9 août 2017

Gold Coiled Wire Bracelet, Iran or Afghanistan, Seljuq, circa 10th Century, Gold, coiled wire, D: 6.7cm © David Aaron This fabulous, zoomorphic piece dates from the Seljuq Empire. The Seljuqs were originally a nomadic Turkic people, who in the 10th century established a vast Islamic empire stretching from the Himalayas to the Mediterranean - encompassing much of the Ancient World. The lands they conquered often possessed long-established traditions of jewellery-making, and one can see in this bracelet a marvellous combination... [Lire la suite]

Gold Bracelet, Islamic, possibly Fatimid Syria, 10th-13th Century A.D., Gold, D: 6.8cm, H: 6.8cm © David Aaron This Islamic bracelet has an unusual, simple beauty. It exemplifies early Islamic taste for gold, and for the aniconic relationship between precious metal and geometric ornament.[1] It has a circular band in a torc design, open at the top. The two terminals are delicately shaped, widening from the slender stem of the band to two flat circular nodes. On the uppermost rim a pattern is carved, composed of diagonal... [Lire la suite]

Gold and Carnelian Ring, Greece, Hellenistic, 3rd-2nd Century B.C., Gold, carnelian © David Aaron The ring with engraved stone is an archetype of Hellenistic jewellery.[1] Engraved ringstones such as this were carved with an image in relief, so that when pressed into hot wax they functioned as a seal. The motif was therefore a very personal emblem of identity. One’s correspondence, business contracts and finger would each bear the wearer’s chosen insignia. The Hellenistic period was an aesthetically fertile one,... [Lire la suite]

Gold and Carnelian Ring, Hellenistic, Greece, 3rd to 2nd Century B.C., Gold, carnelian © David Aaron The intaglio ring is an archetype of Hellenistic jewellery. Engraved ringstones such as this were carved with an image in relief, so that when pressed into hot wax they functioned as a seal. The motif was therefore a very personal emblem of identity. One’s correspondence, business contracts and finger would each bear the wearer’s chosen insignia. The Hellenistic period was an aesthetically fertile one, characterised by the... [Lire la suite]

Bactrian Gold and Lapis Necklace, Western Asiatic, 3rd-2nd Millennium B.C., Gold tube and lapis bead, L: 48cm © David Aaron The ancient kingdom of Bactria lay between the Amu Darya river in the West, and the mountain ranges of the Hindu Kush and Pamirs to the East, in what is modern-day Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. During the third and second millennia B.C., this expanse of plain grew wealthy as an oasis, flourishing on an intersection of the silk trade routes from India and China to the Mediterranean.[1] Little... [Lire la suite]

Achaemenid Lion Bracelet, Achaemenid, 6th-4th century B.C.,Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, D: 9.3cm, H: 8cm © David Aaron This spectacular bracelet dates from the Achaemenid Empire (c. 550-330). It was a vast empire, stretching from Turkey to Afghanistan. Mesopotamia and Persia lay at its heart, and the imagery and tastes favoured by the Achaemenid kings were to have a lasting influence on Persian culture for centuries to come. At the centre of Achaemenid culture was the royal court, and its imagery speaks still of power and... [Lire la suite]

Achaemenid Bracelet, Iran, 5th century B.C., Gold with Turquoise and Carnelian, H: 6 cm, D: 7.5 cm © David Aaron The Mesopotamian Achaemenid Empire was famed for its gold. Stretching from Turkey to Afghanistan and lasting from circa 550 to 330 B.C., this period saw the production of some of the finest jewellery pieces of the Ancient world. Grandiose and sophisticated, the jewellery of this era is generally associated with the opulent court culture of the Achaemenid kings. They and the members of their court cultivated an... [Lire la suite]

Lot 1580. A rare wucai reticulated incense burner, late Ming dynasty, 16th-17th century, 7 in. (17.8 cm.) high. Estimate USD 8,000 - USD 12,000. Price realised USD 10,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2016 The tall, high-shouldered, hollow body is fitted on the interior of the upper body with a rounded bowl, and the sides are molded with six lobes separated by alternating ascending and descending chilong. Each lobe is pierced with elaborate openings from which rise iron-redlingzhi sprigs, all on... [Lire la suite]

Lot 1575. A rare blue and white box and cover, Wanli six-character mark in underglaze blue and of the period (1573-1619), 10 ¼ in. (26 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 40,000 - USD 60,000. Price realised USD 87,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2016 The domed cover is painted in brilliant shades of cobalt blue with a dignitary seated before a screen in a walled garden in discussion with two scholars and flanked by attendants, all within a raised medallion. The rounded sides are decorated with four shaped panels containing... [Lire la suite]

Lot 1572. A large blue and white fish bowl, Jiajing six-character mark in underglaze blue in a line within a rectangle and of the period (1522-1566), 19 in. (48.5 cm.) high, Estimate USD 20,000 - USD 30,000. Price realised USD 25,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2016  The heavily-potted, deep drum-shaped body is decorated on the exterior with two five-clawed dragons striding around the sides in pursuit of flaming pearls between petal-lappet borders, all below a narrow band of foliate scroll at the rim.  ... [Lire la suite]