Chine, Objets de lettrés / Treasures of the Chinese Scholar

Lot 1. An important Khotan green jade 'De sui chu xin' imperial seal, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period, ca. 1795; 6.7 x 2.2 x 3.9 cm, 2 5/8 by 7/8 by 1 1/2 in.. Lot sold: 2,213,000 EUR (Estimate: 100,000 - 150,000 EUR). © Sotheby's of rectangular form, surmounted by a carved dragon, the beast finely carved with a broad, muscular body crouching on its haunches accented with sharp talons in ambush and ready to pounce, the seal face crisply carved with the characters De sui chu... [Lire la suite]

An imperial jade seal, commissioned by the Emperor Qianlong, to be offered as a star lot of Sotheby’s Asian Arts Auction in Paris on 16 June with an estimate of €100,000-150,000. Courtesy Sotheby's. PARIS.- An imperial seal, commissioned by the Emperor Qianlong some centuries ago and inscribed with a special motto, has been discovered in a family home in France – where it was sitting on the bookshelf for many years. It will now make its debut at auction as one of the leading lots of Sotheby’s Asian... [Lire la suite]

Old-World Charm from the Kempe Ceramics Collection Regina Krahl This enchanting group of ceramics, formerly in the collection of Dr Carl Kempe, displays an unmistakable old-world collecting flair. Dr Carl Kempe (1884-1967) was a Swedish industrialist, a noted tennis player, who won an Olympic medal, and an avid collector of Chinese art. His collection had two main strands: gold and silver wares and ceramics. The ceramic collection was representing the history of Chinese white wares practically in its entirety, but equally... [Lire la suite]

Lot 3519. A white anhua-decorated 'bajixiang' stem bowl, Mark and period of Yongzheng (1723-1735); 17.5 cm. Lot sold 529,200 HKD (Estimate : 200,000 - 300,000 HKD). © Sotheby's 2022 Provenance: Collection of T.Y. Chao (1912-1999), and thence by direct descent. Note: Compare a similar stem bowl, sold in our New York rooms, 17th March 2015, lot 281. For two stem bowls similarly incised with the bajixiang emblems but decorated with a yellow glaze, see one from the Sir... [Lire la suite]

Lot 29. A white jade seal, Qing dynasty, dated Jiaqing yichou, corresponding to 1805. Height 3⅛in., 7.9 cm. Lot sold: 15,120 USD (Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000 USD USD). © Sothebys. the seal face inscribed with six characters reading tianzecaiyinghou yin (seal of Tianzecaiyinghou), the sides with Jiaqing yichou (yichou year of Jiaqing) and Shen Jiemei jing (respectfully presented by Shen Jiemei), the top of the handle carved with a single... [Lire la suite]

  Lot 19. A white jade 'dragon' seal, Qing dynasty, 18th-19th century. Length 1¾ in., 4.5 cm. Lot sold: 27,720 USD (Estimate: 5,000 - 7,000 USD). © Sothebys. the seal faces inscribed with Zhang Tianxiang yinTing Zuo. Provenance: Collection of Dr Wou Kiuan (1910-1997). Wou Lien-Pai Museum, coll. no. Q.S.122.  Sotheby's. A Journey Through China's History. The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection Part 1, New York, 22 March 2022

Lot 14. A large soapstone seal, Qing dynasty, 18th century. Height 3½in., 8.8 cm. Lot sold: 13,860 USD (Estimate: 6,000 - 8,000 USD). © Sothebys. the seal face carved in zhuwen style. Provenance: Collection of Dr Wou Kiuan (1910-1997). Wou Lien-Pai Museum, ccoll. no. Q.5.101.  Sotheby's. A Journey Through China's History. The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection Part 1, New York, 22 March 2022

Lot 9. A gray and celadon jade 'phoenix' inkstone, Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Length 8⅜ in., 21.3 cm. Estimate: 8,000 - 12,000 USD. Lot sold: 6,930 USD. © Sothebys.  wood cover, inscribed with a couplet translating to 'the most civilized bird in the universe, the most auspicious bird of all times', wood stand. Provenance: Collection of Dr Wou Kiuan (1910-1997). Wou Lien-Pai Museum, coll. no. E.6.4. Sotheby's. A Journey Through... [Lire la suite]

Lot 757. A steatite tortoise-form inkstone and cover, Tang dynasty (AD 618-907); 4 1⁄2 in. (11.5 cm.) long. Estimate USD 6,000 – USD 8,000. Price realised USD 17,640. © Christie's 2022 The inkstone is carved as a tortoise standing on four short legs and with head turned to one side. The domed shell-form cover is carved on top with the Eight Trigrams set within the cellular pattern of the shell to form a circle. There are traces of earth and cinnabar.  Provenance: Christie's New York,... [Lire la suite]

Lot 1. A rhinoceros horn 'lotus' libation cup, Qing dynasty, 18th century; 16.7cm., 6 5/8 in. Sold 19,200 GBP (Estimate 7,000 - 10,000 GBP). © Sotheby's. the cup in the form of a deep widely flaring lotus leaf, the dark reddish-brown horn naturalistically carved around the exterior with lotus buds and flowers borne on leafy tendrils curling up and around the body, forming to one side a large handle and ribbon-tied to the base to form a short foot on which stand two large cranes, the interior... [Lire la suite]