A large coral 'Phoenix and Ladies' carving, 19th century. Photo Christie's Image Ltd, 2011

The coral carved with three standing figures including two ladies and a boy, one lady depicted carrying a vase and the boy holding a flowering peony branch, all riding on the back of a large phoenix, detailed with a peony branch in its beak and with long wing and tail feathers, the coral of a bright orange-pink tone; 15 in. (38 cm.) wide, stained ivory stand. Estimate £25,000 - £35,000. Price Realized 145,250

清   十九世紀   珊瑚雕仕女乘鳳擺件

Provenance: The Burton Collection of Chinese Works of Art

THE BURTON COLLECTION OF CHINESE WORKS OF ART
The present collection of exquisite jade and coral carvings was amassed in the early 20th Century by Sir Montague Burton (1885-1952).
Montague Burton arrived in Yorkshire from Lithuania in 1900 and by 1910 he had bought his first clothing manufacture factory. His business expanded rapidly, partly through the manufacture of uniforms. By 1925 his Leeds clothing factory was the largest in Europe, employing 10,500 people and the manufacturing and retailing business became one of Britain's best known. During the early 1930s Montague Burton travelled extensively and with his wife visited China in 1934, doubtless sparking their interest in jade carvings and other works of art.
Christie's is delighted to be able to offer this selection of fine works on behalf of one of Sir Montague Burton's direct descendants.

A coral carving of dragon, 19th century. Photo Christie's Image Ltd, 2011

The sinuous four-clawed scaly dragon carved with jaws open, bushy eyebrows, bearded chin and a pair of horns, depicted riding on swirling clouds, the coral of a pinkish-orange tone; 13 in. (33 cm.) long, wood stand.  Estimate £3,000 - £5,000. Price Realized  £18,750

清   十九世紀   珊瑚雕龍擺件

Provenance; The Burton Collection of Chinese Works of Art
With Louis Joseph, London.
Christie's London, 19 October 1959, lot 89.

A coral carving of two female figures, 19th century. Photo Christie's Image Ltd, 2011

The ladies carved with hair in elegant chignons and wearing long flowing robes, one holding a fly-whisk and the other a branch of lingzhi, both standing on rockwork forming the base and detailed with further lingzhi and a crane, the coral of a pale pinkish -orange tone; 9½ in. (24.2 cm.) high, stained wood stand. Estimate £15,000 - £25,000. Price Realized £18,750

清   十九世紀   珊瑚雕仕女擺件

Provenance: The Burton Collection of Chinese Works of Art
With John Sparks, London, 16 June 1967

A coral 'Boys' vase and cover, 19th century. Photo Christie's Image Ltd, 2011

The vase of baluster shape, carved to the exterior of the body in high relief with five boys at leisure and a lady beside a flower basket, all amongst prunus and pine trees and standing on rockwork, the cover with a further boy crouched down on hands and knees, the coral of a deep orange-pink colour; 4½ in. (11.4 cm.) high, stained ivory stand. Estimate £10,000 - £15,000. Price Realized £17,500

清   十九世紀   珊瑚雕嬰戲圖瓶

A coral 'Immortals and Birds' carving, 19th century. Photo Christie's Image Ltd, 2011

Carved with two female deities with serene expressions and wearing long flowing robes, one depicted holding a dish of peaches in one hand and a peony branch in the other, further decorated with two large birds, one grasping a lingzhi branch in its beak peering from behind one of the immortals and the other perched on lingzhi, the coral of a pinkish-orange tone; 10 in. (25.4 cm.) high, gilt wood stand. Estimate £8,000 - £12,000. Price Realized £10,000

清   十九世紀   珊瑚雕仙女獻壽擺件

Provenance: The Burton Collection of Chinese Works of Art

A large coral carving  of a phoenix, 19th century. Photo Christie's Image Ltd, 2011

The recumbent phoenix with a collar encircling its neck, boldy carved with finely detailed plumage, the coral of a pale orange-pink tone. 10 in. (25.4 cm.) high, wood stand. Estimate £4,000 - £6,000. Price Realized £8,125

清   十九世紀   珊瑚雕鳳凰擺件

Provenance: The Burton Collection of Chinese Works of Art

Two coral carvings  of female immortals, 19th century. Photo Christie's Image Ltd, 2011

Comprising a female deity standing in front of a flowering branch holding a flower in one hand, the coral of a pale salmon tone; and another smaller carving of a female deity with a girl and boy, the coral of a deep orange-pink tone. The tallest 7¾ in. (19.7 cm.) high, one with wood stand (2). Estimate £4,000 - £6,000. Price Realized £5,000

清   十九世紀   珊瑚雕仙女擺件

Provenance: The Burton Collection of Chinese Works of Art

A coral carving of a female deity, 19th century. Photo Christie's Image Ltd, 2011

The deity carved with a serene expression, holding a large long peacock tail-feather in one hand, standing between two long-tailed birds perched on thick leafy tree trunks, the coral of a bright orange-pink tone; 6 in. (15.2 cm.) high, wood stand. Estimate £3,000 - £5,000. Price Realized £3,750

清   十九世紀   珊瑚雕仙女擺件

Provenance: The Burton Collection of Chinese Works of Art
With Louis Joseph, London, 21 April 1959.

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 8 November 2011; London, King Street www.christies.com