Chine, Arts Décoratifs

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]

“The Grand Gathering of the Century: Zodiac Heads from the Yuanmingyuan and Important Treasures” Exhibition at Indra and Harry Banga Gallery. © 2023 City University of Hong Kong.  HONG KONG.- The Indra and Harry Banga Gallery of City University of Hong Kong is presenting its second phase of the exhibition “The Grand Gathering of the Century: Zodiac Heads from the Yuanmingyuan and Important Treasures”. Commencing with four authentic zodiac heads from the Yuanmingyuan in the first phase, the exhibition will... [Lire la suite]

Lot 918. Property from a Princely Collection. A small circular gold 'tortoise' box and cover, Tang dynasty (AD 618-907); 2.9 cm diam.; weight 16.3 g. Estimate USD 12,000 – USD 18,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2023 Provenance: Dr. Johan Carl Kempe (1884-1967) Collection, Sweden, before 1953, no. CK41.Masterpieces of Chinese Precious Metalwork. Early Gold and Silver; Sotheby's London, 14 May 2008, lot 80. Literature: Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Gold and Silver in the Carl Kempe Collection,... [Lire la suite]

Gold Vessel, 12th Century. Unearthed from Dabeicheng in Yixian, Hebei, China. Collection of Yixian Cultural Relics Depository

Opium pipe, China, Qing dynasty to Republican period, inscribed with cyclical date corresponding to 1868 or 1928. Water buffalo horn, metal, and ceramic. Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Grenville L. Winthrop, 1943.55.6. Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College. How did the sale of opium in China by Massachusetts merchants in the 19th century contribute to a growing appetite for Chinese art at Harvard at the start of the 20th century? Objects of Addiction explores the entwined histories of... [Lire la suite]

The Warring States Crystal Cup is a crystal vessel in the late Warring States period. It was unearthed in Shitang Village, Banshan Town, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province in 1990 and is now in the Hangzhou Museum. The Warring States crystal cup is 15.4cm high, 7.8cm in diameter, and 5.4cm in bottom diameter. The whole vessel is slightly light amber, and flocculent inclusions can be seen in some parts; Skimming; light element without grain, simple shape. The crystal cup of the Warring States Period is the largest piece of early... [Lire la suite]

Basin with Five-clawed Dragons, Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Xuande Period (1426-1435). Gold alloy with chased (hammered with tools that manipulate metal without removing any from the surface) decoration; semiprecious stones; 7.1 x 25.9 cm. Philadelphia Museum of Art, Purchased with Museum funds, 1950-74-1. During periods of the Ming dynasty, laws restricted the use of gold to only the imperial family. This basin—which has a matching ewer similarly engraved with dragons and decorated with gems—was likely produced for the court.... [Lire la suite]

Headdress for a Manchu Chinese Woman, Guangxu Period (1875-1908). Silk satin and plain weave with metal, kingfisher feathers, precious and semiprecious stones, pearls, metal wire, and silk-wrapped wire. Head Circumference: 53 cm. Philadelphia Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. Henry W. Breyer, Sr., 1956-111-1. The delicate metal ornaments on this headdress, designed to move with every step, are decorated with bright blue feathers from kingfishers, small birds prized for their iridescent plumage. The bamboo, lingzhi fungus, and rocks... [Lire la suite]

Piece from Woman's Headdress, Qing dynasty (1644-1911), 19th century. Kingfisher's feathers, metal, 6.2 x 4.4 cm. Philadelphia Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. Benjamin S. Linfoot, 1979-154-4.  This decorative plaque, possibly once part of a headdress, is imbued with good wishes for long life: the god of longevity, Shoulao, identified by his large forehead and long flowing beard, is preceded in the foreground by a deer, a crane, bamboo, and a lingzhi fungus, all symbols of longevity.