Christie's announces Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art and Textiles Auction

LONDON.- Christie’s London presents a dynamic combination of touring highlights and a two-day sale this autumn during Asian Art in London 2014. The South Kensington sale of Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art and Textiles will take place on the 4 and 7 November, going on public view from the 1 November through to the 3 and 6 November respectively. At Christie’s headquarters, 8 King Street, touring international highlights of important Asian Art from the upcoming auctions in Hong Kong (26 November), Paris (10 December), and New York (19 March 2015) and also a stellar private sale highlight will be previewed from 31 October to 4 November. These highlights include a very important Imperial embroidered silk thangka which is a masterpiece that opens up a new understanding of Imperial patronage in Buddhism during the early Ming dynasty. It is the only example of its kind in private hands.

Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art and Textiles Part: 4 and 7 November Christie’s South Kensington

Christie’s two-day sale of Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art and Textiles will take place at Christie’s South Kensington on 4 and 7 November. Comprising 581 lots overall (316 lots on day one and 265 on day two), this well balanced and carefully curated sale presents buyers with a wealth of private material across a wide variety of media including mark and period imperial porcelain, Republic porcelain, textiles, jade carvings, Buddhist art, scholars objects, snuff bottles, cloisonné enamels, paintings and furniture, all at multiple price points and with estimates ranging from just £1,000 up to £30,000.

This sale is specifically tailored to meet current market demands, such as the notable appetite for Tibetan thangkas , which have been realising very strong prices in recent seasons and are particularly sought after at present by discerning Asian collectors. Christie’s is pleased to present a 14-lot private collection, the Property of a Gentleman (lots 485-498), which is led by a thangka probably depicting the Rolpai Dorje (1717-1786), Qianlong Period (1736-1795) (estimate: £12,000-18,000). Formerly in an American collection, it was gifted to the current owner prior to 1999. This rare painting depicts a high placed pontiff of the Tibetan Yellow Cap or dGe.lugs.pa order. The individual facial portrait style is executed in a realistic western manner and can be compared to the very small group of known painted representations of Rolpai Dorje (Rol.pa’i.rdo.rje) (1717 – 1786), the ‘Teacher of The Empire’ under Emperor Qianlong (1736 - 1796). Most examples show the lama with an elderly face. Just one painting of the group illustrates a younger depiction as in the present lot; it is in the Ethnographic Museum of Berlin and, unlike this thangka, it is inscribed with his name.

A number of private collections of jade carvings from the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia, include the cover lot: a contemplative jade carving of an ascetic monk on a cloisonné enamel base, 17th-18th century (estimate: £10,000- 15,000). The most valuable jade lot of the sale is a striking chicken bone jade archaistic vase, late 17th century (estimate: £20,000-30,000), which is offered from a private English collection having been purchased in 1951 from the renowned London dealer Louis Joseph.

There is a focus on Ming dynasty art in London this November, highlighted by the Ming dynasty exhibition at the British Museum. A star of this sale is a striking Ming dynasty blue and white ewer, Jiajing mark and period (1522-1566) with European gilt metal mounts (estimate: £15,000-20,000). It is an example where the East and West meet aesthetically, with mounts enhancing the bold form. The blue is of a particularly bright and vivid cobalt tone, found only on the very best quality porcelain from this period.

Other standout highlights of mark and period porcelain include a blue and white 'chilong' lantern vase, Daoguang mark and period (1821-50) which exhibits finely painted decoration and beautiful form (estimate: £8,000-12,000); a famille rose gu vase, Jiaqing mark and period (1796-1820) also presents excellent painting and vibrant colours (estimate: £8,000 - 12,000). Depicting the Eight Buddhist Emblems, the form, which takes its inspiration from archaic bronzes, is very Chinese-taste in its appeal. It comes to the market from the Property of an English Lady.

Earlier ceramics include a charming collection of celadon chargers including a large Longquan celadon dragon dish, Ming dynasty (estimate: £2,000-3,000). Later examples build on recent successful offerings of Republic (1912-1949) porcelain, with a 16-lot section that includes an exquisitely painted famille rose vase, depicting the poet Tao Yuanming, dressed in rags, with the signature of Wang Qi (estimate: £4,000-6,000). Dated to the year corresponding to 1930, it was acquired in the United States in the mid 2000s.

18th century Buddhist gilt bronzes are led by a delicately cast early 18th century gilt bronze figure of Syamatra (estimate: £15,000-20,000). Acquired prior to 1985, it is one of a three-lot collection offered by a European Lady (lots 511-513). Among the religious paintings is a striking group of five works depicting Daoist Immortals and Heavenly Marshals (lots 600- 604) from a collection of another European Lady, which were acquired in Munich in the 1960s. The estimate for each painting is £6,000 to £8,000. One of the most beautiful examples depicts the 17th century Daoist immortal Yuanshi Tianzun, also known as Yu Qing, The Jade Pure One). He is depicted wearing long robes, delicately painted with dragon roundels and highlighted in gilt; he is seated on an elaborate throne with cloud scrolls in the background.

