Lot 78125. A Monumental Chinese Blue and White Triple Gourd Vase, Qing Dynasty, Kangxi Period, circa 1654-1722, 40-1/8 inches high (101.9 cm). Estimate $30,000-50,000.

DALLAS, TX.- A monumental triple gourd vase, dramatic bronze figures and exquisite porcelain highlight the offerings at the inaugural Asian Art Signature Auction held by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions on April 2. Standing nearly 3-1/2 feet tall the Chinese blue and white triple gourd vase (est. $30,000-50,000) which features floral and foliate motifs on the upper baluster segment, dragons, leaves and blossoms in the midsection with chrysanthemums and dragons featured on the lowest portion was purchased by John Pierpoint Morgan, as the American iconic financier amassed one of the finest and largest Asian art collections in the world. The beautiful piece is a two-piece construction with Morgan Collection labels on the underside and interior neck. 

“I am happy and proud to help present Heritage Auctions’ inaugural Asian Art Signature Auction,” said Richard Cervantes, Heritage Auctions Asian Arts Consignment Director. “The variety of fine Chinese, Japanese and Southeast Asian works of art represented in this sale that originated from private estates and family collections demonstrates Heritage’s ability to source important property from throughout the United States and beyond.”  

“J.P. Morgan’s well-documented and vast collection of Chinese ceramics is well known to collectors and connoisseurs of antique porcelain. This Kangxi-period masterwork of both pottery and painting is a rare piece evoking the grandeur of two ‘kings,’ the first great ruler of the Qing Dynasty and this nation’s most powerful financier,” added Cervantes. 

Lot 78125. A Monumental Chinese Blue and White Triple Gourd Vase, Qing Dynasty, Kangxi Period, circa 1654-1722, 40-1/8 inches high (101.9 cm). Estimate $30,000-50,000.

PROVENANCE: John Pierpoint Morgan Collection of Chinese Ceramics;
Joseph and Ben Duveen Brothers, Inc. Collection;
The Norton Simon Foundation, acquired 1965;
Parke-Bernet Galleries, Sale 3204, May 7-8, 1971, Lot 36;
Private collection;
Acquired by present owner from above.

The vase of two-piece construction, upper baluster segment with floral and foliate motifs, midsection with dragons, leaves and blossoms, upper sections connected at lower waist, lowest portion with chrysanthemums and dragons, Morgan Collection label(s) to underside and interior neck. 

A rare Chinese Blue and White Dragon Dish (est. $10,000-15,000) from the Ming Dynasty, period circa 1506-21 also will be available. This important piece shows only one of two known iterations with two dragons to the interior cavetto depicted either to the left/right or above/below of the central dragon. An identical version of the present design was donated to the British Museum by British diplomat Sir John Addis, who collected Ming porcelain.

Lot 78122. A Rare and Important Chinese Blue and White Dragon Dish, Ming Dynasty, Zhengde mark in underglaze blue within double circles and of the period, circa 1506-1521, 1-5/8 h x 9-1/4 d inches (4.1 x 23.5 cm). Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000. 

This important dish dates to the Zhengde Period (1506-1521) and its distinct lotus and dragon decoration is characteristic of the motifs found on Imperial wares of the period. The low dish features a writhing five-toed dragon surrounded by lotus blossoms to the center reserve, bowl well with two elongated dragons in flight among lotus leaves, outer cavetto, and conforming dragon and lotus design above the footed base with ruyi head design.

This particular design is one of two known iterations in which the two dragons to the interior cavetto are either depicted to the left/right or above/below of the central dragon. An identical version of the present design was donated to the British Museum by Sir John Addis (circa 1975) and is illustrated in Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, by Jessica Harrison-Hall, London, no. 8:16. A dish of this design is also documented in the sixth Scroll of Antiquities contained within the imperial collection of Guwan Tu, Yongzheng Emperor (1728) now housed in the British Museum.

A Blue and White Dragon Dish, Ming Dynasty, Four-character Zhengde reign mark within a double ring and of the period, 1506-1521, 24.8 x 4.5 cm. Bequeathed by Sir John M Addis, 1984,0202.8 © Trustees of the British Museum

Reference: Christie's Hong Kong, The R.F.A. Riesco Collection of Important Chinese Ceramics, 27 November 2013, Lot 3116;
Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (II), The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, 2000, p. 68, pl. 63.

