A diamond ring
A diamond ring. Photo Bonhams.
centering a cut-cornered rectangular-cut diamond, weighing 6.67 carats; enhanced by a circular-cut diamond 'X' motif basket and pavé-set diamond mount; signed Tiffany, Schlumberger; estimated total diamond weight: 2.20 carats; size 6 (partially obliterated signature). Sold for US$ 281,000 (€202,434)
Accompanied by GIA report #2155618715, dated August 20, 2013, stating the diamond as: D color, VVS2 clarity.
Bonhams. FINE JEWELLERY. 17 Oct 2013, New York - www.bonhams.com
A diamond solitaire ring
A diamond solitaire ring. Photo Bonhams.
centering a cut-cornered rectangular-cut diamond, weighing 10.48 carats, flanked by tapered baguette-cut diamonds; mounted in platinum; size 8. Sold for US$ 293,000 (€211,079)
Accompanied by GIA report #5151368890, dated April 3, 2013, stating the diamond as: H color, VS2 clarity
Bonhams. FINE JEWELLERY. 17 Oct 2013, New York - www.bonhams.com
A pair of military official's Lion rank badges, Qing Dynasty, 18th century
A pair of military official's Lion rank badges, Qing Dynasty, 18th century. Photo Sotheby's
embroidered in knotted stitch with the lion emblem of the second rank, depicted standing on a rock emerging from turbulent waves scattered with emblems of the Eight Immortals, flanked by a peach tree and peony bush, surrounded by bats and auspicious clouds, one badge divided down the middle (2). Height 11 3/4 in., 29.8 cm; Width 12 in., 30.5 cm. Estimation 5,000 — 7,000 USD
A censor's badge, possibly from the same series as the present lot, was sold in Christie's Paris, 14th December 2011, lot 156.
Sotheby's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS & WORKS OF ART. 18 MARS 2014 - 19 MARS 2014. NEW YORK - www.sothebys.com
A pair of military official's qilin rank badges, Qing Dynasty, 18th century
A pair of military official's qilin rank badges, Qing Dynasty, 18th century. Photo Sotheby's
embroidered in satin stitch and couched with gold-wrapped threads and peacock feathers, the qilin emblem of the first rank portrayed standing on a rock surrounded by waves and clouds, with the sun in the sky, one badge divided down the middle (2). Height 11 3/4 in., 29.8 cm; Width 12 in., 30.5 cm. Estimation 6,000 — 8,000 USD
A Kangxi period silver pheasant rank badge worked in a similar way is illustrated in Beverley Jackson and David Hugus, Ladder to the Clouds, Berkeley, 1999, p. 229 and sold at Christie's New York, 19th March 2008, lot 28, another was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30th May 2012, lot 4031.
Sotheby's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS & WORKS OF ART. 18 MARS 2014 - 19 MARS 2014. NEW YORK - www.sothebys.com
A couched silk Daoist priest's robe (jiangyi), Qing Dynasty, late 19th century
A couched silk Daoist priest's robe (jiangyi), Qing Dynasty, late 19th century. Photo Sotheby's
worked in gold-wrapped threads with some knotted stitches to form a depiction of the cosmos, with a three-storied tower enclosed within a flaming nimbus, flanked by lions, with symbols for the sun, moon and stars above, all surrounded by five writhing dragons amid clouds, the sleeves decorated with auspicious emblems, the hem with the terrestrial diagram representing earth flanked by the bagua (Eight Trigrams), all within black brocade borders, framed. Length 53 1/4 in., 135.2 cm; Width 68 1/2 in., 174 cm. Estimation 5,000 — 7,000 USD
Sotheby's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS & WORKS OF ART. 18 MARS 2014 - 19 MARS 2014. NEW YORK - www.sothebys.com
An embroidered silk Dragon robe, Qing Dynasty, late 18th- early 19th century
An embroidered silk Dragon robe, Qing Dynasty, late 18th- early 19th century. Photo Sotheby's
couched in gold-wrapped threads with the decoration of nine five-clawed dragons amid clouds and auspicious emblems, above the terrestrial diagram and lishui border at the hem, with later added sleeve bands. Length 50 in., 127 cm; Width 53 in., 134.6 cm. Estimation 5,000 — 7,000 USD
Sotheby's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS & WORKS OF ART. 18 MARS 2014 - 19 MARS 2014. NEW YORK - www.sothebys.com
A child's silk 'Dragon' robe, Qing Dynasty, 19th century
A child's silk 'Dragon' robe, Qing Dynasty, 19th century. Photo Sotheby's
couched in gold-covered threads with dragons chasing 'flaming pearls', amid clouds and auspicious objects, above terrestrial diagram and lishui border, framed. Length 27 1/2 in., 69.8 cm; Width 46 1/4 in., 117.5 cm. Estimation 6,000 — 8,000 USD
Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 9th and 10th October 1987, lot 81
Sotheby's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS & WORKS OF ART. 18 MARS 2014 - 19 MARS 2014. NEW YORK - www.sothebys.com
A lady's informal kesi court robe, Qing Dynasty, late 19th century
A lady's informal kesi court robe, Qing Dynasty, late 19th century. Photo Sotheby's
woven with eight medallions containing baskets of peaches and flowers surrounded by clouds and auspicious objects, the design repeated on the collar and sleeve bands, edged in black and gold brocade, with terrestrial diagram and lishui border at the hem.Length 48 3/4 in., 123.7 cm; Width 78 in., 198 cm. Estimation 7,000 — 9,000 USD
A similar robe from the Daoguang period is illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Costumes and Accessories of the Qing Court, Hong Kong, 2005, no. 109. Other similar examples dated to the late 19th century are illustrated in Robert D. Jackson, Imperial Silks: Ch'ing Dynasty Textiles in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, vol. I, Minneapolis, 2000, nos. 97, 98, 101, 102.
