Hello there! I’m LAM Pin Foo, a retired lawyer and a doting grandfather. Welcome to my humble abode on the Internet. Here you’ll find a collection of my recent literary works, which are mostly commentaries on life in general, the way I see. Feel free to browse through and comment.
This site will always be a work in progress. I intend to add new articles as well as implement other Web site enhancements on a regular basis. To keep abreast of the latest developments, either check back often or subscribe to the RSS feed.
Thank you for visiting LamPinFoo.com.
grace33 said,
January 11, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Hi Big Brother,
Congrats and well done on your very own blog!
We have been your great fans of the many interesting articles that you have contributed to the Straits Times. Particularly, we enjoyed reading your holiday experiences to the exciting and exotic places which you and Lay Yong had visited. With this blog, we will have no more excuses for missing out on any of your future articles.
Chi Lian & Philip
Juliana said,
May 25, 2007 at 9:20 am
Hi, Pin Foo,
Just found out about your blog from Marjorie’s SEAC
e-announcements. What a wonderful way to share your travel adventures and your reflections on life and art. Thanks for sharing!
James Ng Kwang Yeow said,
May 29, 2007 at 7:47 am
Dear Pin Foo,
I love your writing, which is well thought out, full of powerful anecdotes, sincere, well-researched and well-written. Thank you for sharing your thoughts in this most wonderful way. You translate Chinese culture in a beautiful, dignified manner.
In your letter on tea, you write about history and injustice and yet you come across without any acrimonious statement which would have spoilt everything. In this case, the perpetrator admonishes himself!
Having 5 grandchildren myself, three in Singapore and two in America, I have the highest regard for you and the role you play in your grandchildren’s intellectual development. You are also a credit to our society.
James Ng
Member, SACS
LamPinFoo said,
June 2, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Dear James,
Many thanks for your compliment. They will spur me on.
Regards,
Pin Foo
LamPinFoo said,
June 2, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Dear Juliana,
Many thanks for your kind words of encouragement.
Regards,
Pin Foo
Leah G said,
July 27, 2007 at 5:04 am
Beautifully written!
yoke har said,
August 5, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Hi Pin Foo, I loved your piece on charity…have been doing some reading up on Tan Kah Kee and yes, how amazing! Keep up your blog!
Regards
YH Lee, Auckland
Yee Kai Mun said,
February 22, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Dear Mr Lam,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and well written, concise articles which makes reading a pleasure. Will definitely encourages my boys & his peers to visit your blogs frequently.
Regards,
KaiMun & AyChyun
Lam Pin Foo said,
February 24, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Many thanks.
Regards,
Lam Pin Foo
Mr Lim Keow Wah 林朝华 said,
May 4, 2008 at 1:51 am
Lam Pin Foo
From Jame Tan’s introduction , and your blog I came to know about Mr. Lam Pin Foo as a great antique collector in Singapore.
I came from Chinese High probably the same school you attended. I am now working in ExxonMobil as a charterer and vice president of The Singapore Penjing & Stone Appreciation Society. Apart Bonsai & Stone, I started art collection about 20 years ago. I am very keen collector of Mig & Qing Zhisha bonsai pots, Chnese Later bronze on censors & statues. and few years ago started the momentum in old procelain collection.
Hope to learn from you and share the same interest in the future
Regards
Lim Keow Wah
Lam Pin Foo said,
May 7, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Thanks, Mr Lim. I hope our paths might cross some day.
Regards
Lam Pin Foo
ana said,
June 27, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Dear Lam Pin Foo,
I found your blog as I was looking for some information regarding Cheong Soo Pieng. There is very little about him online. Your passing mention of him and your fascinating entry about you and your wife’s shared passion for local art certainly piqued my interest.
I have a painting of his in my possession and I was wondering if you could shed some light on it. I am wondering if it is a reproduction. I just inherited it, and would love to find more of his work.
If you are up for the challenge.. please let me know via e-mail.
Best Wishes,
Ana
Lam Pin Foo said,
July 1, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Dear Ana
Thanks for looking into my blog.
