A red-overlay white glass snuff bottle, Yangzhou school, 1850-1890
A red-overlay white glass snuff bottle, Yangzhou school, 1850-1890. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2014
Of flattened, rounded form and raised on an oval foot, the bottle is finely carved through the opaque, red overlay with an immortal riding a crane in flight on one side, and a bird perched on a flowering branch on the reverse. An oval seal on one side reads yan nian ('prolonged life'), and the horizontal inscription on the reverse reads yi jie mei shou ('best wishes for longevity'). 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm.) high, glass stopper. Estimate $12,000 – $15,000
Provenance: Marjorie Dillon Lonsdale (1920-2005) Collection, Sarasota, Florida.
PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION, LOS ANGELES
Notes: Bottles from this school have recently been re-assessed and can now be designated as Yangzhou School (see H. Moss and S. Sargent, "The World in a Bottle in the World at the End of the Qing Empire. Part 2: Yangzhou Overlay Glass," Journal of the International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, Baltimore, Spring 2011, pp. 22-29.). This distinctive group of glass overlay bottles exhibits finely carved scenes and seal marks through a thin layer of glass to a solid ground tone.
Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART. 20 - 21 March 2014, New York, Rockefeller Plaza - www.christies.com
A carved overlay 'Realgar' glass snuff bottle, Imperial glassworks, Beijing, 1780-1850
A carved overlay 'Realgar' glass snuff bottle, Imperial glassworks, Beijing, 1780-1850. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2014
The bottle is of flattened ovoid form and is carved through the mottled-red overlay on either side to the russet-orange ground with a carp beneath water weeds. 2 3/8 in. (6 cm.), stained quartz stopper. Estimate $5,000 – $7,000
Provenance: Robert Hall, London, April 1994.
Notes: Plain 'realgar' glass snuff bottles were made in large numbers throughout the 18th century, and a large proportion of them were apparently produced at the court to be distributed as gifts. By the mid-Qing period, there must have been many in circulation, and it began to occur to carvers to decorate them, since in most cases they were uncarved overlays, often with a surface layer of brighter color. For other examples of carved 'realgar' glass snuff bottles, see M. Hughes, The Blair Bequest. Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Princeton University Art Museum, Baltimore, 2002, no. 185 (carved with chrysanthemums and prunus); R. Kleiner, Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Collection of Mary and George Bloch, Hong Kong, 1987, p. 79, no. 109 (carved with pomegranate and melons) and the example from the J & J Collection sold at Christie's New York, 17 September 2008, lot 35 (carved with Buddhist lions).
Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART. 20 - 21 March 2014, New York, Rockefeller Plaza - www.christies.com
Two sandwiched glass snuff bottles, 1720-1840
Two sandwiched glass snuff bottles, 1720-1840. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2014
Both bottles are of high-shouldered, ovoid form. The first is of a deep, russet-yellow tone accented with dark-brown splashes in imitation of tortoiseshell. The second semi-opaque, green-glass bottle is suffused with small bubbles and decorated with dark-brown splashes. 1 7/8 and 2 1/8 in. (4.7 and 5.3 cm.) high, coral and carnelian stoppers (2). Estimate $5,000 – $8,000
Provenance: Hugh M. Moss, London Ltd., 1970s.
Susan Lapidus (1948-2008) Collection, acquired 1970s.
Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART. 20 - 21 March 2014, New York, Rockefeller Plaza - www.christies.com
Two glass snuff bottles, 1740-1850
Two glass snuff bottles, 1740-1850. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2014
The first, 1740-1850, is of elongated, slightly flattened ovoid form, with dark-brown splashes and swirls accenting the blue-green glass body. The second, 1740-1840, is of rounded form, with sandwiched reddish-brown and black-swirled body. 2½ and 1 15/16 in. (6.3 and 4.8 cm.) high, agate and coral stoppers (2). Estimate $4,000 – $6,000
Provenance: Hugh M. Moss Ltd., London, 1970s.
Susan Lapidus (1948-2008) Collection, acquired 1970s.
Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART. 20 - 21 March 2014, New York, Rockefeller Plaza - www.christies.com
Cartier, Années 1910, Montre de revers
Cartier, Années 1910, Montre de revers. Photo Tajan.
en or gris à boitier rond bordé de diamants taillés en rose sur les deux faces. Le fond est orné d’un grand mavelot émaillé bleu. Le remontoir porte un diamant en serti Perpignan. Signé CARTIER Paris (à l’intérieur du boitier). Elle est retenue par une broche rectangulaire rehaussée de diamants taille brillant (TA) en sertissure ainsi que la bélière. Travail anonyme pour la broche en platine, épingle en or 18K. Poids brut : 20 gr. Diamètre de la montre : 2,7 cm. Dimensions totales : 7,5 x 3,5 cm. Estimated Price: €4,500 - €6,000
A diamond and gold lapel-watch by CARTIER circa 1910.
