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WHERE IS THE ALTAR OF THE GREEN JADE PAGODA

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

This is the second blog in a series to answer one of the most common questions we are asked as museum staff - where is a specific item that a visitor once saw on display at the Haggin Museum currently located.

THE ALTAR OF THE GREEN JADE PAGODA

In 1939, the Haggin Museum displayed the magnificent Altar of the Green Jade Pagoda.  It was lent to the museum by Chang Wen-ti, proprietor of the Chinese Jade Company in Los Angeles.  The display was part of a fund raising drive by Stockton’s Chinese community for the hungry and homeless children of China who had been affected by Japan’s invasion of their country in 1937.

Produced by some 150 artisans working over a ten year period in Shanghai, the pagoda stood 51” high, was 13” at its base and weighed over 75 pounds.  It rested upon an alter of three terraces, each surrounded by a grilled balustrade and connected by a series of stair cases. The entire display was made up of over 700 separate pieces.

It was packed up and stored here at the museum at Mr. Chang’s request during WWII.  Given the number of pieces involved and the increased security requirements for its display, the Haggin exhibited it.  Once in 1953, and again in 1957, the collection was carefully assembled and displayed.  During the 1957 showing it set a one-day museum attendance record of 6,082 visitors.

Then in 1964, San Joaquin County set in motion an action that led to the Jade Pagoda’s departure from Stockton.  Citing the fact that the Chang collection was not owned by the museum, the County sought $18,000 in back taxes from Mr. Chang’s heirs. The Haggin Museum was unable to assist the Chang family financially, so the heirs sought help elsewhere.  The Oakland Museum agreed to pay the back taxes and the Chang family donated the collection to that institution in February 1965.  Although slightly damaged during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the Jade Pagoda is located in the museum’s Natural Sciences gallery.   


Comments

  1. Friend of the courtNovember 16, 2016 at 3:01 PM

    would be interesting to see the appraisal on that, by the assessor. Seems like it would be pretty hard to find comps. Is art personal property?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sara JMay 3, 2019 at 10:55 PM

    There is a fight now over the fate of the display. From what I read, it is not on display now. The back story and present status is sad. It seems to be headed out of California.

    ReplyDelete
  3. RYFebruary 13, 2020 at 10:07 PM

    Landed at the Lizzard Museum of Lapidary Art, Oak Brook, Illinois, https://lizzadromuseum.org/?fbclid=IwAR2w6RSHaFtREdAdgKj-RYTCkv94XGeqwTkN-BoEdw3exHWenO2M3dzM1k0

    ReplyDelete

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