Schuyler Cammann Obituary and parti

1. A Note Two Statues in the Museum.
Regarding European Bangkok Ki was sent as a naval officer on toWestern
special assignment
Journal of theSiam Society 66 (2) (1978). China and Inner His wartime became
Mongolia. experiences
A. B. Griswold and Prasert na and Historical the subject of his first book, The Land of theCamel, published
Nagara, Epigraphic
Studies nos. 1-24. All published in theJournal of theSiam Society (JSS), in 1951.
as follows:
(1) A Declaration of Independence and Its Consequences. After the war, Cammann returned to
graduate work, this
JSS 56 (2) (1968); (2) The Asok?r?ma Inscription of 1399 A.n. JSS 57 time at Johns Hopkins. He came to the University of
(1) (1969); (3)The Pact Between Sukhodaya andN?n. JSS 57(1) (1969); Pennsylvania as a Lecturer inChinese Studies in 1948, and upon
(4) A Law Promulgated by the King of Ayudh? in 1397a.d. JSS 57 receipt of his Ph.D. the following year was appointed assistant
(1) (1969); (5)A Pact Between Uncle and Nephew. JSS 58 (1) (1970); professor. Schuyler Cammann's entire academic career was
(6) An Inscription in Old Mon FromWieng Man? in Chieng Mai spent at the University of
Pennsylvania.
At the age of 70, he
Province. JSS 59 (1) (1971); (7) The Inscription of V?t Traban Jan retired as Professor Emeritus in the Department of Oriental
Ph?ak. JSS 59 (i) (1971); (8) The Inscription of V?t Jan Lorn (1384a.D.). Studies and Curator Emeritus in the Museum.
University
JSS 59 (1) (1971); (9) The Inscription of King R?ma Gamh?n of During Ki's first decade at Penn his time was spread among
Sukhodaya (1292 A.D.). JSS 59 (2) (1971); (10) King L?daiya of the four areas that would characterize his life and scholarly
Sukhodaya and His Contemporaries. JSS 60 (1) (1972); (11)The interests from then on. He was an excavator, journal editor,
Epigraphy ofMah?dharmar?j? I of Sukhodaya, Part I. JSS 61 (1) (1973), member of learned societies, and television
personality.
In 1951
Part II JSS 61 (2) (1973); (12) Inscription 9.JSS 62 (1) (1974); (13)The he did archaeological reconnaissance for potential digs in
Inscription ofWat Pra Y?n. JSS 62 (1) (1974); (14) Inscription of the Thailand, Cambodia, Java, Bali, India, and Pakistan and he was
Siva of K?mben Bejra. JSS 62 (2) (1974); (15)The Inscription of V?t a member of University Museum excavation teams at Gordion
Khem?. JSS 63 (1) (1975); (16) The Inscription of V?t Brah Stec, Near and Kunduz in 1953. In the later 1950s he was ajournai editor
Sukhodaya. JSS 63 (1) (1975); (17)The "Judgments of King Man Ray." and then vice president of the American Oriental Society. He
JSS 65 (1) (1977); (18) The Inscription of V?t Jya? Hm?n (Wat Chieng was also a fellow of the American Council of Learned Societies
Man). JSS 65 (2) (1977); (19) An Inscription from Keng Tung and the American Anthropological Association. Eventually he
(1451 A.D.). JSS 66 (1) (1978); (20) The Buddhapada of V?t became director of the Council for Old World Archaeology
Pavaranivesa and Its Inscription. JSS 66 (2) (1978); (21) The Second and director of the Far Eastern Association (predecessor to the
Oldest Known Writing in Siam.JSS 67 (1) (1979); (22) An Inscription Association for Asian Studies). During his career Cammann
from V?t Hin Tan. JSS 67 (1) (1979); (23)An Inscription of 1529 a.d. also served as president of the Philadelphia Anthropological
from Sukhodaya. JSS 67 (2) (1979); (24) An Inscription of 1563a.d. Society and twice as president of the Philadelphia Oriental
Regarding a Treaty Between Laos and Ayudhy? in 1560.JSS 67 (2) Club.
(1979). Participation in the last two organizations was typical of the
role Schuyler Cammann enjoyed as the local expert in Asian
art. Itwas the CBS
Philadelphia television series 'What in the
World" that carried his fame beyond the Delaware Valley.
