from now and have included your box in their list. Enclosed I am sending you a copy of the invoice. Please notice this invoice carefully. You will that the first item of “A large picture of bird and flowers” is charged $250.00. This is the amount which I quoted to you from the dealer at the time, but somehow or other in the account which my wife handed you it was put down for $150.00. It was a mistake. Please notice also No. 7. You asked me to send you, if possible, something from my own collection and as you had no birds among the pictures which you had bought I thought this picture of an eagle which is said to have been painted by the Emperor Hui Tsung of the Sung dynasty will lease you. I have given it to you at the price which I paid for it many years ago although it is worth far more than that now. I hope that you will approve of my selection.
I am enclosing also a copy of your account with me, from which you will see that there is now a balance due of Pk.$309.26, or the equivalent of U.S.$175.00. This settles up all our account up to the present time, including your commission for the slides and everything. If this letter reaches you in Shanghai and you have your American check book with you, just send me a check on your Chicago bank for $175.00, or wait till you get home before sending the check if this is more convenient for you.
I hope that you have seen in the South everything that you planned for and that Mrs. Seton, Mrs. Potter and yourself have kept well during the many changes of climate which you passed through.
Mary joins me in much love to you,
Yours sincerely,
J.C.F.
Enc.
ACCOUNT WITH MRS. MURRAY WARNER
--- --- ---
1923
By cheque U.S.$200 @ 180
Pk.$360.00
1924
Nov. 10
By cash
500.00
Dec. 31
By cheque U.S.$1350 @ 178 ½
2406.37
Pk.$3266.37
To 143 slides
$136.63
“ Invoice
1039.00
“ Peach-bloom porcelain
2400.00
Pk.$3575.63
By Balance due
309.26
Say U.S. $175.00
____________
Pk.$3575.63
John C. Ferguson
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and John Calvin Ferguson
Transcript:
Eugene, Oct. 9, 1925
My dear John:
Your letter of September 15th came this morning. I was so glad to hear from you and to know that all is well with you, and that you have had such a good vacation. I am also much relieved to hear that Mary Jr., has returned to China and to Peking. This shows me that you are not really worried about the conditions or the safety of the members of your family.
A short time ago I had a notice from Who’s Who, and as I would like to be in it, I told them among other things that I was sending in a renewal of my membership in the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.
You may remember that we spoke about this when I was in Peking, and I was going to attend to it when I was in Shanghai, only I didn’t. So I am turning to you to ask if you will not please send in a renewal of my membership. I am inclosing a draft on New York for $50 for a life membership, and if that is not sufficient, please let me know and I will send you the balance. I would like to have the journals sent to me, addressed Mrs. Gertrude Bass Warner, Oregon Museum of Fine Arts, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.
We have opened the tin lined case which contained the paintings, and we had quite a party over it. I like the picture of the eagle very much. It is an interesting, valuable and beautiful addition to the our collection of paintings.
I had such a good time in Peking. It gave me such pleasure to get things for the Museum, and it was such a joy to see you and Mary again, that when I received a letter from you I began to consider the possibilities of taking another consider the possibilities of taking another trip. However, I am inclined to think that a letter was not really necessary to set me thinking about it, were it possible for me to go at the present time.
We have a State wide drive in now for a fire-proof building in which the Museum collection is to be housed. At the present time an exposition and bazaar in Portland is being held to raise funds for the building, and of course it is only a question of time when we will get it.
Sam and Helen are well and happy. Helen is taking a course at the University, pegging away toward her degree.
To return to the Museum, the red and white glass vases that Mrs. Clarke purchased for me at your suggestion have come and I like them very much indeed. Should you come across a vase in white, blue and red glass, the three colors, I would like a beautiful example of it very much, if you would be so kind as to get it for me. I have not yet come across an article dealing with the old Chinese class. If nothing has been published on the subject, you might write a book about it.
