“You can’t afford an ugly thing at any price.”

~ Richard Gump

Richard Gump was very influential in our family as I was growing up. In addition to employing my father Harry and giving him a unique opportunity to develop his international business acumen at GUMP’S, Richard was a very intelligent, thoughtful, accomplished and cultured man who was an author of GOOD TASTE COSTS NO MORE and JADE: STONE OF HEAVEN. Richard Gump exuded a sense of confidence he actually earned and deserved. His depth of knowledge across a wide variety of subjects was remarkable. He flowed, whether it was playing music, painting watercolors, sketching, or exploring how diverse subjects were ultimately related. I remember every conversation with Richard Gump as an adventure in discovering what triggered curiosity – it was a joy and inspiring. He had an incredible memory and would always explore historical influences, then consider what might have been if events had taken a different course. He took joy in bringing to light how seemingly little things early on could influence the trajectory of developments and make a big difference in the way things ultimately played out. Every conversation with Mr. Gump would lead to learning more about a subject and realizing that nothing was in a silo – everything was connected to a web of developments that once looked at comprehensively, was related to everything else. We saw the world the same way – were attracted to the same things, whether it was the sea (he invited me to his home in Moorea, Tahiti which he left to U.C. Berkeley for marine research), Japanese aesthetic, tropical islands or celadon glazes. He was one of the few adults that had a view of life that made sense to me. I was lucky to have spent time with him.

moorea

Gumps Buddha

“Good taste costs no more.”

~ Gumps Motto

Richard Gump

I have had a lifetime of involvement with international trade, first through the association my father and I shared with GUMP’S, as Richard Gump and my father were very close friends. In 1954, Mr. Gump had Hawaiian Hula dancers perform at my Christening ceremony when he became my Godfather. Richard Gump was a big influence in my life, he took me to my first baseball game, shared an interest in herpetology, nautical architecture, history, guns, music, and art. He was an author and his keen interest in history gave him a special appreciation of indigenous people, their practical wisdom, ingenuity, appreciation of / ability to work with nature, and cultural development. He taught me how to watercolor, and when I was eleven years old, invited me to his home in Moorea, Tahiti, where he had a very deep relationship with the families he shared life with.

Eleanor Forbes

Eleanor Forbes was a top designer for Gump’s that I was lucky enough to meet with and be inspired by. I also had the fortune of spending time and sharing my ceramics with John Wheatman, who reinforced, in his own way, the tranquil seeds of Oriental aesthetic beauty planted by Richard Gump, his store, and Eleanor Forbes.

Cook’s Bay

I have photos of the Bounty entering Cook’s bay that he took from the beautiful retreat above Cook’s Bay that he built and later donated to the U.C. Berkeley as a marine biology research center. He enjoyed the nickname, “Captain Bligh”, even signing a simple watercolor we did together with that name.

Tree of Knowledge

I remember every conversation with him as an adventure in discovering what triggered curiosity – which would always lead to learning more about a subject and ultimately finding that nothing was in a silo – everything was connected to a web of developments that was somehow connected to everything else. Conversations with Richard Gump would start and then continually branch off on associated subjects until you truly had a glimpse of the “Tree of Knowledge.” The store itself was exquisitely designed and appointed. I’ll never forget the many times I would wander around the empty store after closing, walking up the central stairway past portraits of the Gump’s family legacy, on my way to the third floor, where I would then come into the presence of a huge golden Buddha that seemed to embrace me in its aura.

Moorea View