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Madame Wellington Koo (née Hui-lan Oei)

(1889-1992), Former wife of Beauchamp Caulfield-Stoker, and later wife of Vi Kyuin Wellington Koo; daughter of Oei Tiong Ham (Oei Tyong Han)

Sitter in 7 portraits
Born 'Hui-Lan' meaning 'meteor heavenly orchid' in recognition of the sighting of one at the time of her birth. In early 1921, her husband Vi Kyuin Wellington Koo was appointed the Chinese Minister to Great Britain and they lived in London until June 1946, divorcing shortly after the Second World War. Vogue saluted Madame Koo as a 'citizen of the world' for her enlightened approach to promoting goodwill between East and West. In addition to posing for photographer Hoppé, she was also painted by Slade graduate, Leon Underwood. She wrote two memoirs, Hui-Lan Koo (Mrs. Wellington Koo): An Autobiography (1945) and No Feast Lasts Forever (1975).

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Madame Wellington Koo (née Hui-lan Oei), by Bertram Park - NPG x199898

Madame Wellington Koo (née Hui-lan Oei)

by Bertram Park
gelatin silver print, 1921
NPG x199898

Madame Wellington Koo (née Hui-lan Oei) with Yu-chang Koo, by Oscar Hardee (Oscar Hardee Blyfield), for  H. Walter Barnett - NPG x45435

Madame Wellington Koo (née Hui-lan Oei) with Yu-chang Koo

by Oscar Hardee (Oscar Hardee Blyfield), for H. Walter Barnett
vintage bromide print, 1922
NPG x45435

Madame Wellington Koo (née Hui-lan Oei), by Horst P. Horst - NPG x137761

Madame Wellington Koo (née Hui-lan Oei)

by Horst P. Horst
modern print from original negative, early 1940s
NPG x137761

Madame Wellington Koo (née Hui-lan Oei), by Bertram Park - NPG x137592

Madame Wellington Koo (née Hui-lan Oei)

by Bertram Park
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 14 February 1945
NPG x137592

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Mr.Sariputra Sumana

04 April 2016, 03:44

1. 'Hui Lan' means "Compassionate Orchid" not 'heavenly meteor' 2. Oei Hui Lan was born in 1889 not 1899, died 1992 at 103 years. 3. She had a living grandson in New York named Mr Richard Koo. 4. When did she marry Count Hoey Stoker??