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In “The Chinese Statue,” the titular statue acts as a symbol of status and, in turn, shows the prestige that wealthy westerners often gained by taking cultural artifacts from other nations. In the story, Sir Alexander Heathcote deeply wants to possess the statue. Though he has a preexisting appreciation for Ming Art, his social position as the member of an English colonial government compounded with the fact that the statue becomes insurance for his family’s future shows that Sir Alexander and his descendants see the statue as much more than a beautiful piece of art. In fact, the choices that Sir Alexander’s son Major James Heathcote makes in terms of displaying the statue are illuminating: he displays it “alongside trophies won at Waterloo and Sebastopol and Crimea and Madrid.” So, rather than existing simply as a beautiful piece of art, the statue functions for the Heathcote family almost like a war trophy—that is, as a symbol of victory and pride.
The Statue Quotes in The Chinese Statue
The The Chinese Statue quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Statue. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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The Chinese Statue Quotes
The statue had been purchased in Ha Li Chuan in 1871 and was referred to as what Sotheby’s quaintly described as “the property of a gentleman,” usually meaning that some member of the aristocracy did not wish to admit that he was having to sell off one of the family heirlooms.
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Sir Alexander knew that the old man would never have considered inviting an honored guest into his humble home until they had known each other for many years, and only then after he had been invited to Sir Alexander’s home first.
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The minister smiled down at the craftsman as he handed back the Emperor Kung and then he uttered perhaps the only undiplomatic words he had ever spoken in thirty-five years of serving his Queen and country.
“How I wish the piece was mine.”
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Rummaging around, he picked out a base decorated with small dark figures that the minister did not care for but that nevertheless made a perfect fit; the old man assured Sir Alexander that although he did not know the base’s history, the piece bore the mark of a good craftsman.
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Being an exact man, Sir Alexander wrote a long and detailed will, in which he left precise instructions for the disposal of his estate, including what was to happen to the little statue after his death. He bequeathed the Emperor Kung to his first son, requesting that he do the same, in order that the statue might always pass to the first son, or a daughter if the direct male line faltered. He also made a provision that the statue was never to be disposed of, unless the family’s honor was at stake.
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When James Heathcote became Colonel of the Dukes, the Emperor stood proudly on the table alongside the trophies won at Waterloo and Sebastopol in the Crimea and Madrid.
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[Alex] did lose, so he refined the system and promptly lost more; he refined the system once again, which forced him to borrow to cover his losses. Why not? If the worst came to the worst, he reassured himself, he could always dispose of the little Ming Emperor.
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At the auction at Sotheby’s that Thursday morning I obtained the little Emperor for seven hundred and twenty guineas. And the base? That was acquired by an American gentleman of not unknown parentage for twenty-two thousand guineas.
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The Statue Symbol Timeline in The Chinese Statue
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Statue appears in The Chinese Statue. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
The Chinese Statue
...is seated at Sotheby’s auction house in London when Lot 103, a small ivory Chinese statue, comes up for bidding. The audience admires the statue while the narrator reads the description...
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...Sir Alexander and the mandarin wait in the back room. The craftsman returns holding a statue in such a way that indicates its precious nature. Sir Alexander examines the six-inch statue...
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...piece, Sir Alexander hands it back to the craftsman. He expresses his wish that the statue belonged to him. The narrative notes that this is an “undiplomatic” moment because in Chinese...
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Sir Alexander conducts research to determine the value of the statue. He discovers that the statue is worth three years of his salary and sends home...
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...his work, to his ancestral home in Yorkshire with his wife. He treasures the little statue for the rest of his life. In his will, Sir Alexander bequeaths the statue to...
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...son, Major James Heathcote, is serving as a soldier in the Boer War when the statue is passed on to him. Though he does not share his father’s interest in Ming...
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The statue passes to the colonel’s firstborn son, Reverend Alexander Heathcote, who displays the statue on the...
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Bishop Heathcote leaves the statue to his firstborn son in his will, repeating his grandfather’s instructions about the statue’s future....
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...He takes comfort in the idea that, if need be, he can always sell the statue.
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...reaches a breaking point when he is threatened with violence, and he must sell the statue to pay off his debts. He brings the statue to Sotheby’s auction house and puts...
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