Alfred Baur Paintings

Alfred Baur was born on September 5, 1865, in Andelfingen, Switzerland. He is not primarily recognized as an artist but as a pioneering collector and a significant figure in the appreciation and collection of Asian art, particularly the arts of East Asia. His professional journey began in the field of business, which eventually led him to reside in various parts of Asia, including a significant period in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) where he made his fortune in the tea trade. This exposure to Asian cultures ignited Baur's passion for their art and artifacts, leading him to amass one of the most important private collections of Asian art in the early 20th century.

Throughout his life, Baur dedicated immense time and resources to collecting pieces from Japan, China, and Southeast Asia, with a notable focus on ceramics, jades, and netsuke (small carved toggles used to attach pouches to traditional Japanese garments). His collection became renowned for its quality, breadth, and the rarity of some of its pieces, particularly in the areas of Chinese and Japanese ceramics. Baur's approach to collecting was methodical and scholarly, and he worked closely with experts in the field to ensure the authenticity and historical significance of his acquisitions.

In 1924, Alfred Baur founded the Baur Foundation, Museum of Far Eastern Art in Geneva, Switzerland, to house his growing collection. His intention was not just to preserve the artifacts but also to make them accessible for public viewing and academic study, hoping to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of Asian cultures in the West. The museum opened to the public in 1964, several years after his death on January 29, 1951, in Geneva. Baur's legacy lives on through the museum, which continues to be a pivotal institution for the study and appreciation of Asian art. It holds over 9,000 objects, including some of the finest examples of Chinese porcelain and jade, as well as Japanese lacquer and netsuke, making it a testament to Baur's vision and dedication to the arts of Asia.