Lark Mason Associates announces two sales: Asian works of art and fine and decorative works of art
A Chinese Cloisonné Tripod Censer with Carved Wood Cover, 18th Century and later. Est: $100,000/150,000. © 2015 iGavel
NEW YORK, NY.- Lark Mason, founder and president of Lark Mason Associates, has announced that more than 200 lots of important Asian art will soon be up for bidding on iGavel Auctions in a sale that goes live on October 13th through October 27th. The outstanding works of art represent the breathtaking scope of Asian periods and disciplines, from the Sui dynasty through the 20th century, as well as an exemplary selection of fine and decorative arts from the 17th to 20th centuries, which goes live on October 8th to 29th.
In the fine and decorative arts sale, works of art include over 200 works of art from international collectors with an emphasis on works from the Beaux Arts period, which represented some of the highest levels of technical achievement in craftsmanship from the 18th century to the present day. The sale has a fine selection of gilt-bronze mounted clock garnitures, silver table articles, and furniture, including a porcelain mounted games table, created during the reign of Napoleon III.
Says Mr. Mason, “These two sales offer an extensive range of new material to the auction market, and includes items from all Asian cultures, with the largest number from China, consigned from American collectors. Complementing the Asian works of art is a superb array of fine and decorative arts.”
The Asian sale includes a fine selection of jewelry, highlighted by three strands of bright-green jadeite necklaces, formerly strung as a single necklace then separated early in the 20th century; and a brilliant pink tourmaline pendant. Among the furniture in the sale is a rare pair of Chinese Huanghuali yokeback armchairs, dating from the late 17th century. The sale also includes early bronze figures, jade and other hardstone carvings, lacquer, porcelain, and other works of art, including a selection of scroll paintings by noted artists.
Among the outstanding highlights are:
A Chinese Cloisonné Tripod Censer with Carved Wood Cover, 18th Century and later. Estimate $100,000-150,000. © 2015 iGavel
pitting to the enamel, some flaking or small bruises to the enamel, some gaps in the enamel on the handles; some rubbing to the gilding; the cover with a glued break through the center; each leg reattached, or possibly replaced or added later. Height: 7 inches
Note: Small censers, used for burning incense, were made of various materials in China, ranging from ceramic to cloisonné. Few of these were made in the imperial workshops and this example has a gilt four-character Qianlong mark inset into the base. At a later date, a carved wood cover was created for the censer, deftly carved with a sinuous dragon emerging from turbulent clouds. The censer was formerly in an American collection.
A Set of Three Chinese Green Jadeite Necklaces. Estimate $60,000-90,000. © 2015 iGavel
Chinese jadeite, often called imperial jade, a brilliant emerald green color. These three strands were once a single long strand, that early in the 20th century were separated into three by the present owner’s family. Minor wear; some beads with minute speckles of white inclusions; the color natural, no indications of impregnation. Length: 16 1/2 inches, 16 inches, and 14 1/2 inches
The beads are perfectly matched in color and size, and the set is accompanied by a GIA certificate testifying to the natural color.
A pair of Chinese Porcelain Fahua 'Lotus' Jars and Covers, Qing dynasty. Estimate $50,000-80,000. © 2015 iGavel
one broken and restored, with a circular restored line at the shoulder, down to the foot, and through the underside, with two break lines or cracks visible on the interior, and with overpainting to the surface; the other with minor wear. Height: each approx. 18 1/2 inches
Note: Lotus subjects appear throughout Chinese art, and this pair of vases, replicates a design first seen during the Qianlong period (1736-1795). Controlling the firing process in the kiln was particularly challenging for the complicated design and range of colors, which exemplifies the rarity of this pattern.
A Chinese Flambe Porcelain Vase, Qianlong Mark and Period. Estimate $70000-100000. © 2015 iGavel
Large Chinese Bronze Figure of Guanyin with Lotus Stand, Ming Dynasty, 19 1/2 inches. Estimate $50000-70000. © 2015 iGavel
the lotus stand associated to the figure later; the figure with traces of gilding on the front, with holes in the bronze along the front center lower edge, with other scattered losses to the bronze along the base of the figure, the fingers bent back toward the body, the bowl in the right hand dented, a small filled repair to the upraised hand, and with a rectangular patch repair to the back of the neck; the base re-lacquered or painted later, scattered losses to the metal. Height: 19 1/2 inches.
