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Eight Chinese Silver 'Boy and Qilin' Pendants, Late Qing Dynasty-Republic Period
晚清-民國 銀鍍金、銀燒藍及銀製麒麟送子長命鎖一組八件
Late Qing Dynasty-Republic Period
Each depicts a qilin presenting a boy, symbolizing blessings of longevity and offspring. Crafted during the late Qing Dynasty to the Republican era, these “long-life lock” charms exemplify traditional auspicious motifs in Chinese decorative arts.
Length of largest 3 15/16 in., 10 cm. Approximate gross weight 416 grams.
Property from the RenLu Collection, Los Angeles, California.
This lot is located in New York.
Approximate gross weight 416 grams
Additional photos are updated before the sale via this link https://asian.smugmug.com/Sale-6479. Please read the above or contact us to request a complete condition report.
品相细图见链接 https://asian.smugmug.com/Sale-6479,品相报告见上文。图录中未说明品相的拍品并不等没有磨损、瑕疵或其他问题,请买家于拍前自行检查。落槌无悔,请对您的竞拍行为负责。
Property from the RenLu Collection, Los Angeles, California.
來源:
加州洛杉磯潤廬珍藏。
The RenLu Collection of Chinese Art (Part 3)
During the March 2025 New York Asia Week, we had the pleasure of presenting fifty exquisitely crafted Chinese gold and silver objects from the RenLu Collection—the personal treasures of Los Angeles-based furniture designer Robert Kuo. The March auction showcased a stunning array of hair ornaments, earrings, necklaces, bangles, and garment hooks, highlighting the exceptional craftsmanship of ancient Chinese goldsmiths—whose meticulous artistry continues to inspire. This fall, we are delighted to offer additional pieces from the RenLu Collection, which expands beyond gold and silver to include scholars’ objects, porcelain, and jade, promising another captivating offering.
Robert Kuo: Art, Design, and Collecting
Born in Beijing and raised in Taiwan, Robert Kuo grew up in a family steeped in artistic tradition. His father, Ming-Chiao Kuo (1917-2014), was a revered painter and cloisonné artist whose works were collected by institutions such as the Vatican Museum. Kuo began his journey as an apprentice in the family’s cloisonné studio, where he learned the painstaking processes of applying enamel to copper, shaping forms with precision, and mastering intricate color applications. These formative years instilled in Kuo a deep respect and appreciation for traditional Chinese decorative arts and an unyielding curiosity about materiality.
In 1973, Kuo moved to Los Angeles, where he established his first cloisonné studio. He began experimenting with new shapes, textures, and finishes, and soon developed a unique artistic vocabulary that harmonized Eastern and Western influences. His innovations were quickly recognized. His works began appearing in high-profile collections, including the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art.
In 1984, he built an airy, contemporary building in West Hollywood, located directly across from the Pacific Design Center at Melrose Avenue and San Vicente Boulevard in the West Hollywood Avenues of Arts & Design. The gallery quickly became a favorite stop for designers seeking distinctive, decorative objects for their discerning clientele.
By the mid-1980s, Kuo had expanded his repertoire beyond cloisonné, mastering repoussé, a technique of hammering decorative relief onto metal surfaces. He worked with artisans in China, learning and refining ancient metalworking techniques that he would later adapt to his own designs. Over time, his expertise grew to include lacquer, hard stone, and Peking glass. His pieces are found in prestigious spaces such as the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, the Ritz-Carlton Beijing, and the MGM Grand Villas in Las Vegas, as well as in the homes of celebrities such as Beyoncé, Will Smith, and Jennifer Lopez.
While Kuo is best known for his contemporary designs, the RenLu Collection reveals a different facet of his passion—one steeped in history, personal sentiment, and a deep appreciation for traditional craftsmanship. His collecting began during frequent trips to China in the early 1980s, where he found himself utterly captivated by ancient objects so intricate and refined that “it would have been rude not to take them home”. Many of these treasures were officially “gifts for my wife, Alice”—a charmingly strategic excuse that allowed Kuo to indulge his collecting habit without marital fallout.
For Robert Kuo, collecting is an extension of his artistic philosophy: he reinterprets traditional forms in ways that speak to modern sensibilities. This approach guides the RenLu Collection, in which each object is chosen not only for its material value but also for its artistry, historical significance, and enduring resonance.”
Through this auction, we invite collectors and connoisseurs to share
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