Flowers and Birds

Dr Tan Tsze Chor (1911-1983) was an early important collector of Chinese art from Southeast Asia, his collection was named “Cottage of the Fragrant Snow”. Hailing from Chao’an, Guangdong province, Tan began his career as an apprentice and later founded two trading companies, “Chang Feng” and “Long Rong”, selling specialty products from the Southeast Asian region. Because of his trade, Tan was widely known with his nickname “King of Pepper”. Tan amassed an impressive and extensive collection of Chinese paintings, ceramics, ink stones and seals over four decades.
With a passion in Chinese paintings, Tan met artist Xu Beihong through fellow businessman Huang Manshi. Tan and Xu became very good friends, and at Xu Beihong’s recommendation, Tan acquired over a hundred works by Ren Bonian that he subsequently published in the catalogue Jen I’s Paintings in 1953.