James E. Sowell Collection

Over a period of twenty years James Sowell slowly assembled the best collection of Chinese porcelain birds, animals and figures in the country. Not only comprehensive, the Sowell Collection features jewels of top quality in each category it encompasses, from important, large pairs of majestic birds, courtiers and exotic animals to charming and colorful figures of laughing boys and courting couples. The collection resided happily in the Sowells’ Dallas home surrounded by classic English furniture... [Lire la suite]

Over a period of twenty years James Sowell slowly assembled the best collection of Chinese porcelain birds, animals and figures in the country. Not only comprehensive, the Sowell Collection features jewels of top quality in each category it encompasses, from important, large pairs of majestic birds, courtiers and exotic animals to charming and colorful figures of laughing boys and courting couples. The collection resided happily in the Sowells’ Dallas home surrounded by classic English furniture of the Georgian period. In 2008... [Lire la suite]

A pair of export famille verte boys riding qilins, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Estimate $60,000 – $80,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015 The laughing boys are modeled in mirror image seated astride their mythical beast, each holding a peach in one hand. The qilin dragon heads are glazed a soft yellow and their lightly-molded scaly coats are green with iron-red flames. 11 in. (28 cm.) high Provenance: With Frank Partridge & Sons. Ltd, London.The Price Collection; Sotheby's London, 14 November... [Lire la suite]

A group of three famille verte saucer dishes, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Estimate $5,000 – $8,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015 The group is comprised of a pair of dishes enameled with blossoming prunus trees and enameled on their backs are four lotus sprigs, and a third dish depicting a pair of peacocks, its back with floral sprigs and a wan-fret border. 12 ¼ in. (31.1 cm.) diameter, the largest Provenance: The James E. Sowell Collection, Dallas, Texas. Christie's. MANDARIN & MENAGERIE:... [Lire la suite]

A pair of export famille verte phoenix head ewers and covers, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Estimate $25,000 – $40,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015 The ewers are modeled with lobed, paneled bodies, decorated with flowering plants and colorful patterning. The flower-form covers have a notched inner rim. 10 ¼ in. (26 cm.) high Provenance: Frank Partridge & Sons, Ltd., London. Collection of Sir Henry Price.Sotheby's, London, 14 November 2000, lot 347. The James E. Sowell Collection,... [Lire la suite]

A pair of famille verte bowls, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Estimate $7,000 – $9,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015 Each bowl is decorated with a peony and flowering branch overlaid with persimmon-shaped panel enclosing a figure on a riverbank, watching birds in flight above the river. The opposite side is decorated with a scroll-shaped panel enclosing a lengthy inscription. The interior of the everted mouth rim is decorated with a scroll-border of four panels enclosing composite flower sprigs, each separated by dense... [Lire la suite]

A 'faux bois' jardinière, 18th-19th century. Estimate $20,000 – $30,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015 The jardinière is sturdily potted with steep, slightly flared sides and is decorated in imitation of wood staves bound by two bands of yellow rope. 14 3/8 in. (36.7 cm.) diameter  Provenance: The James E. Sowell Collection, Dallas, Texas.  Note: A pair of similar 'faux bois' jardinières, from the collection of the Duke of Norfolk, was sold at Sotheby's Monaco, 4 March... [Lire la suite]

An iron-red and gilt-decorated cup, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Estimate $4,000 – $6,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015 The deep cup is decorated on one side with a carp leaping from tumultuous waves scattered with prunus blossoms beneath a constellation and the moon. The reverse is inscribed with a couplet describing the scene, and two seals which read qing yi (pure pleasure), and mushi ju (the residence of wood and stone). 4 ½ in. (10.8 cm.) high Provenance: Christie's Amsterdam, 8 May 2001,... [Lire la suite]

A pair of iron-red-decorated 'Bat' dishes, Qianlong six-character seal marks in underglaze blue and of the period (1736-1795) . Estimate $10,000 – $12,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015 Each dish has shallow, rounded sides and is painted in the interior with five bats, wufu, and with further bats in the cavetto and on the exterior. 6 1/8 in. (15.3 cm.) diameter Provenance: Christie's London, 17 June 2003, lot 41.The James E. Sowell Collection, Dallas, Texas. MANDARIN & MENAGERIE: THE JAMES E. SOWELL... [Lire la suite]