Peltier Jade Collection Grows at LSU Museum of Art

“Mountain with Scholar Group" is the most recent addition to the LSU Museum of Art's Peltier Jade Collection.

June 27, 2007 — Dr. James and Ann Peltier have made another addition to the LSU Museum of Art’s renowned Peltier Jade Collection. The latest gift to the Museum of Art is a piece carved from a nephrite boulder, called “Mountain with Scholar Group.”

The intricate carving is one of the finest examples of Chinese jade craftsmanship from the late 20th century. The piece depicts a meeting of twelve scholars and attendants at a mountain pavilion.

For 5,000 years, Chinese scribes and scholars held jade in highest regard. Because most of their work was done indoors, scholars chose jade as ornaments throughout the home and work area because of its connection with nature and the outdoors. As shown in the piece, scholars often took their rest hours outdoors in scenic areas.

For the LSU Museum of Art, jade holds a special significance as well. Because of the generosity of the Peltiers over the years, the LSU Museum of Art now has an unrivaled collection of the world’s finest works of Chinese jade on permanent exhibit. In the fall of 2006, the Chinese jade collection was highlighted in a special expanded exhibit called “Whispers from the Stone: The James R. and Ann A. Peltier Collection of Chinese Jade,” which ended in February of 2007.

Dr. James Peltier, an LSU Foundation board member, has been collecting jade for 37 years, and has donated 25 of his most prized items to LSU. He says he first started collecting jade when he realized paintings all shared one negative trait in particular.

“I got very frustrated with (paintings) because when I would look at paintings, I found out I was paying for the signature and not what was on the canvas,” said Dr. Peltier.

When Dr. Peltier began collecting his more than 80 works of jade, he noticed a certain similarity between his career and that of the jade sculptors. “One of the reasons that I think I like it is because I’m a maxillofacial surgeon,’ said Peltier, “I deal with faces and putting them back together, and I think I can relate to form better than a single framed painting.”

Peltier says he uses any method he can to acquire the jade pieces, from working with dealers and auction houses to personally visiting every inhabited continent in search of jade. “After I got hooked, I just kept buying,” he said.

If you would like to get hooked on jade yourself, you can visit the Peltier Jade exhibit at the LSU Museum of Art at any time during normal business hours: Tuesday through Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 adults, $6 for seniors 65+ and students with I.D., $4 children 5 to 17, children under 5 and LSU MOA members visit free.

Generous donors like Dr. Peltier are integral to the LSU MOA, its collection and its reputation. You too can contribute to the LSU MOA. Join us at the MOA on July 4th for the LSU’s MOAs Celebrate Red, White, and You! Enjoy an evening of dining, dancing, art and of course, the best view for Baton Rouge's river front fireworks show from the rooftop of the Shaw Center for the Arts. Tickets: $150 for all LSU MOA members, $175 for all others (adults only). Location: Irene W. Pennington Rooftop Terrace (6th floor); Paula Garvey Manship Floor (5th); and Charles Phelps Manship Jr. Floor (3rd). For more information visit the LSU Museum of Art Web site or contact Chelsea Catlett membership coordinator at 225.389.7213; charr24@lsu.edu.

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Michelle Spielman
LSU Office of Public Affairs