Aso O. Tavitian: Chinese Objet d’Art from the Collection of a Renowned Armenian-American Philanthropist

Sotheby’s will present The Vision of Aso O. Tavitian, a collection reflecting the diverse interests of Aso Tavitian, an avid collector. This collection will be offered in four sales during Master’s Week New York in early February 2025. The quality and scope of the collection highlight Tavitian’s role as a collector, philanthropist, and connoisseur.
Aso (Asatour) O. Tavitian (1940-2020), of Armenian origin, emigrated from Bulgaria to New York City as a Cold War refugee. He initially worked as a taxi driver before earning a scholarship to Columbia University, where he completed a Master’s in Nuclear Physics. His education was partially funded by his high school English teacher, an act that had a lasting impact on him and contributed to his commitment to philanthropy. In addition to his success in the software industry, Tavitian dedicated himself to numerous philanthropic efforts, including notable support for Armenian scholars and students worldwide. Through his philanthropic endeavors, he supported arts institutions in New York City, local artistic initiatives in the Berkshires, and made contributions to scientific, cultural, and religious organizations in Armenia, Artsakh, and the United States. He founded the Tavitian Foundation, which remains a major force in supporting Armenian communities.
Tavitian’s philanthropic legacy is further demonstrated through an impressive donation to the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Prior to the auction, the Aso O. Tavitian Foundation donated 331 works of art to the Institute. This donation includes 132 paintings, 130 sculptures, 39 drawings, and 30 decorative arts objects chosen to complement the museum’s permanent collection, which spans from the Renaissance to the late nineteenth century. Additionally, funding for the construction of the Aso O. Tavitian Wing, set to open in 2027 or 2028, has been provided, reinforcing his dedication to the arts.
Tavitian’s collection reflects all sides of European tastes of the time, including Chinese art objects such as a set of Qing Dynasty Blue and White Bottle Vases from the Kangxi Period, a set of four Chinese Export Blue and White Candlesticks, and a pair of Chinese Export Blue and White Tulip Vases from the Kangxi Period, circa 1700, modeled after Dutch Delft originals. The collection further includes a pair of Chinese Wood and Painted Plaster Nodding-Head Figures, circa 1850, a Chinese ‘Huanghuali’ Horseshoe-Back Armchair (Quanyi), 17th/18th century, a small Chinese ‘Huamu’-Inlaid ‘Huanghuali’ Chest (Guanpixiang), 17th century, Chinese School oil paintings of two garden scenes, and a pair of Regency Chinoiserie-Decorated Tôle Table Screens from the early 19th century. Chinese and Chinoiserie art objects in Tavitian’s art collection represent a significant contribution to the broader understanding of Armenian collectors of Chinese objet d’art, potentially opening a new chapter in the context of Armenian patronage and ownership of Chinese cultural heritage.