The Trudy and John Cohen Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles & Pendants Introduction by Robert Hall Robert Hall Gallery, London THE TRUDY AND JOHN COHEN COLLECTION OF CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES AND PENDANTS by Robert Hall It has been a great pleasure, long overdue, to review the snuff bottle and pendant collection of Trudy and John Cohen. It is a tribute to their artistic awareness that they have been able to assemble so many works of art in these two areas, while maintaining the common bonds of excellent workmanship, charming subject matter and, above all, that elusive bit of 'magic' (for want of a better word) that turns an inanimate object into something special and important. I first met Trudy and John at the galleries of Hugh Moss, Ltd in Bruton Street some 28 years ago. At the time, they struck me as a couple who were devoted to each other and to the pursuit of these miniature works of art. Since those heady days, they have built this large collection together, and it has taken me some time to become acquainted - or reacquainted - with all their acquisitions. I use the word 'acquisitions' lightly, but anyone who has formed or is forming a collection knows that it is often a laborious and sometimes lengthy process. One is not always able to obtain or, indeed, to afford what one would like; setbacks are frequent. Real collectors tend to forge ahead, taking risks and letting the chips fall where they may, even if they are often left wondering whether they were right to make decisions with such haste, but they have learned by experience that an opportunity lost by hesitation can cause lasting regret. Trudy and John have been diligent in their pursuit of snuff bottles and pendants, never letting the various dealers involved in their field forget that should anything in their taste appear, a phone call to the Cohens was absolutely de rigueur! The collection is notable for its supreme quality, proof of the Cohens' dedication to seeking only those objects that are artistically as well as technically brilliant. What is perhaps even more remarkable, however, is that most of the works in the collection possess a certain light-heartedness, a slight touch of whimsy, which faithfully reflect the spontaneous good humour and cheerfulness of their owners, whose lives are full of fun. Robert Hall Website: http://www.snuffbottle.com E-mail: roberthall@snuffbottle.com