Large Partial Gilt Bronze Figure of a Guardian, Ming Dynasty. Estimate $20000-40000. © 2015 iGavel
general surface wear, as expected; lacking original attribute from the upraised hand; with some scattered oxidation; with a dent to the top tip of the headdress, and the hairpin misshapen; small scattered dents; with a crack to the front of the base; with a hole in the base, front left corner; with a horizontal crack through the sides and back of the figure, just below the top coat; the crack extends over a small rectangular loss with a hole in the center to an old repair on the left side; some losses to the metal on the base, including the top back left corner; an old repair to the back of the right shoulder. Height: 18 inches
Provenance: From an East Coast Doctor's Collection
Chinese Porcelain Ming Style Underglaze Blue Decorated Bowl, Qianlong Mark and Period. Estimate $20000-30000. © 2015 iGavel
with the entire rim reduced; the interior well with some wear to the glaze. Diameter: 10 inches.
Chinese Brown Ground Kesi Nine Dragon Robe, 19th-20th Century. Estimate $20000-30000. © 2015 iGavel
some minor fading, the frog clasps reattached, with a sewn repair to a very few pulled threads from the outline of the scales from the dragon on the top right shoulder, a few possible pulled threads throughout, but in overall good condition. Length: 52 in.
Chinese Kingfisher Feather and Zitan Landscape Panel, 19th Century. Estimate $15000-25000. © 2015 iGavel
the kingfisher probably mounted on a different panel, and remounted on velvet; scattered losses to the feathers; possibly lacking elements; with a chip to the top edge of the frame, approx. 1/4 inch long; the frame with some splits to the wood, mostly the back and sides and with some drill holes on the verso - 21 inches by 28 3/4 inches
Chinese 230.00 carats Carved Tourmaline Peach Pendant with Art Deco Platinum and Diamond Mount, Late Qing. Estimate $8000-10000. © 2015 iGavel
the mount possibly by Raymond Yard; the stone 51.50x44.00x13.00 MM, approximately 230.00 carats; with minute nicks to the tips of the carved leaves; and small chips to the carved petal along the bottom edge of the carving, a few minute scattered nicks; natural inclusions in the stone.
Provenance: Purchased at Betteridge Jewelers in Greenwich, CT; by repute formerly in the Woolworth Estate
Notes: For a similar examples, see: a smaller, but also peach form example at Sotheby's Hong Kong, Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite, 9 October 2012, lot 1649; and another smaller example at Sotheby's, Hong Kong, Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite, 7 April 2014, lot 1673.
Chinese Porcelain Famille Rose Sgraffito Decorated Bowl, Daoguang Mark and Period. Estimate $6000-9000. © 2015 iGavel
the mark very light overglaze red; minor rubbing and wear to the enamel. Diameter: 6 inches
Provenance: Purchased from Richfield Antiques around 1992.
Pair Chinese Porcelain Famille Verte Bottle Vases, Kangxi Period. Estimate $5000-8000. © 2015 iGavel
one vase with a restored chip or fritting on the lip, and restoration to the neck; each with discoloration to the underside. Height: 9 inches.
Chinese Peking Glass Green Faceted Vase, 18th-19th Century. Estimate $6000-8000. © 2015 iGavel
minor wear, one facet on the foot possibly polished slightly, but probably original to the piece, mark possibly added later. Height: 8 inches.
Provenance: Originally purchased from Hartman Rare Art, 2010, with copy of original invoice.
Chinese Porcelain Underglaze Blue Decorated Dragon Bowl, Guangxu Mark and Period. Estimate $3000-5000. © 2015 iGavel
with some small areas of fritting to the rim. Diameter: 6 5/8 inches
Chinese Porcelain Underglaze Blue Ewer, 17th Century. Estimate $1500-2500. © 2015 iGavel
fritting on the lip, with a small nick or flake to the tip of the spout; with glaze flaking on the handle, particularly where the handle meets the body of the vessel, and along the top of the handle; with a small area of glaze flaking along the widest point of the body; with approx. three intertwined hairline cracks where the handle meets the body of the vessel; with a horizontal firing crack through the widest point in the vessel, completely under the glaze; and with scattered burst glaze bubbles to the body. Height: 9 inches
Provenance: Property from a Tennessee Collection, originally purchased in 1991 from H. Moog, Atlanta