What is It? Special Edition – Summers Past:

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Howard Yonet explained that this “What Is It?” story is bit complicated because it spans a thousand years.

In the year 1007 AD the Chinese Qingming Emperor sponsored summer festivities for his citizens on a river. He was so pleased that he had the best artists in China paint a huge scroll of the event. That scroll today hangs in the Forbidden Palace and is considered one of the most valuable paintings in the world.

Over the centuries other paintings of “A Summer Day on the River in Cathay” have been commissioned by various emperors.

The one I like best is the Yongzheng version of 1730 AD because all the figures and structures and nature ..and there are thousands….are outlined in ink and this gives it incredible detail.

This scroll was smuggled out of China by Chiang Kai-Shek when his Government and Army fled to Taiwan after World War II. It resides today in the National Museum of Taiwan in Taipei.

In the 1950’s the museum, in order to raise money, created wonderful quality photo copies of about 25% size (12 ft. x 1 ft.) of the original and sold them in their gift shop.

Somehow one of these scrolls found its way to the Santa Monica Salvation Army Store and I bought it for $10. These are photos that I took of sections of it.

WHAT IS IT?

(Editor’s note: Palisades resident Howard Yonet has an interesting collection of curios from around the world and with his permission, Circling the News is publishing one a week. About the collector: Dr. Howard Yonet was born in Brooklyn in 1934 and attended Brooklyn College. He went to Baylor Medical School and then returned to do an internship at Bellevue Hospital. Yonet completed his residency at the Manhattan V.A. and the Montefiore Hospital. During this time he went skiing in Vermont and the Catskills, and while traveling found barns filled with early American pieces. This led to his interest in American Antiques.

In 1965, he married Daniele, who was originally from Nancy, France. During the Vietnam War, Yonet was drafted as a medical officer and stationed in Landstuhl, Germany (1966-1969). This was close to the French border, which meant he and Daniele could visit her family.

While abroad, the Yonets took weekend trips through France and Italy, purchasing many interesting pieces at flea markets.

The family settled in Pacific Palisades in 1970 and Yonet practiced general radiology until 2006. He continued to acquire antiques and collectables at estate and garage sales and the Salvation Army Store. He also enjoyed looking for collectibles while traveling in Montana, Idaho, Colorado and Massachusetts. Daniele’s family helped add to his collection.)

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3 Responses to What is It? Special Edition – Summers Past:

  1. M says:

    Very interesting story…….BEAUTIFUL Scroll………..thank you, Howard.

  2. Paula Deats says:

    What strikes me is that the visuals are drawn from an impossibly high P.O.V. How was that done?

  3. 'Joy' says:

    OMG… How stunning. $10???? I can’t imagine how this treasure passed through so many hands unnoticed, disregarded and unappreciated. I’ve uncovered several true treasures at the Salvation Army store but this is just jaw-dropping!

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