octobre 2018

Lot 1. A finely carved rhinoceros horn 'chilong' libation cup, 17th century; 13cm (5 1/8in) long. Estimate £ 30,000 - 50,000 (€ 34,000 - 56,000). Sold for £ 68,750 (€ 78,875). © Bonhams. The elegantly proportioned vessel, raised on a slightly recessed foot, well carved in high relief with five writhing chi-dragons clambering around the sides of the vessel decorated in low relief with a border of archaistic taotie masks divided by a curling flange on one side, the other side flanked by a... [Lire la suite]

Lot 214. A rare rhinoceros horn 'grapevine' libation cup, 17th-18th century; 15.5cm (6 1/8in) long. Estimate £ 45,000 - 65,000 (€ 50,000 - 73,000). Unsold. © Bonhams. The exterior crisply carved and pierced with a gnarled grapevine, tendrils and leaves bearing numerous luscious grape bunches, the horn of dark caramel-brown tone. Provenance: a distinguished European private collection, on loan to the Oriental Museum, Durham, from the mid-1970s to circa 2011, and thence by descent.  Note: For... [Lire la suite]

Funerary Vessel with an Underworld Scene (detail, pre-conservation), South Italian, made in Apulia, 360–340 BC; found in Altamura, Italy, in 1847, terracotta. Red-figure volute kraterattributed to the Circle of the Lycurgus Painter. National Archaeological Museum of Naples, 81666. LOS ANGELES, CA.- What did ancient Greeks believe would happen to them after they died? For most, the Underworld was bleak and somber, characterized by the absence of life’s pleasures, leading many individuals to seek ways to secure a more blessed... [Lire la suite]

  Courtesy Sotheby's GENEVA.- Sotheby’s upcoming auction of Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels on 15 November 2018 will bring together a highly impressive selection of world-class diamonds and gemstones, alongside signed pieces from the world’s most prestigious jewellery houses. Led by a group of extraordinarily rare blue diamonds, the auction highlights also include stunning white diamonds and diamond jewels and exceptional coloured gemstones. Signatures in the sale range from Harry Winston to Cartier, Van Cleef... [Lire la suite]

Lot 92. A blue and white 'Zhangzhou' 'deer' dish, Ming dynasty, late 16th century; 41.5 cm, 16 3/8  in. Estimate £3,000 - £5,000. © Sotheby's. the rounded sides rising from a tapering foot to an everted barbed rim, painted to the interior with deer in a landscape with bamboo and pine, the rim painted with a border of pagodas in a river landscape, the exterior with lotus and peach sprays. Provenance: Collection of Max Robertson. Exhibited: The Ceramic Art of China, Victoria and Albert Museum,... [Lire la suite]

Lot 141. A blue and white documentary porcelain inkstone, dated to 1621 and of the period; 9.5cm (3 3/4in) diam. Estimate £ 4,000 - 6,000 (€ 4,500 - 6,700). Sold for £ 5,000 (€ 5,743). © Bonhams. Of cylindrical form, painted on the sides with flowers in four lobed cartouches among brocade-motifs, the unglazed concave ink palette on the top circled by a ringed depression, underglaze blue inscription on the base reading 'Wanli siqinian Xiong Bing zhiyong mengxiayue jidan'.  Note: The inscription can... [Lire la suite]

Lot 119. A Wucai 'Immortals' bowl, Wanli six-character mark and of the period (1573-1619); 15.5cm (6 1/8in) diam. Estimate £ 8,000 - 10,000 (€ 9,000 - 11,000). Sold for £ 22,500 (€ 25,846). © Bonhams. Finely painted and enamelled on the exterior with four Immortals, each carrying their individual attributes within a grove of pine interspersed with four lanterns, all between a border of lotus-head scroll beneath the rim and classic scroll on the foot, the interior with a front-facing dragon encircling a flaming... [Lire la suite]

Lot 76. A blue and white 'dragon' dish, Wanli mark and period (1573-1619); 20.7 cm, 8 1/4  in. Estimate £3,000 - £5,000. © Sotheby's. the shallow rounded sides rising from a short slightly tapered foot to a flared rim, the interior decorated with a dragon chasing a flaming pearl amidst scrolling cloud, the exterior with a continuous scene of mandarin ducks in lotus pond, the base inscribed with a six-character reign mark within double circles. Provenance: Collection of Gustav Detring... [Lire la suite]

Lot 118. A very rare wucai 'Six-dragon', dish, Longqing six-character mark and of the period (1567-1572); 33cm (13in) diam. Estimate £ 15,000 - 20,000 (€ 17,000 - 22,000). Sold for £ 52,500 (€ 60,308). © Bonhams. The shallow rounded sides supported on a tapered foot, the interior decorated with a medallion enclosing two five-clawed dragons writhing sinuously amid ruyi-shaped clouds and flames in mutual pursuit of a blue 'flaming pearl' in the centre, one dragon with an underglaze-blue body and an... [Lire la suite]

Lot 33. A large blue and white 'Eight immortals' tripod censer, Jiajing period (1522-1566); 10 ½ in. (26.7 cm.) diam. Estimate GBP 4,000 - GBP 6,000 (USD 5,228 - USD 7,842). Price realised GBP 4,750. © Christie's Images Ltd 2018. The censer is decorated to the exterior with the Eight Immortals holding various attributes, with Shoulao seated on a rock holding a ruyi sceptre, all surrounded by pine trees and lingzhi sprigs within a fenced garden, below a band of bird and flower cartouches... [Lire la suite]