Never mind that some of them are thousands of years old. The infants in question are actually Chinese antiques, and their “parents” are members of the prestigious Min Chiu Society, an art collecting group dedicated to preserving and appreciating classical Chinese arts and crafts.
We sit in the museum’s conference room, sipping hot oolong tea from porcelain cups and looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows at an unobstructed view of Hong Kong Island across Victoria Harbour. It’s an unusual moment of reflection found in a typically fast-paced, anxious Hong Kong day.
“Most of what we do is dedicated to learning about these antiques and preserving their history,” says Chan. “We are very passionate about acquiring knowledge.”
Bridging the gap between collecting and connoisseurship, true luxury comes from appreciating the fine craftsmanship of an object and understanding the historical context in which it was designed.