Percival Yetis. Its secretary Mr. W.R.M. Lamb, the Secretary of the Royal Academy. Five members of the Executive Committee, Sir /Pereival David, Mr. Eumorfopoulos, Mr. Hobson, Professor Pelliot and.
Mr. Raphael, are now in Shanghai, With Chinese colleagues here they' have arranged for the selection and. eventual embarkation of the exhibits. When the Exhibition opens in London it will be found to include also "a number of rare objects, from private and public collections jin Europe and America" as well as: Tecent archaeological discoveries. Apart from those additions, however, the public here has now the opportunity of seeing a most magnificent display of Chinese art such as never before has been shown in Shanghai. Tt will form the bulk of the exhibits to be seen. in London next November and thus gives Shanghai a privilege which, seven months hence, will be eagerly sought after by the art-loving [public in Great Britain.
Twenty-six years ago on the top floor of the then existing Telephone Exchange, Shanghai was able to see remarkable exhibition of Chinese porcelain. It is significant that it fs necessary to go as far back a over a generation ago, and that in the declining years of the Empire, to find a parallel for this Exhibition, which nevertheless is far more comprehensive in hat it is not ex-Jclusively concerned with porcelain. In November, 1908, the Porcelain. Exhibition was arranged by_ the Royal Asiatic Society, North China pres we eet David Landale and the then of Nanking, Tuan Fang, supplied Jsome magnificent specimens, in-duding 2 pottery house with a Tad out of the window, supposed to be 1300 years old, a' model chariot, bases "ands remarkable pottery pillow, Rideously uncomfortable one would' Ghink but bravely coloured to quote from the contemporary report in this journal. Mr. C. [Liddell, as Chairman of the Committee, in thanking Mr. Landale, made special reference to the jiabours of Mrs. Florence Ayscough who also contributed among other pieces extraordinary carved ivory figure of the god of old age stand ing about seven inches in height and of Mr. F. E, Wilkinson who had prepared the catalogue. The Taotai Shen Tun-ho translated both speeches into Chinese for the benefit of his countrymen present. It will be seen that the present and more important Exhibition is, directly under the patronage of the Chinese Government and Mr. Wang. Ching-wei himself has come here to emphasize the fact. Indeed it will be the first time that one of these international exhibitions at Burlington House is held under the auspices of the British Government and the Government of the country from which the exhibits come. Their Majesties the King and Queen and the President of the Chinese Republic are officially described as patrons. The Chinese Government is thus to be warmly congratulated on giving its full authority to a movement for the study of Chinese art. Shanghai can only claim accidental association with most of the treasures now be-jing shown here. Their proper resting place is Peiping whither, presumably, in due course they will return. But "it would be pleasant if the occasion could be Used to inspire the City Government of Shanghai—perhaps in cooperation with the other authorities here—for the ultimate fulfilment of} a long-felt want: a really adequate art museum and picture gallery. To elaborate that idea in a time of depression would be perhaps inappropriate. It is put on record for future examination. In the meantime it is sufficient to give the art treasures a cordial welcome and exhort Shanghai to take full advantage of the opportunity of seeing and admiring them,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.