Bronzes antiques de la Chine appartenant à C. T. Loo et Cie. by Tch'ou, Tö-Yi; Pelliot, Paul - 1924

Paris, France: Librairie Nationale d'Art et d'Histoire, 1924. Issued October 30, 1924. G. van Oest, editor. Printed by l'Imprimerie Protat Frères a Macon. With heliotype plates produced by Léon Marotte. First and presumed only printing of this book. With unstated limitation but probably no more than 500 copies printed. Principal text in French and English, with secondary text in Chinese. 13.5 x 10.5 inches. Original paper wrappers and over-wrappers, European-style. The over-wrappers are somewhat age-darkened, and with title page reproduced on the front over-wrapper. Virtually unbumped spine head. Spine tail with half-inch tear. Unbumped corners. The wrapper is firmly attached to the text-block. Very light, seven-inch long moisture stain to the front wrapper; quite minor, a cosmetic issue only, and not showing on the underside of the wrapper. Else the wrappers and over-wrappers are exceptionally clean. Off-setting to the front and rear FEPs from the over-wrappers. The book contains 68 numbered pages, plus 40 unnumbered pages of XL duotone plates, as called for. A few of the plates with the notation "sold" in the margin in soft lead pencil. With gently deckled top, fore and bottom page edges to a handsome effect. The book is clean, inside and out, except as noted. A Very Good copy. Very scarce in any condition. An extremely valuable reference work for collectors and dealers of ancient Chinese bronzes. Specifically, this is a catalogue of ancient bronzes that Loo brought from China to France in the early 1920s and offered for sale at his Paris gallery. The principal art-historical periods mentioned in the catalogue include the Shang, Chou, Ts'in, Han and Tang Dynasties. The Chinese art dealer C. T. Loo (1880-1957) held court at his galleries in Paris, New York, London and Beijing. He stocked frescoes, temple statues and freshly excavated bronzes, in addition to jades, porcelains and other antiquities. An undoubted connoiseur, Loo was accused of looting priceless originals as well as knowingly marketing fakes during his career. He is still controversial in China. As is noted in the introduction to this very catalogue, even in the early years of the 20th century the market was flooded with reproductions of antique Chinese bronzes and even a discerning eye was sometimes fooled.. First French Edition. Paperback. Very Good. Folio - over 12" - 15" tall.