Apart from owning two Soo Pieng paintings, I have no special knowledge on his works and very much regret unable to help you. I would suggest that you email the Director, Singapore Art museum at nhb.gov.sg/sam to see if he or his curators can help.
Best regards
Lam Pin Foo
Tan Yang How said,
December 10, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Dear Mr Lam,
Greetings from Hillview.
I’ve just come across your blog while researching on the web to learn more about our local painter Mr Choo Keng Kwang.
Thank you for sharing your life long experience and perspectives on various subjects.
I started collecting paintings some 6 years ago when moving into a new apartment. Sounds much the same as how you and your wife had started. As a matter of fact, my wife too enjoy paintings and as our sons grown older, our weekend routine changes! Now we have more time for ourselves and can aford to visit galleries with friends.
Your point on how your wife and you began years ago by picking up works of local artists rung a bell in me. My wife and I firmly believe that as our society prosperous we should help support the cultural sectors. Like yourself, I enjoyed works by Choo Keng Kwang, Auyoung Hing Yee, Aw Tee Hong, Wan Soon Kam, Gog Sing Hooi, Chew Peck San and Lee Hock Mou very much. In my opinion, Singapore has our fair share of very talented artists. I hope more people will discover the aesthetic influence on our being.
My best wishes to you & your family.
Yang How
Lam Pin Foo said,
December 11, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Dear Mr Tan
Thanks for logging in to my blog. I am glad that we both like and support our own local painters. I trust your collection of their works will grow with time.
Regards
Lam Pin Foo
Edith said,
January 30, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Dear Mr. Lam,
While visiting one of the local antique shop recently, I bot the “lot” of paintings (chinese painting) from this shop. As I am very new in art collection, I have no idea whether those paintings are real or reproduction. Apprecaite if you could shed some light as to how could I check it… Is there any art appreciation group where I could join & learn?
LamPinFoo said,
February 1, 2009 at 11:03 am
Congratulations Edith on your becoming an art collector. I will email you on your request.
Regards
Lam Pin Foo
Edith Choy said,
February 16, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Dear Mr. Lam,
It has been some time since your last posting on the net. I’ve been busy with works and only available now to re-visit your site.
It will be most grateful if you can show me what is the best way to learn to appreciate art and at the same time know how to differtiate a real from re-production art piece.
Kindly email me any art group where I can join.
Best Regards,
Edith Choy
Lam Pin Foo said,
February 16, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Dear Ms Choy
Knowledge and expertise in art takes years of practical experience to acquire. There are regular public lectures organised by the Singapore art Museum and The Asian Civilisations Museum. You can find out more on these by contacting these museums. Sorry, I am unable to give you the names of art societies you can join.
Regards
Lam Pin Foo
Yeow Chin said,
February 19, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Hi Pin Foo. Thanks to Lay Yong, I have rediscovered your blog. Most informative and interesting. Blogging is one way to keep the mind active and I myself is spending most of my time in front of my Mac. All the best.
Lam Pin Foo said,
February 20, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Dear Yeow Chin
Thanks for your kind and inspiring remarks. Yes, I will keep going and improving the contents of my blog,
Warm regards to you and Eileen.
Pin Foo
Ng Woon Lam said,
June 26, 2009 at 12:02 am
Hi,
I was browsing for some write-up about Master watercolour artist Mr. Gog Sing Hooi. He was my mentor for 1.5 years before he passed away in1994.
So glad to know that you have some of his masterpieces.
Hope to have a chance to see the originals one day.
Best Wishes,
Ng Woon Lam
LamPinFoo said,
June 26, 2009 at 8:47 am
Like you, I too would rate Gog as a very accomplished watercolour painter. Unfortunately, I do not own one of his works. In view of your interest in art, you may like to refer to my other postings from February to July 2008 on art collecting.
