Chine, Arts Décoratifs

 “L’or est la chose la plus précieuse dans le monde entier, car il est immortel et ne se décompose jamais. Les alchimistes le mangent et bénéficient de la longévité”.Wei Boyang, alchimiste, dynastie Han de l’Est (206 avant notre ère -220) Depuis les premiers témoignages de son utilisation au Ve millénaire avant notre ère, l’or fascine et émerveille dans le monde entier. En Chine, l’or est rarement utilisé avant les Han, réservé principalement à la décoration d’autres matériaux, comme le bronze, ou pour réaliser de petits... [Lire la suite]

Lot 125. A small parcel-gilt silver cosmetic box and cover, Tang dynasty, 2nd half of 8th century; d. 3.7 cm, h. 2.1 cm. Lot sold: 126,000 HKD (Estimate: 30,000 - 50,000 HKD). © Sotheby's 2022 of circular form, the slightly domed cover and the base of the box intricately worked in repoussé, each with a rosette comprising of an elaborate interlaced scroll encircling a central hexafoil floret, the tendrils bearing on and enclosed by looping stems, all against a densely ring-matted background,... [Lire la suite]

Lot 3503. A rare documented imperial gilt bronze-decorated white jade candlestick, Seal mark and period of Qianlong, Recorded to have been commissioned in 1739 and completed in 1740; h. 23 cm. Lot sold: 10,055,000 HKD (Estimate: 1,000,000 - 1,500,000 HKD). © Sotheby's 2022 the base skilfully worked from an even white stone and rendered in the form of a ferocious mythical beast with a bifurcated tail, its back surmounted by a gilt-bronze column cast with swirling clouds and a six-petalled... [Lire la suite]

"Yang Guozhongjin" silver collar, Tang dynasty (618-907 AD), 32 cm long, 5.4 cm wide, 1.2 cm thick. Excavated in 1970 at the site of the Sui and Tang palace cities, Luoyang, Henan. Collection of the Henan Museum. The silver collar is watt-shaped, the upper end slightly curved, the lower end flat and straight. On the obverse is an inscription reading: "For Yang Guozhong, the right minister and minister of the Ministry of Culture, who is the official in charge of collecting silver for the market." The second line... [Lire la suite]

  Bone flute, Neolithic Peiligang Culture (about 6100-5000 BC), 23.1 cm long. Unearthed in Jiahu, Wuyang, Henan, 1986-1987. Collection of Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology More than 20 bone flutes made of crane wing bones were unearthed at the Jiahu site in Wuyang. The bone pipes of these bone flutes are engraved with equal division marks, indicating that they have been carefully calculated before drilling, and some of them have also used small holes to adjust the pitch... [Lire la suite]

  Stone grinding disc, Stone grinding rod, Neolithic Peiligang Culture (about 6100-5000 BC). Stone grinding disc is 68 cm long and 6 cm high; stone grinding rod is 58 cm long. Unearthed in Peiligang, Xinzheng, Henan in 1977. Henan Museum Collection. Stone grinding discs and stone grinding rods have appeared as early as the late Paleolithic period. They were originally used as tools for grinding nuts and other collections. After agriculture, they became grain threshing and grinding tools. The early stone... [Lire la suite]

Chinese Emperor’s semi-formal court robe (Jifu), late 19th-Century, silk, silk and metalic thread, gilt, 141.0cm (centre back) 66.0cm (sleeve length). National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Gift of Mr A. J. L. McDonnell, 1949. MELBOURNE.- Juxtaposing ancient Chinese masterpieces alongside compelling works of contemporary art and design, "China – The Past is Present" highlights the influence of traditional cultural and artistic practices in contemporary Chinese culture. Creating a dynamic and anachronistic dialogue... [Lire la suite]

A Rare Chased Silver ‘Literary Gathering’ Pictorial Tray, Song dynasty, 12th-13th century. Estimate: US$30,000 – 50,000. Photo: Bonhams. NEW YORK, NY.- Bonhams will present fine Chinese works of art, including ancient Chinese jades, silver, bronzes, and ceramics, from premier Chinese art gallery J.J. Lally & Co. during Asia Week New York in March 2023.An active participant in the Chinese art market for more than 50 years, James J. Lally is recognized for his expert connoisseurship and considerate presentation of the... [Lire la suite]

Xu Bing (b. 1955),Bronze Phoenix (Feng and Huang), 2016, Bronze with color patina, 55½ x 16 x 21¼ inches, (141 x 40.6 x 54 cm).© Xu Bing DALLAS, TX.- One of the most mythical and popular beasts of Chinese folklore has landed as the Crow Museum of Asian Art of The University of Texas at Dallas presents Phoenix Rising: Xu Bing and the Art of Resilience. The exhibition will run Nov. 3, 2022, through March 5, 2023, at the Crow Museum, located in the Dallas Arts District at 2010 Flora St., Dallas 75201. Phoenix Rising is... [Lire la suite]

The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung. Lot 104. An archaic bone carving, Shang dynasty, Anyang period, 14th-13th century BC; 9.4 cm. Lot sold: 378,000 HKD (Estimate: 100,000 - 150,000 HKD). © Sotheby's 2022 the thick shaft of animal bone incised finely with a pair of large confronted kui dragons shown in profile, coming across the narrow edge to form a zoomorphic mask, and with two smaller kui dragons forming another zoomorphic mask on the... [Lire la suite]