Haon was employed by E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, and was promoted in 1954 to the Foreign Relations Department as Manager of the European Office, London, England, until his retirement in 1962. Mr. Haon continued to live part-time in London into the late 1970s. It is believed that many of the Asian arts in his collection were acquired during this time in London.

Lot 27. A Chinese faux bronze porcelain coupe. L: 4 1/2 in. Sold for $50,400 (Estimated at $1,000 - $1,500). © FREEMAN’S 2021

In the form of a shell with a qilong climbing out holding a piece of lingzhi in its mouth, overall covered with brown and green glaze inmitating bronze patina, splashed gold spots to body, on integral stand, gilded four-character Qianlong seal mark to the underside.

 Lot 36. A Chinese flambé-glazed hu-form vase, Guangxu mark and possibly of the period. H: 12 in. Sold for $21,420 (Estimated at $1,500 - $2,000). © FREEMAN’S 2021

With a pear-shaped body of rectangular section, rising from a straight foot to a wide mouth flanked by tubular handles, covered overall in a red glaze with bright blue, purple, and white streaks, thinning to beige to the extremities; with a six-character Guangxu mark incised to the underside.

 RARE CHINESE WORKS PERFORM WELL

Leading Thursday’s auction was the $378,000 sale of an important Imperial pale celadon-white jade seal (Lot 107), which confirms the strength of Freeman’s Asian Arts department in securing consignments of deep cultural significance and facilitating excellent results on clients’ behalf. The exceedingly rare seal is one of approximately twenty “Taishang Huangdi” seals commissioned by the Qianlong Emperor of China, a jade connoisseur, upon his retirement in the late 18th century.

Lot 107. An important Imperial pale celadon-white jade "Taishang Huangdi zhi bao" seal. H: 2 1/2, W: 1 13/16, D: 1 13/16 in.). Sold for $378,000. (Estimated at $300,000 - $500,000). © FREEMAN’S 2021

 Cf. my post: Freeman's to offer important Qianlong jade seal

Another lot, a fine and rare large Chinese blue and white porcelain Ming-style meiping vase—an unusual and exceptional work—achieved $50,400 after multiple competing bids between buyers (Lot 242; estimate: $40,000-60,000).

Lot 242. A fine and rare large Chinese blue and white porcelain Ming-style meiping vase, 18th century. H: 13 in. Estimate $40,000 - $60,000. Sold for $50,400. © FREEMAN’S 2021

Cf. my post: Freeman's to offer important Qianlong jade seal

ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS: BUDDHIST FIGURES

Though the majority of the highlights of Asian Arts were Chinese in origin, several Buddhist sculptures from throughout Southeast Asia elicited significant buyer interest; one, a Nepalese gilt copper alloy figure of Vasudhara, achieved $47,250 (Lot 171; estimate: $12,000-15,000). A Sino-Tibetan gilt bronze figure of Akshobhya likewise sparked a bidding war, selling for $30,240, more than four times its pre-sale high estimate (Lot 254; estimate: $5,000-7,000), and a small Sino-Tibetan gilt bronze figure of Manjusri more than doubled its pre-sale high estimate to achieve $7,560 (Lot 256; estimate: $2,000-3,000).

Lot 171. A Nepalese gilt copper alloy figure of Vasudhara, 12th century or later. H: 6 in. (including tang). Sold for $47,250 (Estimated at $12,000 - $15,000). © FREEMAN’S 2021

The six-armed female deity depicted seated, wearing an elaborate crown and bodhisattva jewelry inset with stones, bearing various attributes in her hands, her hair pulled up in an unusual double chingnon, a long square tang underneath the figure, later ebonized wood stand.

Lot 254. A Sino-Tibetan gilt bronze figure of Akshobhya, 18th century. H: 10 1/4 in. Sold for $30,240 (Estimated at $5,000 - $7,000). © FREEMAN’S 2021

Seated in vajrasana on a lotus petal, his right hand in bhumisparshamudra, the left resting on his lap, his face with serene expression, below a five-leaf crown in front of his ushnisha, sealed, underside engraved with a double-vajra.

Property from a private collection, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, acquired prior to March 1993.

Lot 256. A small Sino-Tibetan gilt bronze figure of Manjusri, 18th century. H: 4 1/8 in. Sold for $7,560 (Estimated at $2,000 - $3,000). © FREEMAN’S 2021

With four arms, seated in vajrasana on a double-lotus base, his raised right hand holding the sword (blade lacking), the left in vitarkamudra and holding a lotus stem supporting the manuscript, wearing dhoti, border engraved, his face with serene smilling expression, elongated earlobes with large earrings and crown set in front of the high chignon.

Property from a private collection, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.