9 février 2020

Lot 1768. An iron-red-decorated 'Holy water' vase, Qianlong period (1736-1795); 8 5/8 in. (22 cm.) high. Estimate USD 30,000 - USD 50,000. Price realised USD 86,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011.  The tapering ovoid body supported on a broad domed base, the tall cylindrical neck encircled by a collar and decorated with bands of key-fret, florets, lappets and ruyi, the body painted with stylized lotus sprays between bands of upright plantain leaves and lotus lappets, the foot... [Lire la suite]

Lot 1766. A pair of small iron-red-decorated 'Dragon' wine cups, Tongzhi six-character marks in underglaze blue and of the period (1862-1874); 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm.) high. Estimate USD 7,000 - USD 9,000. Price realised USD 18,750. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011.  Each finely painted with a pair of five-clawed dragons writhing amidst flames in pursuit of flaming pearls above a band of breaking waves. Provenance: Marsha Vargas, 1980s. Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of... [Lire la suite]

Lot 1765. A rare iron-red and black enamel-decorated 'Immortals' bowl, Kangxi six-character mark in underglaze blue within a double-circle and of the period (1662-1722); 6¾ in. (17.1 cm.) diam. Estimate USD 70,000 - USD 90,000. Price realised USD 170,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011.  With steep sides rising to the slightly flared rim, painted around the exterior in iron red with fourteen immortals and a deer in iron-red, including one figure conjuring a black and white crane from a... [Lire la suite]

Lot 1764. A rare and unusual iron-red-decorated stem bowl, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 5 3/8 in. (13.6 cm.) high. Estimate USD 30,000 - USD 40,000. Price realised USD 35,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011.  Finely potted and raised on a tall, slender foot, vividly painted beneath the slightly everted rim in iron-red with two winged dragons in pursuit of flaming pearls, the details of their eyes rendered in black enamel, the interior painted in iron red with a shou character... [Lire la suite]

Vincent van Gogh, Self-portrait with Bandaged Ear, 1889, The Samuel Courtauld Trust, The Courtauld Gallery, London. AMSTERDAM.-  In spring 2020, the Van Gogh Museum presents 'In the Picture': an exhibition focusing on the role and significance of the artists’ portrait. From 21 February to 24 May 2020 at the Van Gogh Museum. Some 75 portraits offer a multifaceted introduction to the wealth of self-portraits and portraits produced by artists of each other in the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th... [Lire la suite]

A rare and large wucai cylindrical vase, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Height 29 1/4  in., 74.5 cm. Photo Sotheby's Provenance: Collection of John L. Severence (1863-1936).Cleveland Museum of Art, prior to September 2000.Christie's New York, September 21, 2000, lot 322. Exhibited: Cleveland Museum of Art, Realm of the Immortals: Daoism in the Arts of China, February 10 - April 10, 1988, no. 17. Literature: Henry S. Francis, et al, Catalogue of the John L Severance Collection; Bequest... [Lire la suite]

A wucai cylindrical vase, Qing Dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Height 17 1/4  in., 44 cm. Photo Sotheby's. Provenance: Vermeer & Griggs Asian Art, Georgia. Exhibited: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, The Colors of Earth, Kangxi Era Porcelain from the Stamen Collection, 2002, no. 22. Note: Aprofusion of butterflies, die, conveys a wish for great joy. The present vase amply illustrates the auspicious sentiment with a dazzling array of butterflies, not one like another. The artist has... [Lire la suite]

A wucai wine pot, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Height 5 in., 12.8 cm. Photo Sotheby's Provenance: Ralph M. Chait Collection, New York.Luis Alegria, Portugal, 2006. Note: Although wine pots and teapots are virtually indistinguishable, the large form of the present vessel would indicate its use for wine rather than tea. There is a saying, ‘Jiu yu tiandi tongshi' which means that ‘wine is as old as the Earth.’ Recent research has revealed that while this old saying is not literally... [Lire la suite]

A wucai stembowl and cover, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Height 6 1/8  in., 15.5 cm. Photo Sotheby's Provenance: Collection of Duncan Beresford-Jones, Esq.Christie's London, June 6th, 2000, lot 358. Note: The enamels of the present piece are sparingly applied and contained to simple bands of fruiting peach boughs on the exterior. The imagery immediately evokes the celestial peach orchard of Xiwangmu and conveys wishes for longevity. The interior reinforces the sentiment with a central medallion... [Lire la suite]

A wucai baluster vase, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Height 17 3/4  in., 45.3 cm. Photo Sotheby's Provenance: Rockefeller Collection.Ralph M. Chait Galleries, New York, 2002. Note: This vase is painted with a rarely depicted story featuring Guanyin.  It is a typical blend of reality and fiction involving a Song dynasty prefect, Cai Xiang (1012-1062), who designed the marble stone beam bridge spanning the Luoyang River just outside of Quanzhou city, Fujian province. The enormity... [Lire la suite]