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    Amelia mazumder
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    Alex Heathcote, the great-great-grandson of Sir Alexander Heathcote, was responsible for bringing the Chinese statue to the auction room. Read summary of The Chinese Statue

    Alex Heathcote, the great-great-grandson of Sir Alexander Heathcote, was responsible for bringing the Chinese statue to the auction room.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
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    The narrator of the story appears to be a lover of art. His presence as a bidder at Sotheby’s Auction House to buy a piece of art suggests his love and admiration for art. He is even interested to know the history of the art pieces that are there including the history of the Chinese Statue and how iRead more

    The narrator of the story appears to be a lover of art. His presence as a bidder at Sotheby’s Auction House to buy a piece of art suggests his love and admiration for art. He is even interested to know the history of the art pieces that are there including the history of the Chinese Statue and how it came there. At the end, he even buys the statue for seven hundred and twenty guineas shows the fact that he is indeed a lover of art.

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    When Sir Alexander Heathcote was in China, he used to spend as much time it was possible to travel the country, with a Mandarin. One day, he visited the workshop of a talented craftsman who showed him an exquisite piece of art. The little statue, no more than six inches in height, was of the EmperorRead more

    When Sir Alexander Heathcote was in China, he used to spend as much time it was possible to travel the country, with a Mandarin. One day, he visited the workshop of a talented craftsman who showed him an exquisite piece of art. The little statue, no more than six inches in height, was of the Emperor Kung and as fine and example of Ming as the minister had seen. He then uttered the most undiplomatic words he had ever said that how he wished that statue was his. Sir Alexander regretted voicing his thoughts immediately as he heard the Mandarin translate them, because he knew only too well the old Chinese tradition that if an honoured guest requests something the giver will grow in the eyes of his fellow men by parting with it. A sad look came over the face of the little old craftsman as he handed the statue to Sir Alexander but the latter tried to decline it saying he was only joking. But at the end, he was bound to take the statue but he made it a point that he repay the generosity of the craftsman within a calendar year. This was how Sir Alexander Heathcote acquired the statue.

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    Amelia mazumder
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    Alex Heathcote sold the statue to save himself from his great debt. Alex gambled away all his wealth and was unable to pay the money for the debt. It was the “family honour at stake” which compelled him to sell the statue. Read summary of The Chinese Statue

    Alex Heathcote sold the statue to save himself from his great debt. Alex gambled away all his wealth and was unable to pay the money for the debt. It was the “family honour at stake” which compelled him to sell the statue.

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    Amelia mazumder
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    According to the old Chinese custom that when a stranger has been generous, one must return the kindness within a calendar year. So in order to reciprocate the old man’s generosity, Sir Alexander Heathcote planned out a surprise for him. First he transferred his funds and then with help and permissiRead more

    According to the old Chinese custom that when a stranger has been generous, one must return the kindness within a calendar year. So in order to reciprocate the old man’s generosity, Sir Alexander Heathcote planned out a surprise for him. First he transferred his funds and then with help and permission of the Queen, executed his plan. Almost a year to the day the minister, accompanied by the Mandarin, set out again from Peking for the village of the Ha Li Chuan. On arriving there, he requested the old man to accompany him on a short journey . They travelled for two hours up a thin winding path into the hills behind the craftsman’s workshop and only stopped when they reached a hollow in the hill from which there was a magnificent view of the valley all the way down to Ha Li Chuan. In the hollow stood a newly completed small white house of the most perfect proportions. Two stone lion dogs, tongues hanging over their lips, guarded the front entrance. This was gift, sanctioned by the Queen, given to the old craftsman for his generosity to Sir Alexander.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
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    When Sir Alexander Heathcote was in the great halls of the Imperial Palace, he walked as slowly as possible, taking in the magnificent collection of ivory and jade statues which were scattered casually around the building much in the way Cellini and Michelangelo today lay stacked against each otherRead more

    When Sir Alexander Heathcote was in the great halls of the Imperial Palace, he walked as slowly as possible, taking in the magnificent collection of ivory and jade statues which were scattered casually around the building much in the way Cellini and Michelangelo today lay stacked against each other in Florence. As his ministerial appointment was only for three years, Sir Alexander took no leave, but preferred to use his time to put the Embassy behind him and travel on horseback into the outlying districts to learn more about the country and its people.

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  1. Amelia mazumder
    Amelia mazumder
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    The Chinese Statue was auctioned as it was a valuable piece of art. Even though the statue was fake, it was a beautiful ivory statue and its base was priceless. Hence, after Alex sold it, the statue found its way to the auction room as an item to bid upon by the art lovers. Read summary of The ChineRead more

    The Chinese Statue was auctioned as it was a valuable piece of art. Even though the statue was fake, it was a beautiful ivory statue and its base was priceless. Hence, after Alex sold it, the statue found its way to the auction room as an item to bid upon by the art lovers.

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    Amelia mazumder
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    A Mandarin always accompanied Sir Alexander Heathcote during his stay in China. He acted as interpreter and guide for Sir Alexander as the latter was new to the place and to the language spoken there. Read summary of The Chinese Statue

    A Mandarin always accompanied Sir Alexander Heathcote during his stay in China. He acted as interpreter and guide for Sir Alexander as the latter was new to the place and to the language spoken there.

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    Amelia mazumder
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    Sir Alexander Heathcote, as well as being a gentleman, was an exact man. He was exactly six foot-three and a quarter inches tall, rose at seven o’clock every morning, joined his wife at breakfast to eat one boiled egg cooked for precisely four minutes, two pieces of toast with one spoonful of CooperRead more

    Sir Alexander Heathcote, as well as being a gentleman, was an exact man. He was exactly six foot-three and a quarter inches tall, rose at seven o’clock every morning, joined his wife at breakfast to eat one boiled egg cooked for precisely four minutes, two pieces of toast with one spoonful of Cooper’s marmalade and drink one cup of China tea. He would then take a hackney carriage from his home in 11 Cadogan Gardens at exactly eight-twenty and arrive at the Foreign Office at promptly eight-fifty-nine, returning home again on the stroke of six o’clock. He had been exact from an early age, as became the only son of a general.

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    Amelia mazumder
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    The little ivory statue was a fine example of Ming dynasty art. It was a statue of Emperor Kung. Sir Alexander felt confident that the statue was the work of the great Pen Q, who had been patronized by the Emperor. He was sure that the statue must have been crafted around the turn of the15th centuryRead more

    The little ivory statue was a fine example of Ming dynasty art. It was a statue of Emperor Kung. Sir Alexander felt confident that the statue was the work of the great Pen Q, who had been patronized by the Emperor. He was sure that the statue must have been crafted around the turn of the15th century.

    Read summary of The Chinese Statue

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