With love to you and the two Marys,
Your old friend
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between John C. Ferguson and Murray Warner
Transcript:
91 Arlington Street,
Newton, Massachusetts
September 3, 1915
My dear Mr. Warner:
Your letter of August 9th, together with the cheque book and bank book, arrived just as I was going away for four days vacation. After returning, I went at once to Middletown to attend the Annual conference of the Chinese Students’ Alliance, and for these reasons my reply has been delayed. I had a most enjoyable time at the Conference, which was held at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. I made an address to the boys and girls on “Chinese Art”, and also acted as a judge in their debate, which was held in the Chinese language. About 150 young men and women were there, and it was truly inspiring to see the new blood of China. The son and daughter of Mr. C. J. Soong were present. Both seemed to be doing well. The daughter [Soong Mei-ling] is an especially charming girl, and seems to be a general favorite.
I am enclosing a resume of the accounts, dividing them, as you see, into two periods as far as the accounts of Murray Warner are concerned, and eliminating my own personal account. From the first period, which covered the transactions with the Flour Mill, you will see that there was a profit to me of Tls.156.83. From the second transaction, which covered the collection $2000 from Zee Foh Sue, you will see that there was a profit of Tls.1101.82. Together, these two items agree with the total of Tls.1258.65 which I used on my own personal account.
As I understand the situation, you desired me to keep the Tls.156.83. Against the receipt of $2000, which equals Tls.1468, I have set off the amounts used for the business. The first item was to the French lawyer, Cucherousset, for services in attempting to collect your notes against Lemiere. There is another item paid to Ellis & Hays for the same purpose. You also asked me to give Mr. Soong a commission, if I succeeded in collecting the amount from Mr. Zee. I thought that $100 was about right for his services, and paid him that amount. There are two other items for cablegrams. The item paid to Yeh Fang-yü for services was in connection with trying to get the contract for a battleship. I could not go to Peking at the time and it seemed that Mr. Yeh might be able to do something for us. I was in constant communication with the Fairfield Shipbuilding Co. in the hope that some business might be obtained. This Tls.200 was spent by me for the business, but I am quite prepared to have it charged to my account, if you so desire. If the original profit of Tls.156.83 is to go to me, and if you agree to the expenditure of Tls.200 for Yeh’s services, the balance due to you now would be Tls.1101.82. However, as I said in a previous letter, I am quite willing to forego the small profit of Tls.156.83, and am also prepared to pay Yeh’s expenses, if you so desire. Please let me know your wishes in this matter.
This account would have been sent to you three years ago, if I had had any idea at the time that the money collected from Zee was on your own personal account. I drew on this account, as you will see, very leisurely, always hoping that some business would develop so that the balance on hand could be sued for Company purposes, but at the same time with the understanding that the whole of it belonged to me. I had no thought of this not being the case until I surmised from the spirit of your letter, rather than from anything you said, that you were not feeling comfortable about the matter. I did not know the reason, but thought the best way to handle the matter situation would be to forward you the bank book and cheque book, and leave the whole matter in your hands. Now that I understand your wishes in the matter, the adjustment of the account is a small matter.
You will notice from the accounts that I did not collect the amount that young Middleton owes you. I have noticed from recent Shanghai papers that all of the three Middleton boys have gone to England to join the colors; so that probably your claim against Middletown will be hard to collect. The two notes from Lemiere are among my papers in my safe in Peking. I will send them to you when I return to China. I have written to the Taiping Rubber Company, asking them to send me a blank transfer, and when this comes I will sign it and send it on to you, so that the 187 shares may be transferred to your name.
I had hoped to go to China this autumn, but I am still uncertain. Things are so disturbed here and business is so bad that I am undecided as to where I can be of the greatest service to my own interests. It is still quite possible that I may go this fall, in which case I will have the opportunity of seeing you and Mrs. Warner.
My wife and I both join in kindest regards.
Yours sincerely,
John C. Ferguson
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between John C. Ferguson and Murray Warner
Transcript:
91 Arlington Street,
Newton, Massachusetts
June 19, 1915
My dear Mr. Warner:
I have just received from the Taiping Rubber Estates the enclosed dividend warrant for 0.35 taels, as dividend on the 187 shares in this company. It is too bad that the only result of your transaction with Lemiere should been the paltry sum of 187 1-tael shares in this Rubber Company. You will remember that I told you that I have the shares in my name, although I said I would transfer them to you at any time you wanted; but when I visited you in San Francisco you asked me to still keep them in my name. If you would like to have them transferred to you, please let me know and I will send the share script on to you at once. I have endorsed the dividend warrant to you.