Regards
Lam Pin Foo
Singapore’s Open-air Museum of Historical and Cultural Heritage « Lam Pin Foo said,
August 3, 2009 at 6:25 pm
[...] 3, 2009 at 12:00 am (History, Travel) An article by Lam Pin Foo. Refer to the About [...]
woon wei said,
February 18, 2010 at 6:59 am
Hi Mr Lam
Thanks very much for your advice on buying art pieces. I was very interested to buy Chen Wen Hsi’s paintings listed on profitablegroup.com.
I was quoted a price of S$25000 for the gibbons painting. After visiting your blog, ive decided against it.
LamPinFoo said,
February 26, 2010 at 4:35 pm
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Gui said,
May 27, 2010 at 9:51 pm
Hello Mr. Lam while wandering through the internet looking for some information for a work I’ve been making about the history of China I came across this blog and could not help to make this short comment. I really liked the way it developed, is very cool and interesting and well written, congratulations:)
By the way I am Portuguese and I appreciate the culture and Chinese tradition.
Congratulations for excellent work.
LamPinFoo said,
May 28, 2010 at 10:15 am
Many thanks for your sincere compliments and encouragement.
I wish your project on history of China every success.
ophiesay said,
May 29, 2010 at 1:56 pm
生日快樂!
LamPinFoo said,
June 7, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Many thanks for your birthday greetings.
I was away when your message reached me.
Jeremiah Maloney said,
July 8, 2010 at 9:57 am
Dear Mr. Lam
Although I have never met you I add my best wishes to the birthday greetings from so many friends and loving family members. I stumbled unto your blog by browsing the internt for information about Mrs. Helen Dalling Ling. In the 1970s I was an enthusiastic customer of her shop on Tanglin Road. She was a charming and learned expert in the arts of Asia.
Mrs. Ling allowed me to purchase several pieces of a celedon collection produced by a young Malaysian of Chinese ancestory. He had presented this colletion in partial fulfillment for a graduate degree at a leading London UK art school. Recently returned home, he had opened his own small kiln. Mrs. Ling had given me a small brochure with the artist”s name, address, etc. This documentation was lost in a flood. I have enjoyed this collection for many years and have displayed it carefu;lly to those who appreciate such beauty. The celedons are so flawlees that collectors have at first look thought that they are a fortune in ancient Chinese ceramic art. I am the only one in my family who knows and cares about these treasures. I will soon be 76 and think I should arrange a secure future for this art while I am still able to do so. I m hoping you may have some suggestions about how I can recover detailed information about this artist. Before the internet I assumed such a search impossile for an amateur as myself. With more detailed documentation I may be able to place the collection where it deserves to be esteemed as it deserves. I am hoping that the artist continued his wonderful work and flourished in splendid Singapore or Johore. Thank you for your kind attention to my request. Respectfully yours,
Jeremiah Maloney Albany NY USA 518-522-2283
Sze Wee said,
July 8, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Hi, Mr Lam
How do I send my article to you?
LamPinFoo said,
July 8, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Dear Sze Wee
Send it as an attachment to your email. Thanks.
Regards
Pin Foo
LamPinFoo said,
July 9, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Dear Mr Maloney
Thanks for your good wishes and interest in my blog.
I have not a clue about this potter whose works you like and admire. My inquiries about him with a couple of collector friends who were customers of Helen Ling also drew a blank.
As a last resort, I would suggest that you email the director of the National Museum in Kuala Lumpur to see if he can help. The Museum’s email address should be easily obtainable through their website on the Internat.
Hope you find him.
Regards
Lam Pin Foo
Simon Lam said,
April 14, 2011 at 10:04 am
Dear Mr Lam,
I read with great interest your article on your experience shopping for antiques in England many years ago. As you have pointed out, it’s not so easy finding genuine antiques nowadays.
Do you know if the bulk of chinese antiques sold in UK auction houses are still offered at value ? For example, I’ve come across some auction houses offering Qing-era ceramic vases at a few hundred pounds – probably much cheaper than if bought in places like Singapore.
