Yongle

HONG KONG.- This April, Sotheby’s will bring to auction three of the most important Chinese seals ever to come to the market. Each one a priceless record of imperial Chinese history in its own right, together these three seals rank among the most important historical objects – of any period or geographic region – ever to appear at auction. Originally the preserve purely of the Emperors of China, imperial seals were used as a singular stamp of authority – akin to that of a signature – each one carved with language... [Lire la suite]

  TAIPEI - The appreciation is a lifestyle, a fashion, an art, and a culture; it is a shared language of tea connoisseurs. The originated in China, and methods of tea making have undergone centuries of change, as have the equipment and the manner in which the tea has been enjoyed. In ancient times, tea was used both to quench the thirst, and also for its perceived medicinal qualities; during the Tang and Song dynasties, it was brewed by boiling then it was sipped gently. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, tea was brewed by... [Lire la suite]

  Vase with Revolving Core and Eight-Trigram Design, Qing dynasty, reign of the Qianlong emperor, 1735–96, porcelain with golden glaze and appliquéd sculpture, National Palace Museum, Taipei. Image © National Palace Museum HOUSTON— The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, opens Emperors’ Treasures: Chinese Art from the National Palace Museum, Taipei, a major exhibition of more than 160 works of art from the renowned collections of the National Palace Museum, Taipei. The exhibition features a unique selection of paintings,... [Lire la suite]

Meat-shaped stone. Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Stone: jasper; stand: gold. National Palace Museum, Taipei, Guza 000178 Lü-413. Photograph © National Palace Museum, Taipei. SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- The centerpiece of the Asian Art Museum’s 50th anniversary year, Emperors’ Treasures : Chinese Art f rom the National Palace Museum, Taipei , presents nearly 150 imperial masterworks, many of which are making their North American debut. Visitors will discover a trove of exquisite paintings, ceramics, jades and more from one of the... [Lire la suite]

This red lacquer dish made during his reign will feature in Ming 50 Years at British Museum

Lot 334. A rare cinnabar lacquer 'floral' saucer dish, Yongle period (1403-1424); 13.7cm diam. Estimate HK$ 100,000 - 150,000 (€9,600 - 14,000). Sold for HK$ 125,000 (€ 14,830). Photo courtesy Bonhams. The interior of the shallow circular dish deeply carved in high relief through a thick layer of red lacquer, with meandering scrolls of peonies, orchids and sunflower, all blossoming within dense barbed leafy scrolls, the base plainly lacquered in black.  Bonhams. FINE CHINESE... [Lire la suite]

A white-glazed incised 'floral' bowl, Yongle. Photo Bonhams The wide body rising from a recessed circular foot, the interior moulded with subtle vertical ribs imitating floral petals, the exterior lightly incised with anhua floral scrolls all around beneath a band of keyfret scroll at the rim. 20.8cm diam. Estimate US$ 52,000 - 77,000 Provenance: Christie's London, 7 November 2008, lot 216 Notes: White-glazed porcelains were produced for Buddhist ritual use at the Yongle court. As Daisy... [Lire la suite]

A rare and large blue and white 'Lotus' dish. Ming Dynasty, Yongle (1403-1425). Photo China Guardian D 42 cm. Estimate: HKD 320,000-520,000. Price Realized: HKD 828,000 China Guardian Hong Kong 2013 Spring Auctions. Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. April 4-5 2013. http://english.cguardian.com

Perfume vessel with underglaze blue decoration of flowers in openwork. Ming dynasty, Yongle reign (1403-1424) © National Palace Museum

   A seleection of archaic bronzes. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012 HONG KONG.-Christie’s Hong Kong Spring sales of Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, to be held on 30 May 2012 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, will present nearly 400 lots of Chinese Imperial ceramics and works of art, valued in excess of HK$400 million. Highlighting the series of sales are stunning cloisonné enamels from the Mandel Collection; a superb selection of very important ceramics, jades and textiles in the... [Lire la suite]