17th century

NEW YORK – The Fine Japanese Works of Art sale on March 19 at Bonhams will feature a variety of elegantly painted screens. The iconic art form, which is both decorative and functional, has been extant in Japan since the 8th century. A splendid example from the circle of Iwasa Matabei serves as a window to 17th century Japanese culture (est. $100,000-150,000). The six-panel folding screen, embellished with colours, ink, and gold and silver foil, shows fashionable young men and their beautiful female companions enjoying a cherry tree... [Lire la suite]

A wucai double-gourd 'Dragon' vase, 17th century. Photo Sotheby's the lower bulb decorated with peony flowers amongst scrolling foliage, the upper bulb with two dragons contesting a 'flaming pearl', one enameled in aubergine and the other in green, the base unglazed. Height 17 3/4 in., 45 cm. Estimation 5,000 — 7,000 USD Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. New York | 18 Mar 2014, 10:30 AM - www.sothebys.com

A blue and white 'Peony' foliate rim dish, 17th century. Photo Sotheby's painted to the center with a large flower-head, below a wave band at the rim, the exterior painted with sprigs of orchids, prunus and lotus, apocryphal Jiajing six-character mark in underglaze blue. Diameter 6 1/4 in., 15.9 cm. Estimation 6,000 — 8,000 USD Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. New York | 18 Mar 2014, 10:30 AM - www.sothebys.com

A pair of blue and white sleeve vases, Transitional period, 17th century. Photo Sotheby's of cylindrical form rising to a short wide neck with everted rim, painted with a continuous scene in varying shades of underglaze blue with birds in flight and at rest amongst rockwork and foliage, the flat base unglazed (2). Height 10 1/8 in., 25.8 cm. Estimation 10,000 — 12,000 USD Provenance: Christie's London, 29th June 1982, lot 87. Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. New York | 18 Mar 2014, 10:30 AM -... [Lire la suite]

An unusual iron-red-ground blue and white 'Scholar's' stembowl, 17th century. Photo: Sotheby's decorated on the exterior with a continuous scene of eighteen scholars engaged in the 'Four Accomplishments', a few playing weiqi, some admiring a painting, and others rading poetry, an attendant carrying a qin off into the distance, the interior further painted with a scholar reading a book in a garden setting. Diameter 5 5/8 in., 14.2 cm. Estimation 6,000 — 8,000 USD A similar example of this rare type in the Victoria and Albert Museum... [Lire la suite]

A blue and white 'Scholars' stembowl, 17th century. Photo: Sotheby's the rounded sides rising to a flared rim, supported on a hollow stem widening towards the base, painted around the exterior with a continuous scene of sixteen scholars in various pursuits, some admiring a painting, others playing weiqi, and others discussing a book, the interior painted with a medallion enclosing a scholar seated in a garden setting. Diameter 5 5/8 in., 14.2 cm. Estimation 5,000 — 7,000 USD Porcelains depicting scholarly pursuits were popular... [Lire la suite]

Chinese Rhinoceros horn libation cup, 17th century. Photo Freeman's Archaic form, with fine Greek key to edge and climbing qilong dragon to rim and sides over tight Greek key and tao tie mask ground, the reticulated handle carved with lobed cartouches, over conforming foot. H: 3 1/2 L: 6 1/4 inches. Estimate $10,000-15,000 PROVENANCE: Previously of a Delaware Estate Freeman's. ASIAN ARTS. Saturday, March 15 at 10am - www.freemansauction.com

A blanc-de-chine incense burner, gui, 17th century. Photo Bonhams. With short foot, everted rim and moulded lion mask handles, incised to one side with three lines of calligraphy. 9.5cm (3.3/4in) wide across the handles. Estimate £2,000 - 2,500 (€2,400 - 3,000) Bonhams. ASIAN DECORATIVE ARTS. 4 Mar 2014, San Francisco - www.bonhams.com

A blue and white porcelain plaque, 17th Century. Photo Bonhams. The circular plaque freely painted with a scholar seated on a river bank shaded by a pine bough with his attendant standing nearby, a mountain peak in the distance, the scene enclosed by a narrow key fret band. 9 inches (22.8cm) diameter. Estimate US$ 800 - 1,200 (€580 - 880) Property from a Private Ohio Collection. Bonhams. ASIAN DECORATIVE ARTS. 4 Mar 2014, San Francisco - www.bonhams.com

Pendant with Christ, Spain, 17th century © 2000-2012, The Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge, UK. Collections Gold, set with emeralds and two diamonds and a carved mother-of-pearl figure of Christ on a background of gold, engraved and enamelled in translucent green (basse-taille enamelling). The back enamelled in opaque white, pink and black and set with an enamelled plaque in blue pink and grey-black of the virgin and child. Circular with a bow at the top.