6 décembre 2008

A carved zitan brush pot, bitong. Ming Dynasty The cylindrical body carved from a single wood section with a continuous scene of an idealised landscape with mountains, temples, waterways, and people engaged in various activities, punctuated throughout with ancient trees, between raised bands round the mouth and foot, supported on three tab feet, the base made from a separate piece of wood, the material dark brown with some reddish-brown streaks. 15.3cm (6in) high. Estimate: HK$320,000 - 350,000, $41,000 - 45,000 - Unsold. ... [Lire la suite]

A carved rhinoceros horn libation cup. 17th/18th Century Carved and undercut as a tree stump supporting a pair of phoenix birds with clusters of bamboo and lingzhi shading swimming ducks, the interior carved as a six petal flower, the honey-colored horn highly polished. 9cm (3 1/4in) high, 15.5cm (6 1/8in) long. Sold for HK$168,000. Footnote: 十七/十八世紀 犀角鳳凰鴛鴦盃 Bonhams. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 4 Dec 2008. Hong Kong.  Copyright © 2002-2008 Bonhams 1793 Ltd., Images and Text All Rights Reserved.... [Lire la suite]

A carved rhinoceros horn figure of Li Bai. 17th Century The sage poet well-carved in the round, seated in a relaxed posture with one hand resting on his knee and the other holding a wine cup, his hair gathered in a top-knot above his expressive face, his scholar's robe falling in folds and spreading out around him, an eight character inscription reading Jianwen er nian Zhang Sheng [yu] yong incised in a horizontal line across the figure's back. 3 1/2in (8.9cm) high Sold for HK$960,000 Footnote: Li Bai (701-762) is often... [Lire la suite]

Important natural pearl and diamond necklace Composed of fifty-one pearls measuring from approximately 6.6 to 13.2 mm, the clasp set at the centre with a marquise-shaped diamond bordered by single- and circular-cut stones, mounted in platinum, French assay and maker's marks. length approximately 490mm. Estimate 320,000—420,000 CHF - Unsold. Accompanied by SSEF report no. 52517 stating that all the pearls are natural. Sotheby's. Magnificent Jewels. 19 Nov 08. Geneva. photo courtesy Sotheby's. www.sothebys.com

Cabochon Sapphire ring The cabochon sapphire to a mount engraved with scroll details, embellished with stepped calibré-cut sapphire shoulders, mounted in platinum. size 50. Estimate 225,000—325,000 CHF - Unsold. Accompanied by SSEF report no. 42937 stating that the sapphire weighing approximately 15.00 carats, is of Kashmir origin, with no indications of heating. NOTE: The world's finest and most sought after sapphires are those coming from the legendary mines of Kashmir. They were discovered by chance as a result of a... [Lire la suite]

Unmounted 8.90 carats Diamond The unmounted step-cut diamond weighing 8.90 carats. Estimate 130,000—190,000 CHF. Lot Sold 182,500 CHF Accompanied by GIA report no. 2105268217 stating that the diamond is H Colour, VS2 Clarity. Sotheby's. Magnificent Jewels. 19 Nov 08. Geneva. photo courtesy Sotheby's. www.sothebys.com

Lot 48. School of Madrid, circa 1650, a vanitas still life with a skull, a violin, a pewter plate, a vase of flowers, a book and a small tortoiseshell inlaid cabinet with silver gilt wine cups and terracotta vases on top, arranged upon a table top draped with a carpet, together with a harp leaning against a chair, set before a draped curtain, oil on canvas. 108 by 164 cms.; 42 1/2 by 64 1/2 in. Estimate 100,000—150,000 GBP. Unsold. Photo Sotheby's PROVENANCE: In the collection of a Spanish noble family until the... [Lire la suite]

Dirck van Delen (Heusden circa 1605 - 1671 Arnemuden), the interior of a gothic cathedral, with numerous elegant figures, and women listening to a bible reading  signed and dated in the architecture upper left: D.V.DELEN. F Ao 1632. oil on copper. 20 by 24.7 cm.; 8 by 9 3/4 in. Estimate 60,000—80,000 GBP. Lot Sold 115,250 GBP PROVENANCE: Private collection, England, since the nineteenth century, until acquired by Otto Naumann, New York;With Robert Noortman, Maastricht & London, 2001, when acquired by the present... [Lire la suite]

Juan Correa de Vivar (Mascaraque, circa 1510 - 1566 Toledo), Christ on the road to calvary oil on panel. 154.5 by 125 cm.; 61 by 49 1/4 in. Estimate 60,000—80,000 GBP - Lot Sold 193,250 GBP PROVENANCE: Probably commissioned by the convent of San Martín de Valdeiglesias, near Toledo, in the 1550s;Duc d'Alcedo, Biarritz;Acquired by a descendant of the present owner in Biarritz circa 1918. NOTE: This exceptional panel was painted by Juan Correa de Vivar in the early 1550s, and was probably commissioned by the Cistercian... [Lire la suite]

A Ming-style blue and white bottle vase, yuhuchun ping. Qianlong six-character seal mark and of the period The swelling sides painted with a continuous scene of bamboo alternating with plantain growing beside garden rocks, interspersed with other flowering plants, above a petal lappet band encircling the lotus blossom decorated splayed foot, the neck and shoulder decorated with bands of upright plantain leaves, foliate scroll and pendant ruyi, the pale blue tone of the design highlighted with darker blue spots in imitation... [Lire la suite]