Between 1951 and 1955 ne was a member of the elite panel of
Schuyler Van Rensselaer Cammann (1912-1991) art historians, and connoisseurs who presented
archaeologists,
themselves at the network:
headquarters every Sunday morning
to be obscure treasures or artifacts 01 the Uni
stumped by
When he died on September 9, 1991, Schuyler Van Rensselaer versity Museum Collection. Many who never
actually
met
Cammann had two to mail and was Cammann still recall his television appearances. Whereas other
manuscripts nearly ready
making preparations for a trip to Australia. Still an avid panelists would take their time mulling over an object, going
mountain climber, at age 79 Ki (as he was known to his friends) through their thinking process before stating what they be
was as
eager
to travel the and write about it as lieved it was, and even it rumor has it that
unexplored "hamming up,"
he had been when he first went to China in 1935. when his turn came Ki would in a sentence tell the audience
Schuyler V. R. Cammann was born in New York City and exactly what was in front of him. No one remembers him ever
was educated at St. Paul's School on Long Island and the Kent making
a mistake.
Occasionally
this led to extra time in the
School, Kent, Connecticut, where he was a member of the class show for which the Museum Registrar had selected a finite
of 1931. He was awarded his B.A. from Yale College in 1935 number of
objects.
and a decision took him Ki returned to television in 1966, this time as narrator for
upon graduation spur-of-the-moment
to Changsha as a teacher of English and European history a
forty-four segment series on Southeast Asia. Cammann
through the Yale-in-China program. Ki stayed in Changsha believed in bringing his material to the public and in making
two years, traveling whenever he could and becoming fluent himself accessible to them. Throughout his life Ki offered
inChinese. The following year he conducted what he described advice and support for local and distant collectors and rug
as "informal field anthropology" while traveling, often by dealers with all varieties of collections.
foot, across Burma, Western China, Tibet, and North India. In the 1960s Ki Cammann moved near the and
university
Ki picked up languages en route. Cammann's lifelong research became very much a part of theWest
Philadelphia university
interest in Tibetan art was forged during that year, when he community.
He knew every Asian restaurant within a several
catalogued the Tibetan collection in theWestern China Union mile radius of campus and relished inviting students and classes
University Museum in Chengdu. His return to the United to
accompany him to a favorite or to
try
a new one. When
States via Europe led to his assistance in catalogues of the pressed,
it was clear that he knew restaurants and hotels, as
Tibetan collections of the British Museum and Mus?e well as monuments and collections, in the countless countries
de l'Homme in Paris. Eventually he would also catalogue the of his travels.
Tibetan holdings of the Field Museum in Chicago and the In the course of his career Schuyler Cammann lectured in
National Museum of Denmark. almost every country of
Europe and was on several occasions
Ki enrolled in Harvard Graduate School and was awarded a
visiting professor
or lecturer there. He wrote four books,
a master's in 1941, but his career was cut short several exhibition and so many articles and reviews
degree graduate catalogues,
by the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Already in the Naval Reserve, that even he lost track of some of them. The bibliography that
96

2. follows has been selected from his own records. Patterns on Chinese Bronze Mirrors. Archives
Significant of the Chinese
Ki once described himself to a university colleague who Art Society of America 9 (1955) .-43-62.
audited several of his courses as the "last generalist." This label AbstractSymbols: Some Early Chinese Symbols of
Duality [The Lo-shu,
surely characterizes the breadth of his scholarly interests? Ho-t'u, and the Eight Trigrams]. History of Religions 24 (3) (February
magic squares, Chinese costume, virtually
toggles, badges, i985):215-254.
every aspect of Chinese rugs, numerous ventures
symbolism, of Yin-Yang In Charles LeBlanc
Symbolic Expressions
into the arts ofWest, North and Central Asia, and what were Philosophy.
and Susan Blader, Chinese Ideas about Nature and Society: Studies inHonour
his countries of research, Tibet, and China.
primary Mongolia,
of Derk Bodde, Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 1987,
This inclusive attitude toward his research was very much a 101-116.
pp.
part of his personality. He had a genuine love of exploration
of the unknown as well as the desire to share his discoveries The Variants anda Their Uses. 29
Eight Trigrams: History of Religions
with groups beyond the scholarly community. A devoted core (4) (May 1990)301-317.
of adult students occasionally accompanied Ki on his travels. Magic Squares: The Evolution of the Magic in China.
Square Journal
Upon his death the outpouring from this group and others of of the
AmericanOriental Society 80 (2) (i960): 116-119.
