21 novembre 2022

'Homecoming. Cycladic treasures on their return journey'. Photo: Paris Tavitian © Museum of Cycladic Art. ATHENS.- The antiquities presented –ten marble figurines and five vases made of marble, steatite and clay– cover a wide chronological range, from the times of the Late Neolithic period to those of the Early Cycladic II period (c. 5300 – 2400/2300 BC). The figurines depict solely the female figure and belong to types and varieties corresponding to the styles of each period (schematic, precanonical, canonical),... [Lire la suite]

Lot 154. A rare blue and white 'dragon' ewer, Qianlong period (1736-1795), the Persian metal cover and mounts 19th century; 36.9cm (14 1/2in) high. Sold for £38,100 (Estimate £30,000-£50,000). © Bonhams 2001-2022 Elegantly potted of flattened pear-shape rising from a short spreading foot, moulded and painted in a vibrant cobalt blue on either side with a tear-drop-shaped panel depicting a writhing five-clawed dragon amidst clouds and flames, reserved on a dense floral meander between key-fret pattern and... [Lire la suite]

Lot 152. A blue and white 'crane and deer' yenyen vase, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 46.5cm (18 1/4in) high. Sold for £69,600 (Estimate £35,000-£50,000). © Bonhams 2001-2022 The body boldly painted with a continuous scene of a pair of cranes in flight above a spotted doe turning to look at an antlered deer, all amidst rocks and pines, the flaring neck also with a crane in flight above two recumbent deer amid rockwork and pines. Provenance: George Kidston CMG, Head of the Eastern Department of the... [Lire la suite]

Lot 145. A rare large blue and white 'hundred' deer jar, Wanli period (1573-1620); 55cm (21 1/2in) high. Sold for £69,600 (Estimate £40,000-£60,000). © Bonhams 2001-2022 Sturdily potted with tapering sides rising to gently curving shoulders surmounted by a short waisted neck, painted around the body with a continuous scene of numerous deer amidst a rocky landscape dotted with trees and wispy clouds, all between a floral and butterfly border at the mouth rim and lappets at the foot. Note: The... [Lire la suite]

Edict of Second Emperor of China, 210 BCE, Qin dynasty (221–207 BCE). Bronze. L. 9.9 cm, W. 7 cm. Excavated in Jinan in front of the Shandong Provincial Library. Collection of Shandong Provincial Museum.  The First Emperor of China, Qin Shihuangdi (r. 221–210 BCE), died in 210 BCE after unifying the country in 221 BCE and consolidating his power. His son ascended the throne at age twenty-one and ruled briefly (r. 210–207 BCE) until Liu Bang, later known as the founding emperor Gaodi, helped defeat the... [Lire la suite]

Measure with edict of the First Emperor of China, 221 BCE, Qin dynasty (221–207 BCE). Clay. H. 9.2 cm, Diam. (mouth) 20.5 cm. Excavated 1963 from the old city at Zhuguo, Zoucheng County. Collection of Shandong Provincial Museum. © China Institute Gallery In the year 221 BCE, after many years of subjugating competing kingdoms, Qin Shihuangdi succeeded in uniting China and proclaimed himself the First Emperor. As part of his political consolidation, Qin Shihuangdi unified the language, making the small... [Lire la suite]

Lot 201. Three archaic jade pendants, Shang-Han Dynasty (circa 1500-1050 BC/206 BC-220 AD). The larger bird 7cm (2 3/4in) long; the smaller bird 5.5cm (2 1/4in) long; the cicada 6.3cm (2 1/2in) long. (3). Sold for 10,837.50 € (Estimate €1,500-2,000). Photo Fabrice Gousset. Comprising a stylised bird pendant, the stone of olive, grey and creamy hue, incised to each side with the wings folded back, tail feathers horizontal and the face with large eyes facing directly ahead, Shang dynasty (circa... [Lire la suite]