The visit of the Chinese Commercial Commission has given me an opportunity of hearing recent news from China. I went down to New York to be present at the dinner given to the Commission by the American Asiatic Association, and there saw many of our old friends including Joe Patterson, Mr. P. H. Ashmead of the Canton and Hankow Railway, Straight, Menocal, C. D. Jamieson, and other. The Commission also visited Boston, and the Governor of Massachusetts appointed me as his special representative to co-operate with the committee of the Boston Chamber of Commerce and to look out for the Commission during their stay in Massachusetts. I enclose you a copy of the commission which the Governor gave me, as it was a most unusual procedure. I met the delegation at Providence, was with them during their stay in Boston, and went with them to Springfield. The Commission made an excellent impression on the business men of Boston, and it is to be hoped that the attention called to the trade of china by their visit may have some good results.
Sam was here last evening for dinner. He is a fine fellow and you and his mother have every reason to be proud of him. He has his last examination yesterday morning, and though he has been working very hard, yet he looked not so tired as I have seen him at other times. He should make a fine record for himself in his profession. He is going to Pawtucket on Monday, and tell me that he expects to be with you on July 4th or 5th. He is very jubilant over his engagement, and I hope it as pleasant for Mrs. Warner and yourself as for him.
With kindest regards to you both,
Yours as ever,
John C. Ferguson
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and Henry H. Hart.
Transcript:
Henry H. Hart
Oriental Arts
328 Post Street
San Francisco
December 15, 1932.
Cable Addresses:{LOTUS ALOHA
Codes: Bentley’s A B C 6th Edition
Telephone
DOuglas 8675
Mrs. Gertrude Bass Warner,
Director,
University of Oregon Museum of Art,
Eugene,
Oregon.
My dear Mrs. Warner:
I am in receipt of your letter of December 13th. with [sic] reference to the fresco which we have discussed in our correspondence. I shall be very pleased to set aside the fresco and hold if [sic] for you,without [sic] obligation on your part,until [sic] you come to San Francisco.
For your information I may say that the retail price of the fresco of this size is $1250.00. I have made a price to museums of $750.00, and you of course will be entitled to that price in case you desire the fresco.
I shall observe your request not to mention the possibility of your coming to San Francisco at this time.
With best wishes for the holidays, in which Mrs. Hart joins me, I am
Ever sincerely yours,
Henry H. Hart
HHH:B
P.S. You may be interested to know that since I wrote you last the University of California has acquired another of the frescoes for its museum.
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Liam Maher.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and Henry H. Hart.
Transcript:
December 14th, 1932
Mr. Henry H. Hart
328 Post Street
San Francisco,California [sic]
Dear Mr. Hart:
Since writing you yesterday,conditions [sic] have arisen which makes it unadvisable for me to consider buying the fresco at this time.
Thank you for your kindness,I [sic] am
Sincerely yours,
Gertrude Bass Warner
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Liam Maher.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and Henry H. Hart.
Transcript:
December 13, 1932
Mr. Henry Hart
328 Post Street
San Francisco, California
Dear Mr. Hart:
Your letter of December 9th giving me the history of the fresco of Buddhist angels which I saw in the basement of your shop,has [sic] been received.
It seems to me that you have provided a history of this fresco which is sufficient for identification purposes.
Would it be possible for you to hold this fresco until a couple of days after Christmas when I could come down and see it again??Please [sic] let me know as I will not make the journey unless by so doing the fresco would become available in case I should decide to buy it and we can come to satisfactory terms.
Kindly do not mention to anybody the possibility of my coming.
With kindest regards,
Sincerely yours,
Gertrude Bass Warner.
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Liam Maher.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and Henry H. Hart.
Transcript:
Henry H. Hart
Oriental Art
328 Post Street
San Francisco
December 9, 1932
Mrs. Gertrude Bass Warner,
Director,
University of Oregon,
Museum of Art,
Eugene,
Oregon.
My dear Mrs. Warner:
I was very pleased to receive your letter of December 6th. and to learn that you are interested in the frescoes which I brought back with me from China this past Spring.