There are a number of dramatic bronzes featured, but a copper-inlaid bronze and silver mounted figure of Wrathful Vajrapani Bhutadamara (est. $20,000-30,000) should capture the attention of savvy collectors. The Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period piece stands nearly 10 inches tall.  

Lot 78140. A Fine Chinese Copper-Inlaid Bronze and Silver Mounted Figure of Wrathful Vajrapani Bhutadamara, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period, 18th century, 9-5/8 inches high (24.4 cm) (figure). Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000. 

The figure depicting the Buddhist Vajrapani bodhisattva having blue pigmented hair in front of double-bun surmounted by half vajra, five-pointed skull-adorned headdress, face centered with third eye; neck, arms, and wrists adorned with beaded and snake-form jewelry, ceremonial dorje-mounted crescent knife to right hand and lotus blossom to left hand, flowing scarf inlaid with copper stringing extending downwards from shoulders terminating in wispy scrolls, tri-layered dhoti with full-body tiger pelt tied at waist. 

A large visually stunning Japanese Cloisonné-Enameled Cockerels Vase ($30,000-50,000) from the Meiji Period standing over 16 inches high also will draw attention and interest. 

Lot 78313. A Large and Magnificent Japanese Cloisonné-Enameled Cockerels Vase, Meiji Period, circa 1900. Marks: Sakigake mark Indicating Studio of Namikawa Sosuke (1847-1910), 16-1/4 inches high (41.3 cm). Estimate: $30,000 - $50,000.  

Other top lots include but are not limited to:  

Lot 78246. Zhang Daqian (Chinese, 1899-1983), Plum Blossoms, 1972. Hanging scroll, ink and color on paper, 47-3/4 x 18-7/8 inches (121.2 x 47.9 cm) (sheet). Inscribed and signed, with five seals of the artist. Dated [minguo] sixty-one year (1972). Dedicated to Yingwu for his fifty-fifth birthday. Estimate: $50,000 - $80,000. 

PROVENANCE: This painting was a gift to Zhang Daqian's good friend, Kuomintang General Liu Yingwu to celebrate his fifty-fifth birthday. This painting remained in Liu Yingwu's family and passed down by descent.

Lot 78119. A Large and Rare Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Windswept Jar, Guan, Ming Dynasty, 15th century, 13-7/8 inches high (35.2 cm) (jar). Estimate: $30,000 - $50,000. 

The jar having reticulated carved rosewood lid, neck adorned with banded scrollwork in blue underglaze, shoulder with repeating crosshatching and foliate cartouches, body decorated with Xiwangmu, "Queen Mother of West" holding a basket of peaches and flanked by two female attendants, eight figures likely depicting the Eight Immortals, boy with deer, and scholars engaged in a game of go, raised on carved rosewood base.
Jar, stand, and lid measure 21 inches high (53.3 cm). 

Lot 78312. A Fine and Large Pair of Japanese Parcel Gilt and Patinated Bronze Vases, Meiji Period, late 19th century
Marks: Studio mark of Seiya Saku, 26 inches high (66.0 cm). Estimate: $30,000 - $50,000. 

The pair of vases each of identical baluster-form and decoration, bodies decorated in high relief with partial gilt elephants exhibiting hardstone-embellished blanket and accoutrements, pagoda-form carriage above inset with glass marble architectural finial, other motifs including hawks perched on stands with legs embellished with hardstone orbs, vases with iris relief to bodies, verdigris patinated fan-form censers with carp motifs, vase and squat jardinière, and large drip-glaze verdigris patinated vase. 

Lot 78166. A Rare Chinese Cinnabar Lacquered Peach Box, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period, circa 1736-1795, 5-5/8 h x 11-1/8 w x 11-1/8 d inches (14.3 x 28.3 x 28.3 cm). Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000. 

The peach-shaped domed two-piece box having carved ground comprised of intricate diaperwork with swastikas in relief, central cartouche framed by carved chrysanthemums, interior with landscape scene depicting the Eight Immortals, carved peach and stylized swastika flourishes throughout cavettos, rims with keyed borders.

For a similar Imperial Cinnabar Lacquer Peach-Shaped Box see Christie's Hong Kong Sale 2965, Lot 2108: 28 November 2012 

Lot 78120. A Chinese Porcelain Hundred Deer Hu-Form Vase, Qianlong seal in underglaze blue but of a later period, 12-7/8 inches high (32.7 cm). Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000. 

EXHIBITED: Oriental Ceramic Society, 1964.