Alfred Baur (1866 - 1951) was highly successful, both as a Swiss businessman in Ceylon, and as a collector of Japanese lacquer and Chinese ceramics. In a letter to his long-term supplier of Japanese lacquers he stated that …‘Although I have been successful in business, I am prouder still of my collection of Chinese and Japanese Art’.
On occasion of the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Collections Baur Museum in Geneva, Pierre-Francis Schneeberger, formerly Keeper of the Baur Collection, describes the person behind the collections. We learn that at the end of the 19th century Alfred Baur went to Ceylon where he amassed a fortune by selling natural manure especially adapted to the fertilizing of coconut plantations. In connection with his business he built a private railway, the first on the island, and established various companies before returning to Switzerland after 22 years in Ceylon. His remaining years were divided between the management of his companies and the planning of his purchases and their display in suitable surroundings. The museum’s archives contain a large proportion of Baur’s correspondence with dealers and collectors, establishing the development of his interests in Far Eastern Art. Alfred Baur left his fortune in a Foundation for the Housing and Administration of his Collection; which also takes care of the publishing of well-researched and richly illustrated collection catalogues.

With 6 black/white plates and 14 colour plates, showing examples from Baur’s collection of sword fittings, netsuke, woodblock prints, Japanese porcelain, Chinese ceramics, Jade, and Snuff bottles.

Item location: Europe.