China

Nail protector, China, late 19th century, silver alloy, pigment; 1.8 × 8.0 × 1.5 cm; Felton Bequest, 1927; 2903-D3 © National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Nail protector, with relief Chinese character, extended nail edged with grid pattern. The Chinese character for longevity that decorates the nail protector is shou 壽 .

Notched disc, Nephrite jade, China, circa 2000-1500 BC. Diameter: 13 cm. Purchased with the assistance of The Art Fund, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee, A.45-1936 © Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2017.  Disc with severe notches, translucent light and dark green with dark striations. Thin and even, signs of wear on both sides.  In the first few decades of the 20th century a fairly large number of jade rings with notches were excavated from... [Lire la suite]

Bowl with lotus and chrysanthemum scrolls, China, Ming dynasty, Hongwu period (1368-1398). Porcelain painted in underglaze blue. Height: 14 cm, Diameter: 33.7 cm. Given by Sotheby & Co., C.18-1957 © Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2017. Porcelain bowl with rounded, spreading sides rising from a rather small, tapering footrim. The base is glazed, and the glaze is poorly controlled above the foot. Painted in underglaze blue on the inside with a large medallion comprising a peony spray; round the... [Lire la suite]

A porcelain blue ewer made for the Islamic market, China, 18th century, 30cm high. © Amir Mohtashemi Ltd. The porcelain blue ewer of compacted pear-shaped form and flared foot. The mouth is crescent-moon shaped; the spout is curved. The ewer is decorated with traces of floral gilt decoration.Two similar ewers are in The Victoria and Albert Museum, London, Accession Numbers 775-1888 and 1674-1876, and are published by Kerr and Mengoni, Chinese Export Ceramics, V&A Publishing, London, 2011, p. 111, pl. 158. According to... [Lire la suite]

A Rare Blue and White Pen Box of Islamic Form, China, Late 15th century , Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), 26.5cm long (box without mounts). © Amir Mohtashemi Ltd. This rare and unusual blue and white porcelain pen box of slender oval form is painted with scrolling lotus motifs in underglaze blue. The sides of the box are fairly straight with rounded corners. The interior is divided into four compartments; the largest compartment is of mihrab form. One compartment contains a semi-circular metal inset. The other two compartments... [Lire la suite]

Zhangzhou Dish Made for the Islamic Market, Zhangzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province, China, Early-Mid 17th century, 42cm diameter. © Amir Mohtashemi Ltd. The porcelain dish is of circular form and is painted in underglaze cobalt blue on white. The centre of the dish is depicted with an architectural landscape scene including numerous pagoda-like buildings, figures, large rocks together with a fish, a lobster, two figures on a boat and various plants. The deep cavetto of the dish is decorated with panels of Arabic... [Lire la suite]

Lot 1628. A superb and very rare Dehua figure of Damo seated in meditation, China, Ming dynasty, early 17th century; 10 5/8 in. (27 cm.) high. Estimate USD 200,000 - USD 300,000. Price realised USD 317,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2014 The finely modeled figure is shown seated in dhyanansana on a straw or grass mat, and wears a voluminous monastic robe that falls in graceful folds around the body, his clasped hands hidden within the long sleeves. The face is sensitively modeled with... [Lire la suite]

                      Bead (guan), China, Warring States Period (approx. 480-221 BCE). Nephrite. H. 2 1/2 in x Diam. 1 5/8 in, H. 6.3 cm x Diam. 4.1 cm. The Avery Brundage Collection, B60J589 © 2017 Asian Art Museum Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture. Long tubular beads of this sort were a key part of the pendant ensembles worn by high ranking officials during the late Warring States and on into the Han dynasty. Worn vertically, they provided... [Lire la suite]

Ring, China, Warring States Period (approx. 480-221 BCE). Nephrite. Diam. 1 7/16 in x D. 1/8 in, Diam. 3.65 cm x D. .32 cm. The Avery Brundage Collection, B60J569 © 2017 Asian Art Museum Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture.

Pendant with dragon heads, China, Warring States Period (approx. 480-221 BCE). Nephrite. H. 7/8 in x W. 3 3/4 in D. 1/8 in, H. 2.22 cm x W. 9.53 cm x D. .32 cm. The Avery Brundage Collection, B60J523 © 2017 Asian Art Museum Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture.