Stephen Junkunc III (d. 1978) was a prominent 20th-century collector known for his exceptional collection of Chinese art, which included porcelain, jade, bronzes, paintings, and Buddhist sculptures. His name has become synonymous with a significant era in Western acquisitions of major Chinese treasures, highlighting the importance of provenance. By the early 1950s, his impressive collection was housed in a museum-like bomb shelter on his estate in Oak Park, Illinois. Junkunc actively collaborated with American museum curators, particularly at the Art Institute of Chicago, loaning works for notable exhibitions like "Ming Blue and White" (1949) and "Arts of the T'ang" (1956). His generosity also included significant bequests to institutions such as the Milwaukee Public Museum and the Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami, with his collection peaking at over 2,000 pieces, reflecting both the rich availability of Chinese art at the time and his discerning taste. 

A gilt-lacquered wood bust of a luohan

China: Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

Height: 5 1/8 in (13 cm), wood stand

Provenance: Stephen Junkunc II