BidAmount Asian Art News

Auctions Of Chinese and Asian Art, Auction Results News

  • Home
  • Weekly News Letter Page
  • The Forum
  • YouTube
  • plcombs Asian Art
    • Visit plcombs-Chinese-Asian Art
    • About, plcombs Chinese-Asian Art Antique Dealer | Massachusetts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • A Few Site Pages
  • Recomended Books
  • Blog
  • Sign Up-Global Member Pages
  • Sign In-Global Member Pages
You are here: Home / Chinese Art History Research / The Altman Collection of Chinese Porcelain

The Altman Collection of Chinese Porcelain

January 15, 2013 By plcombs Leave a Comment

The Altman Collection of Chinese Porcelain

A brief look at the collecting habits of Benjamin Altman of not only Asian works of art, but many other categories as well.

Altman began collecting art in 1882, when he purchased a fine pair of Chinese enamel vases that reportedly cost only thirty-five dollars (worth approximately $770 in 2010). However, according to the New York Times, by the time of his death Altman’s estimated fifteen million dollar (worth approximately 340 million in 2010) art collection comprised “one of the finest private collections of paintings and porcelain in existence.” Altman acquired most of his collection through the services of prominent art dealer Joseph Duveen. He made an almost weekly habit of visiting with Duveen at his art gallery on Saturday evenings after the close of business, and Altman helped Duveen relocate his business to 302 Fifth Avenue around the turn of the century. Altman eventually bequeathed all of his thirteen Rembrandts and paintings by other renowned artists such as Holbein, Botticelli, Hals, Velazquez, van Dyck, and Giorgione, a total of seventy-five old masters, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He also left a monetary legacy of $100,000 (worth approximately $2.3 million in 2010) to the National Academy of Design to support American artists. In addition, the Metropolitan received his rare collection of ivories, jades, carved crystal vessels, sculptures, Renaissance tapestries, and silk Persian and Indian rugs. Altogether he left around 1,000 items to the museum.  A few days after Altman’s death, the director of the Metropolitan called Altman’s magnanimous art bequest: “The most splendid gift any citizen has ever made to the people of the city of New York.”  The Altman collection of Chinese porcelain was one of the greatest gifts to the Metropolitan Museum throughout it's history.

In 1914, the Metropolitan published an illustrated catalog titled The Handbook of the Benjamin Altman Collection that included over 150 pages of information about the artworks. Altman’s collection was described: “Whether from a pecuniary or an educational standpoint… the greatest gift ever made by an individual to the Museum, notable alike for the wide range of interest it embraces and the uniformly high quality of its contents in whatever branch of art they represent… It was Mr. Altman’s ambition to leave to the people of [New York] with which his success in life had been identified, for their perpetual use and enjoyment, a collection of works of art of the highest possible standard.” Altman relied on experts like Duveen for advice in purchasing his art works, but never bought anything that didn’t appeal to him personally, no matter the piece’s reputation. He shied away from publicity about the collection and never discussed what he had paid for works, but many of the works were considered priceless treasures. Some thought that Altman paid one million dollars (worth approximately $25-$28 million in 2010) for two important portraits by Velasquez and a similar amount for four of his later Rembrandts, a very considerable sum at the time.

To enlarge the Book to full screen open the drop down menu as shown below in the book frame. "More Options" > "Enable Full Screen" 

Untitled-1


 

 

The Altman Collection of Chinese Porcelain
Fig. 1 Left: mantle set of five pieces in famille rose. Ch'ing dynasty,C h'ien-lung period (I736-1795).
Heights 2 5 and 23 inches. Right: three pieces from a set of five in famille noire. Qing dynasty,Kangxi Period
(I662-I722). Enamel on biscuit. Heights 24 and 18 inches
Kangxi Famille Verte Vase

Kangxi Famille Verte Vase

Kangxi Ox-blood and Peachbloom Porcelains Vases

Kangxi Ox-blood and Peach bloom Porcelains Vases

Yongle period Bowl

Yongle period Bowl

Song Ting ware bowls and vases

Song Ting ware bowls and vases

Kangxi Foo Lions Vases

Kangxi Foo Lions Vases

Qing Dynasty Porcelains

Qing Dynasty Porcelains

Kangxi Famille Noire and Enamel Vases

Kangxi Famille Noire and Enamel Vases

Kangxi Famille Noire and Enamel Vase with Dragons

Kangxi Famille Noire and Enamel Vase with Dragons

Kangxi Dynasty Kwanyin Figure

Kangxi Dynasty Kwanyin Figure

Famille Verte vase with Court Ladies

Famille Verte vase with Court Ladies

Apple Green Kangxi Vase with Cobalt Blue vase

Apple Green Kangxi Vase with Cobalt Blue vase

Famille Rose Yongzheng Porcelains

Famille Rose Yongzheng Porcelains

Kangxi Peachbloom Porcelains

Kangxi Peach Bloom Porcelains

Qianlong Turqoiuse Glazed vase

Qianlong Turqoiuse Glazed vase

Filed Under: Chinese Art History Research, Chinese Art reference Books Tagged With: Altman collection, blue and white, Kangxi Famille Noire Porcelains, Qianlong Famille Rose porcelains, Song dynasty, The Benjamin Altman Chinese porcelain collection, The Metropolitan Museum Altman Collection, Yongzheng porcelain

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

“When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.”

epn ebay partner
Bidamount is a member of the eBay partner network, eBay is a registered trademark of eBay Inc. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the Bidamount User Agreement and Privacy Policy. Bidamount, 185 Main Street Suite B., Gloucester, Ma. all content © 2006–2025

proudly powered by WordPress | web design by smallfish-design