Archives

Lot 345. Two gold hairpins, zan, Late Qing dynasty; 3 1/2 and 2 1/8in ((8.9 and 5.4cm) long (2. Sold for US$ 2,805 (€ 2,389). © Bonhams 2001-2020 Including a bianzan made in the shape of a flat weaving shuttle, the central waist un-decorated, separating four registers of chased flowers on each side, curving toward two double-gourd finials, the underside with two cartouche marks, reading 'Yuzhen', and 'zujin' (pure gold); the second a dingzan hairpin with a tapering shaft widening and... [Lire la suite]

Lot 343. A pair of gold 'bat' earrings, erqian, Qing dynasty; 1 1/8in (2.8cm) diameter (2). Sold for US$ 1,530 (€ 1,303). © Bonhams 2001-2020 Each decorated with a carefully cut and chased bat soldered to the flattened hoop with beaded edges that narrows to a wire pin for threading through the earlobe. Note: Yang Zhishui states in Zhongguo Gudai Jinyin Shoushi (Beijing: Gugong, 2014) that during the Qing dynasty a new style of earrings came in fashion, known as erqian (vol. 3, p. 842).... [Lire la suite]

Lot 340. A white jade mounted box, Late Qing dynasty; 4 3/16in (10.6cm) wide. Sold for US$ 4,450 (€ 3,790). © Bonhams 2001-2020 The thin box of ruyi head outline, its exterior incised with pleasant leafy flowers, the underside stamped 'CHINA', 'STERLING', and an undecipherable mark, the hinged cover mounted with a conforming white jade plaque carved in openwork depicting flowers and long-tailed birds flanking a double-happiness character above an auspicious bat. Bonhams. Elegant Embellishments Featuring the RenLu... [Lire la suite]

Lot 340. An amber plaque, 10th-14th century; 2 x 1 5/8in (5.1 x 4.2cm). Sold for US$ 2,550 (€ 2,172). © Bonhams 2001-2020 The brilliant orange red amber carved with the Hehe twins standing together under a broad lotus leaf. Note : For a lengthy discussion and numerous examples of the role of carved amber decorations in the Liao dynasty, see Emma Bunker et al Adornment for the Body and Soul: Ancient Chinese Ornaments from the Mengdiexuan Collection (Hong Kong: The Univ. Museum and Art Gallery, 1999),... [Lire la suite]

Lot 339. A gold and amber hairpin, baotoulian zan, 18th-19th century; 6 5/8in (16.8cm) long overall. Sold for US$ 4,450 (€ 3,790). © Bonhams 2001-2020 The slender needle-shaped shaft topped with a carved amber finger citron held by layered ruyi collars and floral design finely worked in filigree technique, all above an open lotus.. Note : A group of similarly designed hairpins has been identified and the applied design is described as baoshi baotoulian. They belong to the zan hairpin... [Lire la suite]

Lot 336. A pair of gold earrings, Qing dynasty, 19th century & Four gold ornaments; Earrings: 1 5/8in (4.1cm) long excluding pin, 'Bird' ornaments: 1 1/4 x 1 1/4in (3.2 x 3.2cm) (6). Sold for US$ 5,700 (€ 4,855). © Bonhams 2001-2020 Each earring constructed as a large blossom with three layers of granulated balls suspending a flower-decorated crescent and teardrop-shaped leaves, the reverse of the bloom mounted with a loop, holding a thin curving pin; the bird-shaped ornaments each portrayed as a... [Lire la suite]

Lot 335. A gold 'dragon' bracelet, shouzhuo, Qing dynasty; Outer diameter: 3 1/8in (7.9cm), Inner diameter: 2 5/8in (6.7cm). Sold for US$ 8,200 (€ 6,984). © Bonhams 2001-2020 The hollowed bracelet designed with two confronting dragons, the inner side of the shank left plain, and stamped with a maker's cartouche, reading 'Deyuan', the exterior with meticulously chased details depicting the scaly body of the creature undulating through clouds, each dragon head with a wide open mouth, revealing its teeth and... [Lire la suite]

Lot 332. A gold-mounted white jade pendant, Qing dynasty; 2 1/4in (5.7cm) diameter of jade. Sold for US$ 5,325 (€ 4,535). © Bonhams 2001-2020 The white jade carved in openwork and incised line with a central cash design surrounded by seven flower petals, mounted with a gold bee with two spiral antennae each terminated with a small pearl, the body of the bee inset with a large ruby cabochon above a pair of leaves inset with additional pearls. Note : Ornaments such as the present example would be used... [Lire la suite]

 Lot 523. A blue and white 'medallion' bowl, Wanli mark and period (1573-1619). Diameter 5 ½ in., 14 cm. Estimate 8,000 - 12,000 USD. Lot sold 10,710 USD. © Sotheby's 2020. the shallow rounded sides rising from a short tapered foot to a gently flared rim, richly painted to the exterior in bright cobalt blue tones, with four roundels of pomegranate, camellia, peach and peony sprigs, divided by pairs of cloud motifs, the interior with a central medallion enclosing camellia sprigs, the base... [Lire la suite]

Lot 522. A blue and white 'lança characters' dish, Wanli mark and period (1573-1619). Diameter 7¼ in., 18.4 cm. Estimate 8,000 - 12,000 USD. Lot sold 11,340 USD. © Sotheby's 2020. the gently rounded sides rising from a tapering foot to an everted rim, painted in inky cobalt blue to the interior with radiating stylized petals containing lança characters around a central character within a double circle, the exterior with two rows of characters all enclosed within multiple double-line borders, and... [Lire la suite]