9 avril 2014

A yellow gold, cultured pearl and diamond brooch and earring suite, by Andrew Grima, 1969. Photo: Bonhams. The brooch of "starburst" design, the textured 18 carat gold border enveloping the central golden pearl within a brilliant-cut diamond surround, the earrings en suite, both signed Grima, workshop mark HJCo, London hallmarks, brooch length 5.4cm, earring length 3.0cm, maker's case. Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 (€6,100 - 8,500) Bonhams. FINE JEWELLERY. London, New Bond Street, 30 Apr 2014 - www.bonhams.com

A yellow gold and diamond ring and earring suite, by Andrew Grima, 1970. Photo: Bonhams. The ring and "night and day" earclips designed as stylised piles of logs, of varying heights with bark detail and brilliant-cut diamond highlights, each signed Grima, ring with workshop mark HJCo and London hallmark, earrings with detachable pendants, ring size I, earring length 6.0cm. Estimate £3,000 - 4,000 (€3,600 - 4,900) Bonhams. FINE JEWELLERY. London, New Bond Street, 30 Apr 2014 - www.bonhams.com

A necklace, bangle and brooch suite, by Buccellati, circa 1965. Photo: Bonhams. The necklace designed as a series of textured vine leaves issuing from a central branch, graduating in size from the centre, each leaf with central polished rib, the hinged bangle of similar design with knarled branch borders, the foliate stick pin en suite, each signed M Buccellati, inner diameter of bangle 6.0cm, necklace length 46.0cm, pin length 6.0cm. Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 (€18,000 - 24,000)Mario Buccellati, the 'Prince of Goldsmiths',... [Lire la suite]

A rare susancai figure of a recumbent stag, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Length 4 in., 10.2 cm. Photo Sotheby's Provenance: Berwald Oriental Art, London, 1998. Note: This delicately modeled figure of a stag is exceptionally rare.  While painted examples and jade carvings are common, three-dimensional sculptural representations in porcelain are very unusual. From at least the Shang dynasty onwards painted, carved and modeled figures of deer have been a mainstay of Chinese art.  Early... [Lire la suite]

A susancai toad-form water dropper, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Length 6 1/2 in., 16.6 cm. Photo Sotheby's Provenance: Berwald Oriental Art, London, 2000. Note: The lowly toad has long occupied a significant role in Chinese iconography. A very well modeled pottery toad in the Luoyang museum dating back to the Xia dynasty (2070-1600 BC) attests to both the longevity and popularity of the animal. The toad’s association with water and darkness somehow evolves to the animal’s influence over rain and... [Lire la suite]

A susancai figure of a young boy, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Height 5 1/2 in., 14 cm. Photo Sotheby's Provenance: Priestley & Ferraro, London, 2005. Note: This figure of a small boy has large implication. Customs and traditions centered around the birth of a son were serious business. The birth of a male heir meant someone who could bring honor to the family name and carry on the lineage.  Not necessarily understanding their significance, these diminutive sculptures captivated Western... [Lire la suite]

A large pair of susancai figures of buddhist lions, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Height 24 in., 61 cm. Photo Sotheby's Provenance: Collection of Winston Guest (1906-1982).Sotheby’s New York, 2nd December 1967, lot 78.Christie’s London, 17th November 1986, lot 90. Property from the Fine Art Foundation.Offered Christie’s London, 7th April 1997, lot 95.A & J Speelman, London, 2000. Note: Not indigenous to the region, lion imagery and its association with royalty and as protectors of the divine... [Lire la suite]

A susancai figure of Guanyin, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Height 10 in., 25.5 cm. Photo Sotheby's Provenance: Ralph M. Chait Galleries, New York. Note:By far one of the most popular deities in China, Guanyin is commonly assumed to have originated from the Indian Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. The word 'Guanshiyin’ translates roughly to ‘one who observes the sounds of the world’ which relates closely to the meaning of Avalokitesvara. The deity is associated with compassion and mercy; traits viewed... [Lire la suite]

A rare susancai openwork cylindrical perfumer, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Length 7 3/4 in., 19.5 cm. Photo Sotheby's Provenance: A.J. Speelman, London, 1995.Sotheby’s Monaco, 4th March 1990, lot 338. Note: The continuous narrative depicts the departure scene from Xi Xiang Ji or 'The Romance of the Western Chamber'. The young hero/scholar Zhang Gong bids farewell to his beloved Cui Yingying as he heads off to the Tang dynasty capital, Chang'an to take the imperial examinations. ... [Lire la suite]

A gold and diamond ring, possibly Flemish, circa 1600-1650. Photo: Bonhams. The central point-cut diamond within a quatrefoil cluster of table-cut diamonds, alternating with ribbed gold talon motifs, the bezel and shoulders with cross-hatched decoration, traces of black enamel remaining, one diamond deficient, ring size J. Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 (€4,900 - 7,300) Bonhams. FINE JEWELLERY. London, New Bond Street, 30 Apr 2014 - www.bonhams.com