H. A. Crosby Forbes

Henry Ashton Crosby Forbes, 87, of Cambridge, MA, died of natural causes on Sunday, July 22, 2012 at the Mary Wade Home in Fair Haven, CT.  Forbes was the youngest and last surviving sibling of five, beloved husband of 48 years of the late Grace W. (Pierce) and loving father of Robert and Douglas. He founded the China Trade Museum of Milton, MA, which merged with the Peabody Essex Museum of Salem, where he was a curator. He greatly advanced the discipline of Asian export art, and created the field of Chinese export silver.  His Chinese Export Silver, 1785 to 1885 (written with John Kernan and Ruth Simmons) remains the definitive work on the subject. He was a gifted lecturer and an excellent photographer and artist.

Forbes’ kindness and generosity made him beloved by nearly everyone he met. He loved music, rarely missing the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and was an active member of the St. Botolph Club, the Club of Odd Volumes, and many other societies.  In his later years dined almost nightly at the Charles Hotel. In 2011 he moved to New Haven to be closer to his children. To the end of his life he retained his clear grey eyes and his iron grip.

A memorial service will be held in December. Contributions may be made to the Forbes House Museum, 215 Adams Street, Milton, MA 02186.