Hong Kong: The Chater Legacy – A Selection of the Chater Collection

South China Morning Post, Hong Kong
April 12, 2007 Thursday

The Chater Legacy – A Selection of the Chater Collection

by Katie Lau

Hong Kong Museum of Art
Ends Jan 8, 2008

The well-restored artworks from the collection of Paul Chater belie
the ravages of the Japanese occupation, when many of the pieces went
missing. More than 40 of the 90 or so remaining pieces – most
recovered from rubbish dumps and antique shops over the years – are
now on display to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Hong Kong
Museum of Art.

Chater, an Indian-born Armenian, settled in Hong Kong in 1864 and
became a wealthy merchant and prominent government official (Chater
Road and Chater Garden are named after him). He left his private
collection of paintings and ceramics to the people of Hong Kong in
his will.

The selection, featuring lithographs, watercolours, oil paintings and
engravings, depicts foreigners’ impressions of South China trading
ports such as Canton, Macau and Hong Kong in the 18th and 19th
centuries, and includes cityscapes, street scenes, rituals and
everyday life. History buffs should enjoy China Wars – a series of 18
works portraying battleships, treaty signings and other key
Sino-British events.

10 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui. Inquiries: 2721 0116

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS