Shang Dynasty (c. 1500-1050 BC)

Lot 117. A large archaic jade ritual dagger axe, Ge, Shang Dynasty (c. 1500-1050 BC); 18 1/4in (46.7cm) long. Sold for US$20,400 (Estimate US$12,000-15,000). © Bonhams 2001-2023 The thinly carved blade of slender elegant form with sharp beveled cutting edges, tapers rapidly ending in a narrow point, the two drilled holes on the squared tang alligned with the very gently rising median crest, another small hole at the corner of the tang for attachment, the stone 'calcified' in mottled tan and... [Lire la suite]

Lot 159. A jade dragon pendant, Shang dynasty (c. 1500-1050 BC). Length 10.3 cm, 4 in. Lot sold: 60,480 GBP (Estimate: 15,000 - 20,000 GBP). © 2022 Sotheby's. the arc-shaped pendant carved from a thin slice of ochre-brown jade, incised on both sides to represent a dragon, with traces of cinnabar, the slightly splayed 'tail' and inner edge sharpened like a blade, the open mouth with a single hole for attachment. Provenance: Collection of Mr and Mrs Richard C. Bull.Sotheby's New... [Lire la suite]

Lot 158 A small jade reptile, Shang dynasty (c. 1500-1050 BC). Length 6.8 cm, 2⅝ in. Lot sold: 18,900 GBP (Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000 GBP). © 2022 Sotheby's. carved from a thin slice of grey-green jade with notches to suggest the horns, eyes and limbs of a lizard, tapering to a pointed tail. Provenance: Collection of Mr and Mrs Richard C. Bull.Sotheby's New York, 6th December 1983, lot 126. Literature: Jessica Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the... [Lire la suite]

Lot 156. A cylindrical jade 'taotie' bead, Shang dynasty (c. 1500-1050 BC). Length 3.8 cm, 1½ in. Lot sold: 138,600 GBP (Estimate: 15,000 - 20,000 GBP). © 2022 Sotheby's. of tubular form, slightly flared at one end, carved from extensively calcified pale green jade, carved in relief on the exterior with taotie heads. Provenance: Collection of Mr and Mrs Richard C. Bull.Sotheby's New York, 6th December 1983, lot 151. Literature: Jessica Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to... [Lire la suite]

Lot 175. A jade 'bird-head' ge-shaped pendant, Shang dynasty (c. 1500-1050 BC); 7.6 cm. Lot sold: 529,200 HKD (Estimate: 30,000 - 50,000 HKD). © Sotheby's 2022 modelled in the form of a thin ge-blade, softly polished with subtle bevelling, rendered with a crowned bird head with minimalistic eyes and a hooked beak, the stone of a creamy beige tone. Provenance: Pin Chen Tang, Hong Kong, 16th July 1988. Literature: Jessica Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing,... [Lire la suite]

Lot 174. A white jade handle, Shang dynasty (c. 1500-1050 BC); 13.4 cm. Lot sold: 378,000 HKD (Estimate: 60,000 - 80,000 HKD). © Sotheby's 2022 the upper part of the handle rendered with a small grip, one side gently convex and the other side flat, each side divided into three segments by ribbed lines, each segment incised with leaf-like motifs resembling a stylized cicada, vertically perforated in the centre. Provenance: R.H. Ellsworth Ltd, New York, 20th August 1986. ... [Lire la suite]

Lot 152. An inscribed archaic bronze ritual wine vessel, gu, Shang dynasty (c. 1500-1050 BC); h. 29.7 cm. Lot sold: 882,000 HKD (Estimate: 400,000 - 600,000 HKD). © Sotheby's 2022 of slender waisted form supported on a tall footring, cast around the mid-section and splayed foot with pairs of zoomorphic masks centred by notched flanges against a leiwen ground, the registers divided by double bowstrings with two cruciform motifs, all below a tall trumpet neck decorated with a... [Lire la suite]

Lot 3001. An inscribed archaic bronze ritual wine vessel, Jue, Shang dynasty (c. 1500-1050 BC); h. 20.8 cm, w. 17 cm. Lot sold: 378,000 HKD (Estimate: 30,000 - 50,000 HKD). © Sotheby's 2022 cast beneath the handle with a two-character inscription reading Fu Yi ('Father Yi'). Provenance: Mandala Fine Arts, Hong Kong. Note: Father Yi (Fu Yi) should be the father of the patron, for whom the vessel was dedicated. Compare a similar example without... [Lire la suite]

Lot 5. An exceptionally rare white marble figure of a turtle, Shang dynasty (c. 1500-1050 BC). Length 3 in., 8 cm. Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000 USD. Lot sold: 6,300 USD. © Sothebys.  Provenance: Collection of Dr Wou Kiuan (1910-1997). Wou Lien-Pai Museum, coll. no. E.3.14. Note: Shang dynasty marble carvings are extremely rare, much more so than  other ritual works of art and vessels created from bronze, jade,... [Lire la suite]

Lot 19. A rare archaic bronze ritual tripod vessel, jia, Shang dynasty (c. 1500-1050 BC); 25.3 cm., 9 7/8 in. Sold 54,000 GBP (Estimate 6,000 - 8,000 GBP). © Sotheby's.  the compressed globular body supported on three tall slender blade feet, cast around the exterior with three separate taotie divided and separated by vertical notched flanges and each formed from detached zoomorphic elements on a tight leiwen ground flanked by 'bird' elements, the waisted neck with... [Lire la suite]