Tajan. 12 mars 2014. 37, rue des Mathurins Paris, 75008 France. Phone: 033 153 30 30 30 - Fax: 033 153 30 30 31 - Email: monteauxsarmiento-r@tajan.com
Cartier, Années 1920, Montre Régence
Cartier, Années 1920, Montre Régence. Photo Tajan.
composée d’une montre de forme carrée au fond à monogramme serti de diamants. Le cadran est également entouré de deux lignes de brillants. La montre est montée en chatelaine à décor géométrique serti de petites roses et diamants en serti clos. Le remontoir est serti d’un petit diamant. Monture en platine unie. Travail des années 1920. Poids brut : 32,8 gr. Dimensions : 5,5 x 2,2 cm. Estimated Price: €11,000 - €14,000
A diamond and platinum lapel watch by CARTIER circa 1920
Tajan. 12 mars 2014. 37, rue des Mathurins Paris, 75008 France. Phone: 033 153 30 30 30 - Fax: 033 153 30 30 31 - Email: monteauxsarmiento-r@tajan.com
A finely carved pale greenish-white jade grotto group, 17th-18th century
A finely carved pale greenish-white jade grotto group, 17th-18th century. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2014
The front is carved in deep relief with Shoulao holding a peach standing on a ledge beside an attendant holding a vase of flowers, surrounded by the pierced walls of a grotto and above a deer grasping a sprig of lingzhi in its mouth. A pine tree is to one side and a bat is in flight above, while the reverse is carved with a pair of cranes, one standing on a ledge above a waterfall. The stone is semi-translucent and is softly polished. 8 in. (20.5 cm.) high. Estimate $40,000 – $60,000
Provenance: Acquired in the United States by Emma Brewster Jennings (1861-1942), or Esther Judson Auchincloss (1895-1986), and thence by descent within the family to the present owner.
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE WEST COAST COLLECTION
Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART. 20 - 21 March 2014, New York, Rockefeller Plaza - www.christies.com
A dali marble and huanghuali table screen, Xiaozuopingfeng, 19th century
A dali marble and huanghuali table screen, Xiaozuopingfeng, 19th century. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2014
The attractive, variegated black and white stone panel is suggestive of a mountain range and is slotted into a huanghuali stand with shoe feet and standing spandrels joined by an openwork panel carved with chilong and lingzhi. 17 in. (43.1 cm.) high. Estimate $6,000 – $8,000
Provenance: Ho Cheung Antique Furniture, Hong Kong, 1994.
Property from a Private American Collection
Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART. 20 - 21 March 2014, New York, Rockefeller Plaza - www.christies.com
A rare finely carved large hardwood brush pot, Bitong, 18th-19th century
A rare finely carved large hardwood brush pot, Bitong, 18th-19th century. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2014
Possibly huanghuali, the sides are finely and deeply carved with scenes of scholars and attendants at various pursuits in a setting of terraces and a pavilion nestled amidst bamboo, trees, and rocks. One scene depicts scholars gathered around a table set with dishes and attended by a young boy. To their left a scholar watches as another scholar paints on a rock face while an attendant holds an inkstone. Two scholars seated beneath pine trees play a musical instrument and another scene shows an intimate gathering of scholars practicing calligraphy. Two young attendants assist an elderly scholar toward a foot bridge. The various scenes are set below a cloud-enshrouded rim. 10 3/8 in. (26.4 cm.) diam. Estimate $10,000 – $15,000
Provenance: Hon. Theodore Francis Green (1867-1966) Collection, Rhode Island.
Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART. 20 - 21 March 2014, New York, Rockefeller Plaza - www.christies.com
René Boivin, Années 1940, Bague jonc diamant
René Boivin, Années 1940, Bague jonc diamant. Photo Tajan.
Elle est ornée d’une ligne de cinq diamants taille brillant (TA) en chatons à griffes sur un pavage de diamants taille brillant (TA). Monture en platine. Poids brut : 11,4 gr. (repolie). Poids des diamants : 5 carats environ.TDD : 52. Estimated Price: €4,500 - €6,000
La bague est accompagnée d’un certificat d’authenticité de Madame Françoise Cailles.
A diamond and platinum ring by René BOIVIN circa 1940.
Tajan. 12 mars 2014. 37, rue des Mathurins Paris, 75008 France. Phone: 033 153 30 30 30 - Fax: 033 153 30 30 31 - Email: monteauxsarmiento-r@tajan.com
