9 avril 2010

A fine and very rare pair of archaistic celadon-ground gilt-decorated vases. Seal marks and period of Qianlong.  photo Sotheby's based on Western Zhou period bronzes, each with a pear-shaped body supported on a slightly splayed foot and rising gently to the waisted neck and flared lipped mouth, flanked by a pair of moulded mythical animal masks suspending mock-ring handles, applied overall with a pale caesious green glaze and painted in gilt, the body with confronting dragons forming interlocking 'S' design... [Lire la suite]

Impressive jadeite and tourmaline court necklace, Qing dynasty. photo Sotheby's Composed of a hundred and eight pink tourmaline beads, intersected by four jadeite foudou and a gourd-shaped fodouda of semi-translucent apple-green colour, supporting a silk cord tassel intersected by a flattened rectangular jadeite pendant of similar colour in a filigree silver-gilt mount, terminating to a pink tourmaline drop enhanced by three jinian strands, each composed of blue tourmaline beads, terminating with a filigree-silver mount... [Lire la suite]

A fine and rare wucai 'garlic-mouth' vase. Mark and period of Wanli. photo Sotheby's the stoutly potted large pear-shaped body supported by a wide straight foot, rising to a garlic-bulb shaped mouth, the main body decorated in the wucai palette including iron-red and vivid purplish underglaze-blue, painted with two pairs of ferocious dragons, each pair in mutual pursuit of a 'flaming pearl' amid scattered flowers on meandering leafy stems, beneath a band of upright and pendant triangles containing trefoils at the... [Lire la suite]

Important and rare fancy vivid blue diamond and diamond ring, "De Beers Millennium Jewel 11". photo Sotheby's Ring size: 5½ - Est. 36,000,000—46,000,000 HKD. Lot Sold 49,940,000 HKD Accompanied by GIA report numbered 1112874424, dated 23 March 2010, stating that the 5.16 carat diamond is natural, Fancy Vivid Blue colour, Internally Flawless clarity, inscribed with "De Beers Millennium Jewel 11". Sotheby's. MAGNIFICENT JEWELS & JADEITE. 07 Apr 10. Hong Kong www.sothebys.com

A rare imperial 'dragon' kesi textile. Ming dynasty, Wanli period. photo Sotheby's colourfully woven with a golden four-clawed dragon striding above turbulent waves floating with auspicious emblems, amidst wispy clouds, all below a band of irregular multi-coloured stripes at the top, and reserved on a bright blue silk ground - 100 by 80 cm., 39 3/8 by 31 1/2 in. Est. 1,000,000—1,500,000 HKD. Lot Sold 1,220,000 HKD PROVENANCE: The Steinhardt Collection, New York.The Textile Gallery, London, 2007. NOTE: This vibrant and... [Lire la suite]

Gem-set and diamond 'blackamoor' brooch, Nardi. photo Sotheby's Modelled as a blackamoor portrait, the delicately carved black chalcedony head, adorned with amantilla veil and coat of pierced and textured gold design, decorated with diamonds, rubies and emeralds, mounted in 18 karat yellow gold, signed. Est. 50,000—70,000 HKD. Lot Sold 31,250 HKD Sotheby's. MAGNIFICENT JEWELS & JADEITE. 07 Apr 10. Hong Kong www.sothebys.com

Keiichi Tahara (Né en 1951), Triptyque, 2006; photo courtesy Pierre Bergé & associés Photographie sur plaque en porcelaine et structure métallique. Finalisation à la couche d'or. Signée et numérotée 1/3. Édition Craft. H_53 cm L_121 cm - Estimation : 4 000 - 6 000 € Keiichi Tahara (Né en 1951), Sculpture, 2, 2006. photo courtesy Pierre Bergé & associés Photographie sur plaque en porcelaine et structure métallique. Finalisation à la couche d'or. Signée et numérotée 2/8. Édition Craft. H_54 cm L_45 cm -... [Lire la suite]

HONG KONG.- Yesterday at Sotheby’s Hong Kong Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Spring Sale 2010, An Important and Superb Imperially Inscribed ‘Tai Shang Huang Di’ White Jade Seal, Yubi Mark and Period of Qianlong fetched HK$95,860,000 / US$12,289,744, establishing a world record for white jade and Imperial seal at auction. Previous record was also achieved by Sotheby’s Hong Kong when the jade seal commanded HK$46,247,500 / US$5,918,293 in October 2007. Bidding opened at HK$30 million, and after 6 bids a phone bidder shouted out a... [Lire la suite]