SIREN, Osvald (1879-1966). Chinese Sculpture from the Fifth to the Fourteenth Century. London: Ernest Benn, 1925.
4 volumes, folio. 623 collotype plates. Original brownish-grey cloth, upper covers with central gilt vignette, gilt-lettered spines (few tiny spots or rubbing or discoloration to extremities, vol.4 spine slightly skewed). Provenance: Bettie Holmes (bookplate); Dr. Stanley Charles Nott (ownership stamp on pastedown).
FIRST EDITION. Born in Helsinki, Sirén later became a professor at Stockholm University and curator at the National Museum of Art in Stockholm. Sirén's fascination with Chinese art began around 1914, leading him to make several trips to China, where he documented its gardens, architecture, and art through photography and writing. Chinese Sculpture is considered the cornerstone work on the subject. In 1956, he was awarded the Charles Lang Freer Medal for his contributions to the field of Asian art.