I shall try to answer your questions as categorically as possible.
1. It is impossible to tell how many sections there were in the original group of frescoes. No record exists to describing the fresco, so we cannot know the entire scene. Over half of the sections were broken during the process of removal from the wall of which they were a part—this loss has occured [sic] everywhere in China when frescoes are removed.
2. As far as the frescoes remaining show, the scenes were of adoration of Kuan Yin, showing Boddhisattvas [sic] in kneeling position, offering incense and lotus-flowers. Other parts show Boddhisattvas [sic] journeying through the heavens, and still others (these are smaller, horizontal pieces, now on exhibit at the Legion of Honor Museum here), show miracles worked by Kuan Yin in saving people from death.
3. The period of the fresco is late Sung or Yüan.
4. You ask for my authority for my information. If it is with reference to the dating of the frescoes, my authority is a study over a period of fourteen years in China, with Chinese scholars and connoisseurs, plus a careful study of all that has appeared in Western countries with reference to frescoes. This latter material has been very scarce up to the present time. However, from all authorities, we know that gesso work—that is, accentuation of part of the fresco by means of plaster applied as though from a pudding tube on the surface and colored, did not occur during the T’ang period. Therefore these pieces cannot be T’ang. Next, we know that the Sung era thought of and created the Boddhisattva type in female form, the Ming period reverting in large part to the masculine conception of the idea. Moreover, the Ming form has certain characteristics and colors peculiar to it. These are more particularly a loss of ability to represent the human figure in simple flowing line, resulting in a wealth and often a weight of drapery in the Ming frescoes, with heavier colorings, rather than the light, slender figures of the Sung frescoes. The Ming head-dresses become heavier, too, and the whole conception of these supernatural beings has something heavy about it lacking the grace of line and lightness in feeling of the Sung pieces.
In addition to this information I have two small articles written out for me by the two best-known connoisseurs of frescoes in North China. Nothing is known in Chinese literature on frescoes (which they call simply “ni pi”—mud paintings) and what is known by collectors has been handed down by oral tradition.
According to the statement made by the collectors from whom I bought these sections of fresco, they originated in the Hsing T’ang Temple, near Chiang Chou, in Shansi Province. The Chinese reads as follows: “Shansi, Chiang Shou, I San Hsien, East Wall, South sixteen li, Hsiao Ni village, Hsing T’ang Temple, five li from village.” This temple was famous as being that to which the T’ang Emperor, Ming Huang, retired shortly after the death of his favorite concubine, Yang Kuei Fei. He became a monk and died in this temple. This information was substantiated by experts who examined the frescoes while I was in Peking this Spring.
Tradition assigns Chu Hao Ku as the painter of these frescoes.
In 1931 Fëng Yu Hsiang ordered the secularizing of the temple and its conversion into a school. At that time the frescoes were sold as a whole, removed from the wall, and taken to Peking, where I found them on my last visit, in February of 1932.
As above stated, these pieces were authenticated by Chinese experts, and I have one statement written in Chinese. This I have translated. In Japan enlarged photographs were studied and passed by Mr. Harold Henderson, for thirteen years on the staff of the Metropolitan Museum of New York, now engaged in further research work. In San Francisco they were seen by Mr. Shiota,who [sic] stated to me that they were as fine as any he hadever [sic] seen. They were also seen here by the world-famous collector, General Muenthe, of the Peking gendarmerie, who likewise pronounced them genuine, by Edgar Walter, by M. Pascal Bonetti, Director of the Beaux-Arts and of the Louvre, by Miss McLane, Curator of the Honolulu Art Academy, and by various other curators. One has been acquired by the Fuller Museum of Seattle, two by the Louvre in Paris, one by the Museum of the Legion of Honor, here in San Francisco (in addition to which Mr. Albert Bender has just given another to the same institution), two are in the University of California and several are inprivate [sic] collections.
I shall be glad to give you other notes, such as the preparation of the walls, the type of colors used, the method of removal, etc., in case you decide to go further into the matter.
Mrs. Hart and I are happy that you enjoyed your visit to our store and hope that we may soon have the pleasure of seeing you here again.
