16 août 2018
A large and finely cast gilt-bronze standing figure of Weituo, Ming dynasty, 16th-17th century
Lot 1632. A large and finely cast gilt-bronze standing figure of Weituo, Ming dynasty, 16th-17th century; 22½ in. (57.1 cm.) high. Estimate USD 150,000 - USD 250,000. Price realised USD 626,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011
The guardian of the Buddhist faith portrayed with a youthful face, his hands held inanjalimudra, clad in full chain-mail armor and helmet, with billowing celestial scarf, sleeves and ribbons, the details all finely cast and chased, bronze stand.
Note: Weituo is regarded... [Lire la suite]09 août 2018
A pair of bronze vases, Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
Lot 580. A pair of bronze vases, Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Height 10 5/8 in., 27 cm. Estimate 20,000 — 30,000 USD. Lot sold 25,000 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.
the gently curving pear-shaped vessels each encircled at the neck by a band of six floret bosses and applied with ruyi-shaped loose ring handles to either side, all supported on a tall splayed foot, the bronze with an even, warm brown patina (2).
Provenance: European Private Collection.
Note: A similar example of a single vase missing the... [Lire la suite]07 août 2018
A small lobed gilt-splashed bronze censer, 17th-18th century
Lot 587. A small lobed gilt-splashed bronze censer, 17th-18th century. Length 3 1/8 in., 8 cm. Estimate 8,000 — 10,000 USD. Lot sold 23,750 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.
of quatrefoil section, the lobes tapering towards the base and set to either side with lion-mask handles cast in high relief, all raised on four cabriole legs terminating in pad feet, the greenish-brown patina with numerous gilt 'splashes' in varying sizes, the base with an apocryphal Xuande mark.
... [Lire la suite]07 août 2018
A large gilt-splashed bronze censer, 17th-18th century
Lot 589. A large gilt-splashed bronze censer, 17th-18th century. Width 14 in., 35.5 cm. Estimate 12,000 — 18,000 USD. Lot sold 23,750 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.
of compressed globular form below a short waisted neck with flat wide rim, supported by three short cabriole legs, flanked on each side with two loop handles issuing from animal-masks, the bronze of a dark brown patina with irregular gilt splashes, the base with an apocryphal six-character Xuande mark in relief, with wood stand and cover (3).
... [Lire la suite]07 août 2018
A gilt-splashed bronze censer, Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
Lot 590. A gilt-splashed bronze censer, Ming dynasty(1368-1644). Width across handles 9 1/2 in., 24.1 cm. Estimate 40,000 — 60,000 USD. Lot sold 209,000 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.
of compressed globular form flanked by loop handles, the body cast at the front and back with two scalloped reserves of blessings in Arabic, highlighted around the body with irregular gold splashes, the base cast with a pair of dragons and a 'flaming pearl' encircling a four-character apocryphal Xuande seal mark,... [Lire la suite]31 juillet 2018
A bronze 'TLV' mirror, Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE)
Lot 128. A bronze 'TLV' mirror, Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). Diameter 6 1/2 in., 16.5 cm. Estimate 15,000 — 20,000 USD. Lot sold 18,750 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.
The central knob within a square border of eight small nipples, the outer field with ‘TLV’ pattern, eight nipples and various celestial animals including the turtle intertwined with a snake, a dragon, a tiger, a phoenix, all within narrow bands and hatched lines, and below a dogtooth band and a band of... [Lire la suite]
31 juillet 2018
A bronze 'Auspicious animals' mirror, Tang dynasty (618-907)
Lot 132. A bronze 'Auspicious animals' mirror, Tang dynasty (618-907). Diameter 6 1/4 in., 15.9 cm. Estimate 7,000 — 9,000 USD. Lot sold 8,750 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.
the central knob cast as a turtle, surrounded by auspicious animals including two deer, a tiger and a rabbit between mountains rising from the sea, below further flower sprigs, the patina of silvery-gray color with areas of malachite encrustation.
Provenance: Old Japanese collection, circa 1980, by repute.
... [Lire la suite]
31 juillet 2018
A bronze 'Sea Beasts ans Grapes' mirror, Tang Dynasty (618-907)
Lot 133. A bronze 'Sea Beasts ans Grapes' mirror, Tang Dynasty (618-907). Diameter 6 in., 15.2 cm. Estimate 8,000 — 12,000 USD. Lot sold 35,000 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.
the central knob cast as a crouching beast, surrounded by six beasts amidst scrolling grapevines, the outer field with further beasts and birds in flight with further vine scrolls, all below a floral scroll border, the bright silver patina with green encrustation.
Provenance: Collection of James Marshall Plumer... [Lire la suite]
31 juillet 2018
A rare bronze 'Holy mountains and spiritual animals' mirror, Tang dynasty (618-907)
Lot 130. A rare bronze 'Holy mountains and spiritual animals' mirror, Tang dynasty (618-907). Diameter 8 3/8 in., 21.3 cm. Estimate 50,000 — 70,000 USD. Lot sold 125,000 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.
the central knob set in the center of the diagram of four holy mountains and cast as the fifth mountain, surrounded by two 'animals of the four directions', the dragon and turtle, further surrounded by auspicious animals and plants, with the outer register representing the... [Lire la suite]
31 juillet 2018
A bronze 'Figural' mirror, Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Lot 129. A bronze 'Figural' mirror, Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD). Diameter 5 in., 12.7 cm. Estimate 8,000 — 12,000 USD. Lot sold 10,000 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.
the large knob surrounded by a field of seated figures flanked by other creatures all cast in high relief within a band of plain semi-circles alternating with rectangles enclosing a character, below an inscription and a band of scrolls on the rim, Japanese wood box (3).
Provenance: Old Japanese collection.
Sotheby's. Fine... [Lire la suite]