Elsewhere in the 20-lot painting section, highlights include a Drunken Scholar, by Huang Yongyu (b.1924), which is executed in ink and colour on paper (estimate: £10,000- 20,000). It was gifted, in 1982, to the current owner by the artist, an established Chinese painting master, who is particularly sought after by collectors in Asia.

There has been a recent focus on Ming dynasty bronze scholar’s objects. This auction presents a 22-lot private collection from the United Kingdom, assembled predominantly in the 1980s and 1990s, with estimates from £1,000 to £3,000 (lots 569-591).

There is currently a robust market for the best quality textiles and robes, which has grown over the last couple of years. This sale includes several private collections from Europe and the United Kingdom. Key examples include a 6-lot collection of robes predominantly acquired from a private German Collection and amassed in the early 20th century, (lots 537-542), as well as a 7-lot European collection (lots 268-274) which was acquired over a similar time period from 1900. It is led by an Imperial embroidered yellow silk twelve-symbol ‘dragon’ robe for a child, dating from the mid-19th century (estimate: £10,000-15,000).

TOURING INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM HONG KONG, PARIS & NEW YORK On Public View from 31 October to 4 November

Touring international highlights of important Asian Art from the upcoming auctions in Hong Kong (26 November), Paris (10 December), and New York (27 January) and also a stellar private sale highlight will be previewed from 31 October to 4 November.

HONG KONG – 26 November 2014

Hong Kong touring highlights are led by a highly important embroidered imperial silk thangka from the Ming dynasty Yongle period (1402-1424) (estimate on request, illustrated far left). Widely recognised as one of the most important Asian works of art to ever come to market, this Imperial silk thangka is a masterpiece that transcends time and geography, with vibrant imagery that is as rich and compelling today as it was when this work was created over five centuries ago. Measuring over three metres tall and more than two metres wide (335.3 x 213.4 cm.), it has survived in impeccable condition, making this exceptionally rare work all the more extraordinary. More information available on request.

The other three exemplary Hong Kong lot in the preview comprise lots, from left to right: an extremely rare early Ming gilt-bronze figure of Manjusri, Yongle period (1402-1424) (estimate HK$12-15 million); a rare large imperial gilt-decorate spinach-green jade musical chime, bianqing, dated to the 29th year of Qianlong, corresponding to AD 1764 (estimate: HK$2.6-3 million); and a rare carved pale celadon jade circular table screen, Qing dynasty, 18th/19th century (estimate: HK$1-1.5 million).

PARIS – 10 December 2014

Five of the 11 highlights from Paris include, from left to right: an extremely impressive very rare large cloisonné enamel ‘champion’ vase and cover, Qianlong period (1736-1795), displaying a strong and powerful design combining an eagle and a bear, with well-preserved enamel and gilding, which comes from a noble European family (estimate: €250,000-300,000); a large blue and white ‘bats and peaches’ vase, hu, Qianlong period (1736-1795) of an impressive size and rare shape, from a private European collection (estimate: €120,000-160,000); a highly important limestone head of Guanyin, China, Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) (estimate: €300,000-500,000); Red Leaves/ Calligraphy by Qi Baishi/ Zhao Shijun (estimate: €80,000-120,000); and an important grey schist figure of Buddha Shakyamuni, Gandhara region, AD 2nd -3rd century (estimate: €80,000-120,000).

NEW YORK – 19 March 2015

From the New York sale in March 2015, An Era of Inspiration: 17th-Century Chinese Porcelains from the Collection of Julia and John Curtis, 11 highlights will be on view. They include, from left to right: a superb large blue and white brush pot with scholar and official, Chongzhen period, circa 1640 (estimate: $100,000-150,000); a very rare pair of wucai sleeve vases, Shunzhi period, circa 1645-1655 (estimate: $80,000- 120,000); and a rare blue and white sleeve vase with hunting scene, Chongzhen period, circa 1640 (estimate: $40,000-60,000).

Combining superb quality and sophisticated connoisseurship, the Curtis Collection of 17th century Chinese porcelains provides a unique window into the exciting period of porcelain production in China between the fall of the Ming dynasty and the onset of the Qing dynasty. Freed from the confines of imperial restrictions, artisans at Jingdezhen looked to literary sources and printed illustrations that appealed to literati taste and highlighted popular narrative from the past. The period witnessed a closer relationship between works on paper and silk and painting on porcelain, vividly illustrating the skills of porcelain painters that were true artists in their own right. This brief period of unprecedented artistic license resulted in works of unsurpassed creativity and innovation.