Very sincerely yours,
Henry H. Hart
HHH:B
P.S. You may be interested in reading a paragraph of the letter received from M. Henri Verne, Director of the National Museums of France, after the fresco acquired by them had been received and inspected by the French and Chinese experts of Paris.
“Les deux fresques chinoises prendront place au Musee’ [sic] du Louvre, dans les Collections du Département des Arts de l’Asie, au développement duquel nous apportons des soins d’une importance chaque jour grandissante.”
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Liam Maher.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and W.W. Taylor & Company.
Transcript:
W. W. Taylor & CompanyImporters & Exporters, Proprietors of Ye Olde Curio Shoppe and the Seoul Garage & Sales Co.
Seoul, Chosen
December 8th, 1924
Registered
Mrs. Murray Warner
International Banking Corp
Shanghai China
Dear Mrs. Murray:
Your letter of the 22nd of November has just put in an appearance. Not so bad when we remember that it takes two weeks some times to get a letter from Kobe and a week from Chemulpo which is twenty six miles down the coast.
I am very glad to note thatbyou [sic] have had a good trip and that you have been able to get some good things in the Turbulent Peking. I would very much like to take a trip to Peking and feel that I could pick up lots of things worth while. Some day when I get affairs in such shape here I am going to have a store in Peking and possibly one some where else.
I am sending enclosed a Copy of the History and Translation of the things that I sold you. If this does not cover all please let me know and Ill [sic] be glad to be able to furnish any further information or historical data that I have or can obtain. I have made it as short as possible as I thought it best this way rather than a 11ng drawn out affair. Please write and let me know if this is satisfactory. I have sent it just as it was translated by the Koreans.
Recently the Household effects of Prince Min were placed on the market. I was able to get three of the most wonderful Pearl Inlay Chests that I have ever seen. One is a wonder. I dont [sic] know whether this sort of thing interests you but it is the best specimen of Korean work of this sort that I have ever had. The collection that I now have is most complete and really I think it worth your whi [sic] while. I have also bought some very pretty Blue and Whites. and I have my eye on several other things so altogether I think it would be worth your while to stop over for a day.
Wihh [sic] very kindest regards to you all and trusting to meet you again and hopeing [sic] to hear from you
I remain
Yours sincerely
[Signature]
Please excuse mistakes but I have one bad finger and I keep pressing the wrong keys
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Liam Maher.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and W.W. Taylor & Company.
Transcript:
W. W. Taylor & CompanyImporters & Exporters, Proprietors of Ye Olde Curio Shoppe and the Seoul Garage & Sales Co.
Seoul, Chosen
July 6th, 1926
Mrs [sic] Gertrude Boss [sic] Warner
Womans [sic] Building
University of Oregon
Eugene Oregon U. S. A.
Dear Mr [sic] Warner:
In going over the docuements [sic] that we received from The Dollar Steamship Uo we find that they did not acknowledge the recipt [sic] of the Consulare- Invoice and the Certificate of Antiquity which we are postive [sic] we sent to them and which we mention in our letter of instructinos at the time we sent the docuements [sic] forward. The mistake is entirely theirs but we are fortunate enough to have discovered so have had copies made which I enclose. I hope that you have not been caused any inconvenience.
The money which you were kind enough to sen d [sic] has been received by the International Banking Co Kobe and I have sent over to have a draft forwarded to me. Thanks very much its most useful these dull times.
I have been picking up some nice people that have drifted outfrom [sic] the palace after the burial of the last Emperor. I was bale to buy the chair that he rode around in- in the palace. When will you come out to see us again
Yours sincerely,
[Signature]
2 Enclosures.
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Liam Maher.
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Correspondence between Gertrude Bass Warner and H.C. Harvey.
Transcript:
April 6th, 1933
Mr.H.C.Harvey [sic]
3526 N.E.22nd Ave.
Portalnd, Oregon.
Dear Mr [sic] Harvey:
Your letter of April 4th,telling [sic] me about your mother’s collection,has [sic] been received. I regret to say that because of the depression and because the museum collection more than fills the building,I [sic] am not adding to it.
Thanking you for the offer and I am regretting that I am not in the market for beautiful things.
Sincerely yours,
Gertrude Bass Warner
End of transcript.
Transcribed by Tom Fischer.