Ki's personal letters and journalistic accounts of every Asian The Magic Square of Three inOld Chinese
and European trip attest to his commitment to and impact on Philosophy and Religion.
a History ofReligions 1 (1) (i96i):37-8o.
population far beyond his colleagues. A religious man and
Old Chinese Magic Squares. Sinol?gica7 (1) (1962): 14-53.
devoted father of five and later of six, Ki was also
grandfather
known to take children or on his travels. Islamic and Indian Magic Part I (Islamic
grandchildren along Squares. History of Religions,
Those who knew Ki might have expected him to die on the Squares), 8 (3) (1969): 181-209; Part H (Hindu and European), 8 (4)
back of a camel in Mongolia. His passing marks the near (i969):27i-299.
to a close of a generation of scholars of Asian art who Substances: Metal,
drawing Ivory, Hombill, Jade, etc.: Archaeological Evidence for
gained much of their knowledge by independent travel and Chinese Contacts with India in the Han
Dynasty. Sinol?gica 5 (1) (Basel,
research in Asia before World War II, and who felt it their Switzerland, 1956):!-19.
were bold conduct research ac
purpose?and enough?to The Bactrian Nickel Theory. AmericanJournal
cording to the broadest definition of the field. Even among this of Archaeology 62 (4)
elite group Ki was extraordinary in the variety of his interests. (i958):409-4i4
The Animal Style Art of Eurasia (Ordos Bronzes). Journal ofAsian
Nancy Shatzman Steinhardt Studies 17 (2) (February i958):232-239.
University of Pennsylvania The Story of Hornbill Ivory. Bulletin of theUniversityMuseum is (4)
(December 1950): 19-47.
A Rare Book on
Jade [a Manchu emperor's edict jade panels].
Selected Writings Expedition 22 (3) (Spring i98o):27~33.
Magic andMedicinal Woods in Old Chinese Folk Carvings. Journal
ofAmericanFolklore47 (292) ( 1961):116-125.
Books
Chinese Impressed Gourds, Reconsidered. Oriental Art n.s. 10
(4)
The Land (Winter I964):217-224.
of the Camel: Tents and Temples of Inner Mongolia. New York:
Ronald Press, 1951. Costumes and Textiles: Cosmic on the Robes of the
Symbolism Ch'ing
In E. B.
Trade Through theHimalayas: Early British Attempts to Open Tibet Dynasty. Dyer (ed.), Art and Thought
[Coomaraswamy
(Ph.D.
Memorial London, 1948, pp. 126-129.
thesis, revised). Princeton: Princeton Press, 1951, Volume],
University
republished by the Greenwood Press, Westport, CT. Origins of theCourt andOfficial Robes of theCh'ing Dynasty. Artibus
Asaie 12 Switzerland, 189-201.
China's Dragon Robes. New York: Ronald Press, 1952. (3) (Ascona, 1949):
Substance and Symbol in Chinese Imperial Robes of the Later Oriental Art n.s. 3 (1)
Toggles. Philadelphia: University of Ch'ing Dynasty.
Pennsylvania Press, 1962. (1950)7-16.
A Robe of the Ch'ien-lung 10
Emperor. Journal of the Walters Gallery
Articles (i947):9-i9
China: On Chinese Court and Dragon Robes
the Decoration of Modern in Taiwan and Hong [an Early Ch'ing image robe].
Temples
Connoisseur 126 (519) (December 220.
Kong. Journal of the American Oriental Society 8 (4) (1968): 785-790. i95o):2o6,
in Far Eastern The Making of Dragon Robes. Pao n.s. 40
Art. New T'oung
Symbolism Encyclopaedia of the Arts, York, (3) (i95i):297~32i.
Presentation of Dragon Robes
1946, pp. 979-984. by the Ming and Ch'ing Courts for
Types of Symbols in Chinese Art. InArthur Wright (ed.), Studies in Diplomatic Purposes. Sinol?gica 3 (3) (1955): 193-202.
Chinese 1953, PP- 195?321. The Symbolism of the "Cloud Collar" Motif. The Art Bulletin 33
Thought, Chicago, (1)
The in Chinese Mirror Patterns. (March 1951): 1-9.
Symbolism Journal of the Indian Society
of Oriental Arts (Calcutta, A Rare Ming Textile in Sweden. Archives of theChinese Art
I953)".45~63. Society of
Chinese Mirrors America yj (i963):33~37
and Chinese Civilizataion. 2
Archaeology (3)
(i949):ii4-i20. Two Rare Ming Textiles. Oriental Art n.s. 10
(1964): 175-180.
