17 février 2016

A large blue and white dish, Ming dynasty, late 16th-early 17th century. © Christie's Image 2013 Painted in inky underglaze blue in the center and around the sides with large blossoms borne on leafy meander, the base unglazed - 20 1/16in. (51cm.) diam. Lot 284. Estimate $4,000 - $6,000. Price Realized $7,768  Property from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Breece III CHRISTIE'S. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 18 September 2003, New York, Rockefeller Plaza

A Ming blue and white reticulated brushrest, Wanli period (1573-1619). © Christie's Image 2013 Hollow-constructed with perforated sides and molded as three peaks formed by dragons leaping from waves above a rectangular base molded as a long stand with curved apron, the base with a small circular aperture in one corner - 5¾in. (14.6cm.) long. Lot 283. Estimate $10,000 - $15,000. Price Realized $9,560  Notes: Porcelain brushrests of this type were made in two designs, with either three or five... [Lire la suite]

Luz Camino, Rooster brooch. Vanadinite, tourmalines, spinel, sapphires, rubies, diamonds, silver and gold, 9 x 10 cm. © Deborah Elvira Pendant, Portugal, 17th century. Gold and diamonds, 10 x 7,5 cm. © Deborah Elvira Reliquary cross, Spain, end of the 16th century. Gold, enamel, rock crystal, 7,2 x 4,5 cm. © Deborah Elvira The cross shows the following inscription:"Ecce/crucem D/omini FV/cite partes adverse visit/Leo de tribe iudaradix Davi/D Allelu/IA... [Lire la suite]

A rare small molded Longquan celadon dish, Yuan dynasty, 14th century © Christie's Image 2013 The thickly potted shallow dish crisply molded with sixteen bracket lobes along the edge of the flattened mouth rim, each lobe framing a pair of florets, the interior center molded with a scene of a recumbent mythical creature with a single horn and pinions at its shoulders and haunches, its head turned to face the crescent moon, the cavetto molded with a scroll of blossoming chrysanthemums, covered overall with a pale green celadon... [Lire la suite]

A large carved Longquan celadon barbed dish, Yuan dynasty, 14th century © Christie's Image 2013 The center fluidly carved with four peony sprigs below the crisply carved petal-lobed well, covered allover with a glaze of soft sea-green tone continuing over the foot, an unglazed ring on the base burnt orange in the firing - 17in. (43.1cm.) across. Lot 286. Estimate $10,000 - $15,000. Price Realized $7,170  CHRISTIE'S. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 18 September 2003, New York,... [Lire la suite]

A molded and carved Longquan celadon dish, Yuan dynasty, late 13th-early 14th century. © Christie's Image 2013 With rounded sides rising to a flat, everted rim, the interior decorated in relief with a four-claw, scaly dragon leaping in pursuit of a flaming pearl below a band of foliate scroll fluidly carved in the well, the exterior carved with a frieze of upright petals, all under a glaze of sea-green tone thinning on the raised areas, the base similarly glazed - 13¼in. (33.3cm.) diam. Lot 285. Estimate $8,000... [Lire la suite]

Otto Jakob, Akar II. Ring of partially oxidized white gold with micro pavé set 79 honey brown and 75 black diamonds. © Otto Jakob Otto Jakob, Korol. Earrings with diamond-set flaming stars inlaid in coral. © Otto Jakob The coral cabochons are set in hexagonal yellow gold frames, whose facets are enameled black and embellished with diamond-set ornaments of white gold. Yellow and white gold, coral, 2 baguette-cut diamonds 1.10ct, 508 micro pavé set diamonds 1.33ct, vitreous enamel. ... [Lire la suite]

"Memento mori", 1520, ivory, ebony. Ludwig Collection, Museum Schnütgen. Photo petrus.agricola

"Memento Mori", ivory skeleton in an ebonized wood coffin. South German, possibly Augsburg, 17th century.

Albert Jansz. Vinckenbrinck, Skull with case, c. 1650. Boxwood, leather, commper; h 4cm. BK-KOG-2486. On loan from the Koninklijk Oudheidkundig Genootschap, 1951. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.  Vinckenbrinck specialized in small-scale carvings in boxwood; he had a great feeling for the rendering of texture and detail. The owner of this little skull – a vanitas symbol for the transience of life – valued the piece so greatly as a work of art that a small case was made to house it.