Sotheby's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS & WORKS OF ART. 18 MARS 2014 - 19 MARS 2014. NEW YORK - www.sothebys.com
A rare Imperial lady's informal gauze robe, Qing Dynasty, Guangxu Period
A rare Imperial lady's informal gauze robe, Qing Dynasty, Guangxu Period. Photo Sotheby's
finely embroidered with sprigs of large peonies interspersed with couched wanshou medallions, stylized shou characters and flying phoenix in gold-wrapped threads, the black collar and sleeve bands with a similar motif further edged with couched stylized shou characters and florets, the sleeves with an additional black brocade band, framed. Length 52 1/4 in., 132.6 cm; Width 51 1/2 in., 130.7 cm. Estimation 10,000 — 15,000 USD
Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 9th and 10th October 1987, lot 87.
This robe was most likely made for the Empress Dowager Cixi. In her later years, wanshou medallions and shou characters, which represented longevity, were a favored motif. Numerous photographs of her wearing such robes exist. The wanshou medallions in the present lot are extremely well-done. Not only do the ends of each line form ruyi-heads, but the medallions also incorporate bats, which symbolize blessings and chimes which symbolize celebration.
With its main decoration of phoenix, which symbolized the empress, and peonies symbolizing wealth and nobility, it is hard to imagine that the present lot would have been worn by anyone else besides Cixi. A drawing of a similar robe, described as an empress' ordinary dress, is illustrated in Zhou Xun and Gao Chunming, 5000 Years of Chinese Costumes, Hong Kong, 1988, fig. 304, across from a photograph of Cixi. An actual robe with similar phoenix and peony design was sold in these rooms, 12th October 1984, lot 160. Another robe possibly made for Cixi, with similar brocade edging, also sold in these rooms, 16th March 1984, lot 63.
Sotheby's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS & WORKS OF ART. 18 MARS 2014 - 19 MARS 2014. NEW YORK - www.sothebys.com
A rare Imperial embroidered 'Five Symbol' gauze dragon robe , Qing Dynasty, 19th century
A rare Imperial embroidered 'Five Symbol' gauze dragon robe , Qing Dynasty, 19th century. Photo Sotheby's
finely worked in counted stitch and couched gold-wrapped threads with nine five-clawed dragons, the faces and claws of the front-facing dragons incorporating silver-wrapped threads, the symbols for the sun and moon placed on the shoulders, the constellation of Ursa Major split into two groups on the back, the ax-head and fu-symbol flanking the main dragon on the front, all surrounded by clouds and auspicious emblems, enclosed by terrestrial diagrams and lishui borders at the hem and sleeves, the design repeated on the collarband and horsehoof cuffs. Length 52 3/4 in., 134 cm, Width 70 in., 177.8 cm. Estimation 40,000 — 60,000 USD
Provenance: Acquired in Beijing in the late 1990s.
A similar turquoise ground five symbol robe is illustrated in Gary Dickson and Linda Wrigglesworth, Imperial Wardrobe, Berkeley, 2000, pl. 76, where the authors surmise that such a robe was probably made for use by an imperial consort. According to Qing court regulations, the use of this color was restricted to women only and the use of the Twelve Imperial Symbols on clothing was restricted to the Emperor, however, the emperor could confer the right to use all or any of the twelve symbols as a mark of favor.
The five symbols on the present lot are the sun, moon and stars, which represent the universe, the fu which represents the power to judge, and the ax-head which represents the power to punish.
The present lot is in the style of a man's robe, but as noted, this rare turquoise color was restricted to women. It is therefore likely that the robe was modified, or was originally a bolt of yardage that was later constructed into a man's robe.
Sotheby's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS & WORKS OF ART. 18 MARS 2014 - 19 MARS 2014. NEW YORK - www.sothebys.com