Simon
LamPinFoo said,
April 14, 2011 at 2:15 pm
Dear Simon
Many thanks for your interest in my blog and for sharing your experience in buying antique Chinese ceramic pieces in the UK.
Yes, my active collector friends who also buy Chinese pieces from UK, both at auctions and antique markets, have pleasant memories of their purchases there because they are experienced collectors and who are familiar with prices prevailing in Asia and UK.
I no longer collect but still enjoy looking at the better pieces that I have.
I wish you many more years of happy collecting.
Pin Foo
SY Quek said,
June 16, 2011 at 12:21 pm
Dear Mr Lam,
Thank you for your informative blog.
My father was a avid antique jade & ceramic collector. After he has passed away, he left us with several hundred pieces of old jade and ceramic items. They have been sitting untouched and “un-love” for over 20 years due to his long ailment.
Recently my mum & myself begin to “dust” them. Sorting & packing them, sparked fond memories of my dad and I am beginning to understand why he loved to collect these items.
I was wondering if you or anyone who reads your blog knows of any jade or ceramic collector / “expert”. I am hoping to learn more of this collection.
Thank you.
SY Quek
LamPinFoo said,
June 16, 2011 at 5:43 pm
Dear Mr Quek
Thanks for your interest in my blog.
Your first step should be to establish the monetary worth of the collection. In my view, the most qualified people to help you will be world-renowned art and antique auctioneers Southebys’, who has an office in Regent Hotel in Singapore and in Hong Kong. Do invite them to view the collection and to give you a valuation. A second opinion from another reputable firm, such as Guardian of China, may be useful. Based on their respective assessments, you and your family can then decide whether to keep the collectiont for sentimental reasons or to dispose of it .
I hope this is of some help to you.
Regards
Lam Pin Foo
Jerry said,
June 21, 2011 at 9:44 am
Hi Mr Lam Pin Foo,
Glad to visit your homepage, and I have harvested a lot .So henceforth I will come here from time to time.
A little thing will bother you. ” What Makes Silicon Valley so Successful and Unique? ” is an excellent essay or speech which gives me so much motivation that I decide to recite it thoroughly. Is it your work, or from some other website? I want to know more about it, so could you offer me more information about it. If it is not yours, offer me the original source website, the
more authoritative, the better.
Thank you. Jerry from China.
(PS: Maybe I cannot receive your reply in time, could you send it to my Email: mengpiaoling520@163.com, at the same time?
LamPinFoo said,
June 21, 2011 at 1:06 pm
Thank you for your interest in my blog. I find one of your comments disturbing. To remove your doubt, this piece is indeed my work, and not that of others.
I have visited Silicon Valley many times as a son of mine is an experienced IT professional and has his own software company there. I had seen how hard he and his partners had worked over the years to make their business a success.
Through my son, I had come to know other IT professionals and had gained further insight into the factors that have made Silicon Valley preeminent in the IT world.
As a matter of fact, what I have written is common knowledge to anyone with basic knowledge of the Valley.
I have no further information to offer you on this matter.
Margaret said,
November 3, 2011 at 8:27 pm
Hi Pin Foo,
Just wondering if the Malaysian Chinese potter Mr Maloney was asking about in July 2010 could be Peter Lau.
Margaret said,
November 4, 2011 at 10:03 am
Hi Pin Foo,
Sorry. Further to what I said last night, I think the potter’s surname should be Peter Low not Lau. There’s a website easterntea.com that Mr Maloney could check to see if the potter’s details fit with what he remembers about him. If it’s the right potter, then Mr Maloney could get contact details too.
LamPinFoo said,
November 4, 2011 at 4:17 pm
Dear Magaret,
Many thanks for throwing some light on the the possible identity and contact details of the potter that Mr Maloney( his inquiry in comment 31 of this post.) was searching for. As I do not keep Mr Maloney’s email address, I have, by email today, requested the WordPress.com to forward your informatioin to him, a copy of which has been sent to your email address.
I hope your useful lead would solve Mr Maloney’s urgent effort to trace this potter.
Regards
Pin Foo