CHINA, LATE QING DYNASTY (1644-1911), APOCRYPHAL QIANLONG MARK

Antony Tao (1919–2019), born in Antony, France to a Chinese father and French mother, maintained a lifelong connection with China. His father, Colonel Samuel Tao, served in the Chinese military mission in France during World War I and corresponded with Antony until 1937, the year of his final letter from Nanjing.

As a mathematics professor and high school principal for 27 years, Antony Tao worked around the world, including in China. In 1946, he accepted a post in Shanghai offered by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, marking the start of his deep engagement with Chinese culture. He arrived that year aboard the ship Le Sontay and remained in China until 1951.

Tao’s passion for Chinese culture extended well beyond his collection of artworks from Shanghai. In retirement, he devoted himself to research and authored several books, including Shamanism and Ancient Chinese Civilization (2003), God and the Tao (2007), and China Facing Modernity (2015).

His legacy as a collector and scholar continues to resonate with those drawn to the depth and richness of Chinese art and tradition.