Lot 247

Overall in good condition.


The opinions expressed in the condition reports are a guide only and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Prospective buyers are encouraged to seek further information or request additional images during our pre-sale period where Leonard Joel staff are available for advice. Please note condition reports can be amended during the pre-sale period, so we strongly suggest any interested bidders check the published condition report available on the website before the auction commences. Leonard Joel makes no guarantee of the originality of mechanical or applied components. Absence of reference to such modifications does not imply that a lot is free from modifications.

The Estate of W.Y. Thomas Kwok (1944 - 2017), Hong Kong, acquired in Hong Kong in the 80s.

Born in Macau, Mr. Kwok studied architecture in Melbourne and built a four-decade career with Wong & Ouyang, shaping Hong Kong's skyline. His collecting began with Japanese occupation stamps (1941 - 1945), issued during Japan's wartime administration of Hong Kong and other territories. Gradually, his passion shifted to jade, inspired by visits to auction houses.

At the time, Hong Kong's auction scene was emerging with Sotheby's debuted in 1973, Christie's in 1986. By the late 1980s, Kwok was attending smaller sales, joining the city's first generation of serious collectors. His jade holdings embody not only technical excellence and cultural symbolism but also the personal evolution of a connoisseur whose interests bridged philately, architecture, and Chinese art heritage.