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the Chinese art trade when the First World War
erupted, C.T. Loo, who had also successfully set up
shop in the United States, chose the gallery in Rue
de Courcelles as his epicentre. Europe still enjoyed a
glittering cultural aura, and Paris even more so. So
this is where he received his clientele – to dazzle
them as his rival Yamanaka had done with his Japanese
temple in the heart of New York. Loo sank a
fortune into this project: over FF8 million, according
to Géraldine Lenain – the equivalent of €4.5 million
today. Using a Louis-Philippe mansion as a base, the
architect Fernand Bloch installed imaginatively
reworked Chinese-style decoration, including
curved canopies with varnished tiles, elaborate
balustrades and a portico carved with tigers and
dragons. C.T. Loo spared no expense. On the
ground floor, he designed a "knights' room" with
caisson ceilings and friezes inspired by Han dynasty
reliefs. On the first floor, he decked out the salons
with 18th century lacquer panels made from Shanxi
screens. And on the top floor, he hung the Indian
gallery with luxurious wood panelling from a 19th
century residence in Pondicherry. All these interior
decorations are now listed as Historic Monuments.
This astounding Pagoda provided an exotic setting
for the collections of C.T. Loo, whose remarkable
ascension was finally halted by the Chinese revolution.
The arrival of the Communists destroyed the
business of this remarkable dealer, who thus lost a
crucial asset: his network. This fascinating emblem
is what remains of his success. After Loo died in
1957, the Pagoda remained in the hands of his
family until 2011, when after being sold and admirably
restored, it recovered its former glory. The
gallery, managed by Jacqueline Von Hammerstein,
now houses the celebrated dealer's archives and
library, and more than ever represents a corner of
Paris that is forever China.
Stéphanie Perris-Delmas
I
Arts Infine Brancati,
The Pagoda, 48 Rue de Courcelles, Paris
Jacopo
www.pagodaparis.com ©
W
92 GAZETTE DROUOT INTERNATIONAL I N° 23
The panels from the red salon decorated in flowers
and animals, made of Shanxi screens.