A Chinese wood figure, early 20th century, of Guan Yu, seated wearing a full armour, 56cm high Provenance: The collection of The Hon. Robert Gaythorne-Hardy (1902-1973). The Hon. Robert Gathorne-Hardy (1902-1973), known to all as ‘Bob’, was an English writer, botanist and horticulturalist. His uncle, Geoffrey Gathorne-Hardy, inherited a well-known art collection from his aunt’s family, through the great Victorian art collector John Malcolm, much of which is now in the National Collection. Bob kept some of the Old Master drawings from the Malcolm Collection, which were sold soon after his death at Sotheby’s and is referred to as the Gathorne-Hardy Collection. Bob was also a collector of Asian items, which included jade and temple figures, paintings and some Asian items which have come by family descent and are now offered for sale. Condition report: Splits and cracks throughout. Chips to edges. Losses in various places. Right arm missing.