Inside the Hong Kong collectors’ society that treats its antiques like ‘babies’
Hundreds of exceptional works go on show at HKMoA as a famously discreet circle of collectors marks its 65th year
Never mind that some of them are thousands of years old. The infants in question are, in fact, Chinese antiques, and their “parents” as such are members of the prestigious Min Chiu Society, a group of art collectors dedicated to the preservation and appreciation of classical Chinese arts and crafts.
We’re seated in the museum’s conference room, sipping hot oolong tea from porcelain cups and looking out of the floor-to-ceiling windows at the uninterrupted view of Hong Kong Island across Victoria Harbour. It’s an unusual moment of reflection found in a typically fast-paced, anxiety-ridden Hong Kong day.
“Most of our activities are dedicated to learning about these antiques and preserving their history,” says Chan. “We’re intensely passionate about gaining knowledge.”
Bridging the gap between collecting and connoisseurship, real luxury is derived from appreciating an object’s exquisite craftsmanship and understanding the historical context in which it was conceived.