A Rare Mirror. The Art Quarterly 9 (2) (Spring Notes on the Origin of Chinese K'o-ssu Artibus Asaie 11
T'ang i946).*93-ii3. Tapestry.
The "TLV" Pattern on Cosmic Mirrors of the Han (i948):90-i09.
Dynasty. Journal
of the
AmericanOriental Society 68 (4) (1948): 159-167. Embroidery Techniques inOld China. Archives of the
ChineseArt Society
Lion and Grape Patterns on Chinese Bronze Mirrors. Artibus Asaie 16 of America 16 (1962): 16-40.
(Ascona, Switzerland, i953):265-29i. Chinese Badges of Rank: The of the Mandarin
Development Square.
97

3. HarvardJournal ofAsiatic Studies 8 (2) (August 1944)71-130. Near Eastern and Rugs: Cosmic on Carpets from the
Carpets Symbolism
Museum In Peter Chelkowski Studies in Art and
Chinese Mandarin Squares. Bulletin of the University 17 (3) (June Sanguszko Group. (ed.),
New York:
i953):5-6o. Architecture of theNear East inHonor of Richard Ettinghausen.
as Arts New York University Press, 1974, pp. 181-208.
Birds and Animals Ming and Ch'ing Badges of Rank. of Asia
21 (3) (May-June 1991):88-94. The Systematic Study of Oriental Rugs: Techniques and Patterns.
AmericanOriental Society 95 (2) (i975):248-26o.
Journal of the
Ming Festival Symbols. Archives of the Chinese
Art Society of America 7
in Persian Art [involving rugs]. History of Religions
(i95i):66-70. Religious Symbolism
Some Beasts. Oriental Art n.s. 11 J5 (3) (Winter 1976): 193-208.
Strange Ming (3) (i956):94-i02.
In Proceedings
Chinese Costume Accessories: Chinese Belt Oriental Art n.s. 8 Paradox in Persian Carpet Patterns. of the International
Toggles.
on Oriental in London, June 1976, London,
Conference Carpets Held 1978.
(2) (i962):72-78.
The of Art, Literature, and Religion in Safavid Symbolism.
Chinese Inside-Painted Snuff Bottles and Their Makers. Harvardjournal Interplay
ofAsiatic Studies 20 (Spring i957):295~326. Journal of theRoyal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (London),
no. 2 124-136.
to Inner (1978):
and Tibet: Mongol Dwellings, with Special Reference
Mongolia Britannica
Rebus (Symbols). Encyclopaedia (1962-1973 editions), 19, 13.
In Aspects Altaic Civilization, Indiana University Ural-Altaic
Mongolia. of
IN, 1963): 17-22. Life and Works of Ananda K. Coomaraswamy.
Studies, 23 (Bloomington, Remembering Again:
Chess with Lamas. Natural
Parabola3 (2) ( 1978)184-91.
Mongolian History 55 (9) (November
I946):407-4H
V. R. Cammann also was the author of 80 more articles and
A Prince Schuyler
of the Lama Church (in Inner Mongolia). University Museum
about 50 book reviews.
Bulletin 14 (2) (1949): 19-32.
The Panchen Lama's Visit to in 1780. The Far Eastern
Peking Quarterly
9 (1) (November i949):248-263.
New on Hue and G?bet: Their from Lhasa 1846. The
Light Expulsion
Far Eastern Quarterly 1
(4) (August i942):248-263
The Paradise of Bhaishajyaguru (in Lama paintings). Gazette des Beaux
Myron Folk, Jr.
Arts series 6, vol. 5 (Paris and New York, 1944), pp. 283-298.
of the Tibetan M?ndala The Art Quarterly
The Asia Society and the Archives of Asian Art join in
Suggested Origin Paintings. sorrow to announce the death of Myron Falk, Jr., known
13 (2) (1950)1107-119.
to all as Johnny. An avid collector of Chinese art, a
The Four Great of Heaven in Lama Buddhist an
Kings (Deva
the West China Border Research
kings
Part
art).
100 founding member of the Archives of Asian Art, and
Journal of Society, I, 9 (1937): active of Asian arts
supporter many organizations,
102; Part II, 11 (1940). us. A memorial article
Johnny will be missed by all of
Chinese Painting: A Ming Dynasty Pantheon Painting. Archives of the will appear in the 1993 Archives ofAsian Art. We extend
Chinese Art Society of America 18 (1964) 3 8-46. our condolences to his family and friends.
On the Decoration of Modern in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Temples
AmericanOriental Society 88 (4) (i968):785-79o.
Journal of the
98