Eskenazi Shows Chinese Ceramics And Stone Sculpture For Asian Art In London

16 octobre 2008

Eskenazi Shows Chinese Ceramics And Stone Sculpture For Asian Art In London

Eskenazi, one of the world’s leading dealers in Chinese art, will exhibit Chinese Ceramics and Stone Sculpture at 10 Clifford Street, London W1, from Thursday 30 October to Friday 28 November 2008, to coincide with the 11^th staging of Asian Art in London (30 October to 12 November). This annual event unites London’s leading Asian art dealers, major auction houses and societies in a series of selling exhibitions, auctions, receptions, lectures and seminars that attract visitors from around the world.

Glazed earthenware jar. Northern Qi period, 550-577. Height: 26 cm

One of the rarest pieces in the exhibition is a glazed earthenware jar from the Northern Qi period, 550-577. (fig 1) The green-glazed jar is richly ornamented with moulded appliqués, the most striking of which, encircling the central section, are four male faces resembling masks. They are of Western, not Eastern Asiatic appearance with bushy eyebrows, bulging cheeks, luxuriant moustaches and goatee beards. The faces alternate with four appliqués of lion masks holding ring handles in their mouths. There are only two other jars known with similar ‘foreign’ decorative motifs, both previously handled by Eskenazi, one now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the other in the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto.

Earthenware attendant. Western Han period, 206 BC-9 AD. Height: 39.5 cm

Particularly appealing is a grey earthenware figure of a kneeling female attendant dating from the Western Han period, 206 BC–9 AD, made soon after the first Emperor’s famous terracotta army. This delicate and elegant figure is sensitively modelled, her long hair gathered into a loose pony tail. She holds her full sleeves in front of her face to conceal her open mouth. From a private New York collection, this figure is especially rare for retaining much of the original painted decoration including pink on the face, black eyes and red on the collar. (fig. 2)

Earthenware equestrian. Tang period, 618-907. Height: 38.5 cm

An earthenware equestrian figure dating from the Tang period, 618-907, comes from a private UK collection and will be publicly exhibited for the first time in over 30 years. This animated figure has an immediate appeal, the youthful rider is sympathetically portrayed with delicate features and is clothed in a ‘foreign’ style with a high, pointed hat with raised seams as if made of felt or sheepskin. The alert horse is walking in a sprightly fashion, nostrils flaring and ears pricked. Its mane has one tuft cut into the form known as ‘single flower’ indicating that the figure was made for the tomb of someone with a certain official or aristocratic status. The whole piece has an extraordinary degree of attention to detail and artistry devoted to it by a highly talented sculptor, setting it apart from the majority of small-scale Tang tomb sculpture. (fig. 3)

Glazed earthenware ewer. Tang period, 618 -907. Height: 22.8 cm

The exhibition features a number of desirable earthenware vessels including a Tang blue and amber-glazed white ewer standing on a high flared foot. The finely potted globular body and double-strap handle are covered with deep blue (unusual for the Tang period) and transparent glazes, applied in a resist technique to reveal patches of the cream-coloured body. (fig. 4)

Marble head of Buddha, Sui period, 581-618, Height: 22 cm

Two sandstone panels of musicians, Tang - Five Dynasties period, 9^th-10^th century, Probably Sichuan province, (a) 69 x 92 cm (b) 69.5 x 81 cm

The panels each contain fourteen musicians, carved in high relief, playing easily recognisable versions of flutes, zithers, lutes and recorders. One orchestra is exclusively female, the other male. Dating from the Tang to Five Dynasties period, 9^th-10^th century, both groups are shown playing the same combination of seven instruments. The women wear high-waisted, full-sleeved robes and their hair is adorned with crescent-shaped combs. The men wear high-collared belted robes and caps. A charming detail below the female musicians is a scene of two curly-tailed dogs about to fight or play. Both panels still retain evidence of the original polychrome decoration. (fig. 7a & b)

A pair of glazed earthenware shoes, Late Six Dynasties or Sui period, mid 6^th or early 7^th century, Length: 9.8 cm, height: 5.5 c

There are a number of unusual and amusing pieces in the exhibition such as a pair of shoes modelled in white earthenware covered in a clear green glaze. Dating from the late Six Dynasties or Sui period, mid 6^th or early 7^th century, the shoes resemble moccasins with flat soles and upswept fan-shaped toes. (fig. 6)

Glazed porcelain figural group, Yuan period, 13^th-14^th century, Qingbai ware, Southern China, Length: 12 cm, height 4.8 cm

A delightful Qingbai (light bluish-green) porcelain group of four baby boys seated in a stylised lotus leaf pond dates from the Yuan period, 13^th/14^th century. In Buddhist imagery, young boys were popularly associated with themes of fertility and a desire for many sons. These boys have hair typically shorn around one or two long tufts and they are seated in various attitudes, fish swimming around their feet, one holding a lotus leaf and another a bird. (fig. 8)

Since the family business was founded in Milan in 1925, the Eskenazi name has become synonymous with expertise in oriental art. Giuseppe Eskenazi, head of the business for some 50 years, has an unrivalled reputation for his knowledge and love of the subject and for the importance of the objects he offers for sale. His clients include many of the world’s major museums as well as the most discerning private collectors. The exhibition Chinese Ceramics and Stone Sculpture will, as always, be a highlight of Asian Art in London

Stone sculpture is represented by a marble head of Buddha and by two sandstone panels featuring male and female orchestras. The Buddha from the Sui period, 581-618, formerly in the distinguished C.T. Loo collection, Paris, has an expression of meditative calmness and the oval head is finely carved with almond-shaped eyes and delicate mouth. The white marble retains extensive areas of pigment and gilding which is unusual. The face would originally have been completely gilded and the hair a strong blue. (fig. 5)

Posté par Alain Truong à 23:33 - Commentaires […] - Permalien [#]

Tags: Yuan, Tang, Sui, Western Han, Late Six Dynasties, Northern Qi Sui, Qingbai ware, Tang - Five Dynasties