22 septembre 2023

Lot 209. Property from a distinguish private collection. An archaic celadon jade 'mythical beast' pendant (Huang), Western Zhou dynasty (1050-771 BC). Width 10.7 cm. Lot Sold 35,560 USD (Estimate 30,000 - 50,000 USD). © Sotheby's 2023 Provenance: J.J. Lally & Co., New York, 2016. Exhibited: Ancient Chinese Jade: From the Neolithic to the Han, J.J. Lally & Co., New York, 2016, cat. no. 53. Note: The present huang is rare on account of the... [Lire la suite]

Lot 216. Property from an American private collection. An exceedingly rare lead 'mythical beast' ornament plaque, Tang dynasty (618-907). Length 15.7 cm, plexiglass stand (2). Lot Sold 9,525 USD (Estimate 5,000 - 7,000 USD). © Sotheby's 2023 Provenance: Collection of A.W. Brankston.Ralph M. Chait Galleries, New York, 21st December 1979. Note: See a closely related Tang dynasty lead plaque of a mythical beast (fig. 1) from the collection of Alan L. Wolfe, gifted to the... [Lire la suite]

Lot 214. Property from an important West Coast private collection. A rare silver reticulated spherical censer, Tang dynasty (618-907). Diameter 5.5 cm. Lot Sold 44,450 USD (Estimate 20,000 - 30,000 USD). © Sotheby's 2023 Provenance: Christie's London, 9th June 1997, lot 17. Exhibited: Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, 2002-2023 (on loan). Note: Silver censers of this type, consisting of two openwork hemispheres with a freely moving incense bowl inside were greatly valued... [Lire la suite]

Dr. Horiuchi at Christie’s, Tokyo Dr. Hiroshi Horiuchi earned his doctorate from Jikei University’s School of Medicine, Japan’s oldest private medical university, where he pursued gastroenterology with a specialization in gastrointestinal endoscopy. He holds an additional Master of Medical Administration from the Tokyo Medical and Dental University’s School of Medical Administration. As a doctor, he has worked toward the integration of AI into endoscopic medicine and treatment methods. Descended from a long line of physicians,... [Lire la suite]

Amphora with dragon-shaped handles, Tang dynasty (618–907). Stoneware, height 36 cm. National Gallery of Prague, Vu 3786. Under the Tang and Song dynasties in Northern China, hard ceramics appear side by side with celadons. They had glazes in different colours, frequently greenish, brown or yellow-green. They were applied on a light engobe, which makes the body smooth and enhances the colour of the glaze, just as in this case. The ware’s shape is not based on local tradition, but was inspired by models from Iran and Central Asia,... [Lire la suite]

Long-necked vase, Tang dynasty (618–907). White glazed stoneware, height 15,2 cm. National Gallery Prague, Vu 220. Non-porous white glazed ceramics were first introduced in China during the Period of Division after the fall of the Han dynasty, and were further perfected under the Tang dynasty, when in certain cases the ware attained standards commensurable with ceramics classifiable as porcelain according to European criteria (vitrified hard body, white colour, translucency and sonority). However, a number of variants exist as to... [Lire la suite]

Vase with double handles, Sui dynasty (581–618), celadon glazed stoneware, height 34,4 cm. National Gallery of Prague, Vp 579. Ceramic wares with beige or greenish “celadon” glaze were among the most valued vessels in China. Their early examples, such as this vase inspired by ancient jars, are often based on archaic shapes. Like the celadons dating from the peak periods of the Song and Yuan dynasties, they are characterized by the pure forms and fine decoration that laid the foundation for Chinese aesthetic tradition of later... [Lire la suite]

Vase with three forms of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Six Dynasties–Sui dynasty, second half of the 6th century. Lead glazed earthenware, height 13,5 cm. National Gallery of Prague, Vu 2934.  The vase is early evidence of the use of ceramics in a Buddhist context. The bulbous body of this small vessel bears three different figures of the bodhisattva of mercy, Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin in Chinese), whose attribute is a bottle with the holy nectar capable of saving supplicants from suffering. The depiction of the bodhisattva on... [Lire la suite]

Jar with dish-like mouth, Eastern Jin dynasty (317–420). Celadon glazed stoneware, height 20,3 cm. National Gallery of Prague, Vu 218.  Ceramic wares with beige or greenish “celadon” glaze were among the most valued vessels in China. Their early examples, such as this vessel inspired by ancient jars, are often based on archaic shapes. Like the celadons dating from the peak periods of the Song and Yuan dynasties, they are characterized by the pure forms and fine decoration that laid the foundation for Chinese aesthetic... [Lire la suite]

Tiger-shaped ware, Western Jin dynasty, second half of the 3rd century AD. Celadon glazed stoneware, height 19 cm, width 23 cm. National Gallery of Prague, Vu 172. Ceramic wares with beige or greenish “celadon” glaze were among the most valued vessels in China. Their early examples were inspired by ancient jars, but they were also moulded individually into unusual shapes. Zoomorphic tiger-shaped vessels can be found in various collections around the world. They could serve as drink pitchers or, allegedly, as chamber pots.