8 août 2013

The Tree of Life was created in 1947 by Giulio Nardi for his wife Giuseppina. Originally made in platinum, it was a unique piece until it was recreated in the 1970s. Photo courtesy Nardi Nardi's St Mark's Square gold lion cufflinks are a clear reference to the magnificent statues found in the main landmark of Venice. Photo courtesy Nardi Typical of Nardi's work is this trio of Tulip rings, which echo the richness of the colours of the tapestries of Venice as well as the exotic shapes of its architecture. Photo courtesy... [Lire la suite]

Lot 32. A yellow ground 'Bats' bowl, Yongzheng mark and period (1723-1735). Diameter 5 7/8 in., 14.9 cm. Estimate 50,000 — 70,000 USD. Lot sold 92,500 USD. Photo Sotheby's of steeply rounded form supported on a slightly splayed foot, incised around the exterior with twelve iron-red bats in flight, each holding a pale green double-gourd suspended from a blue ribbon in its mouth, on a ground of swirling green clouds with incised detailing, between interlinked ruyi-heads around the... [Lire la suite]

Lot 31. An incised yellow and green enameled bowl, Jiaqing seal mark and period (1796-1820). Diameter 4 7/8 in., 12.3 cm. Estimate 6,000 — 8,000 USD. Lot sold 17,500 USD. Photo Sotheby's the deep rounded sides raised on a straight foot, decorated around the sides in green enamels with birds in flight between fruiting peach trees springing from rockwork, all against a yellow ground extending into the interior, the countersunk base with a seal mark in aubergine.  Property from the Estate... [Lire la suite]

Lot 30. A yellow-glazed bowl, Jiaqing seal mark and period (1796-1820). Diameter 5 3/4 in., 14.5 cm. Estimate 7,000 — 9,000 USD. Lot sold 20,000 USD. Photo Sotheby's the deep rounded sides rising from a short foot to a flared lipped rim, covered overall with a rich egg-yolk yellow glaze darkening to an amber tone at the foot, seal mark in underglaze blue.  Property from the Estate of William and Jennifer Shaw Provenance: Christie's Hong Kong, 31st March 1992, lot 744. ... [Lire la suite]

Lot 27. A 'Langyao' bottle vase, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Height 9 1/8 in., 23.2 cm. Estimate 20,000 — 30,000 USD. Lot sold 17,500 USD. Photo Sotheby's the pear-shaped body tapering into a tall slender neck, covered overall with a crushed deep-strawberry-crackled glaze, thinning at the mouth rim and pooling at the foot.  Property from the Estate of William and Jennifer Shaw Provenance: Property of the Estate of Dr. Ip Yee, Sotheby's Hong Kong, 19th November 1984, lot... [Lire la suite]

Lot 26.A copper-red-glazed dish, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736-1795). Diameter 8 1/8 in., 20.6 cm. Estimate 5,000 — 7,000 USD. Lot sold 6,875 USD. Photo Sotheby's with rounded sides rising from a short foot to a slightly flared rim, applied overall with a red glaze leaving the rim and base a bluish-white, seal mark in underglaze blue.  Property from the Estate of William and Jennifer Shaw Provenance: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 16th November 1988, lot 341 (part). Sotheby's. Fine... [Lire la suite]

Lot 25. A teadust-glazed 'double-gourd' vase, Qianlong seal mark and period (1736-1795). Height 10 1/8 in., 25.8 cm. Estimate 40,000 — 60,000 USD. Lot sold 98,500 USD. Photo Sotheby's well-potted with a globular lower bulb rising to a slender, tapering upper bulb flanked by a pair of S-shaped loop handles terminating in ruyi-heads at the shoulders of the lower bulb, the waist faintly molded with a band of petals divided by a central rib, covered  in an even,... [Lire la suite]

Lot 24. A copper-red celadon-glazed 'Dragon' vase, Qianlong seal mark and period (1736-1795). Height 13 1/4 in., 33.5 cm. Estimate 20,000 — 30,000 USD. Lot sold 35,000 USD. Photo Sotheby's the body of compressed pear form rising to a flared rim, applied with a sinuous chilong coiled around the sloping shoulder, the lustrous pale blue-green glaze with splashes of russet-brown and blue-black, the unglazed foot stained brown, seal mark in underglaze blue.  Property... [Lire la suite]

Founder Simeone Codognato’s fascination with the macabre was evident in his skull rings. Photo courtesy Codognato One of Codognato's now-legendary skull rings. Photo courtesy Codognato Codognato's skull rings, with twinkling diamond eyes, are designed to remind the wearer not to waste a precious day of life. Photo courtesy Codognato The skull makes its way onto other pieces of Codognato jewellery too, including earrings. Photo courtesy Codognato A uniquely macabre Codognato ring featuring a bejewelled coffin. Photo... [Lire la suite]

Lot 21. A puce-enameled 'Phoenix Medallion' bowl, Guangxu mark and period (1875-1908). Diameter 5 5/8 in., 14.3 cm. Estimate 7,000 — 9,000 USD. Lot sold 7,500 USD. Photo Sotheby's with rounded sides rising from a straight foot to an everted rim, the exterior decorated with five phoenix roundels with wings outstretched and their tails curled underneath, with one further roundel in the center of the interior, six-character mark in underglaze blue.  Property from the Estate of... [Lire la suite]