Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art

A rock crystal 'lotus' brush washer. Late 18th-early 19th century. Photo Bonhams Deeply carved in the form of a curled lotus leaf with undulating rim, its stem forming the base, with further stems and lotus flowers carved in high relief to the sides, the crystal of a smokey brown hue. 9.8cm (4in) wide. Sold for £3,360 A rock crystal 'chilong' brush washer. Late 18thearly 19th century The deep quatrefoil vessel carved in high relief around the sides with two clambering chilongs and sprouting lingzhi fungus, the crystal of a... [Lire la suite]

A fine Mughal-style agate brush washer. Early 18th century. Photo Bonhams Of deep oval form, the sides finely carved in imitation of a chrysanthemum, each side with chrysanthemum-form handles suspending loose-ring handles, carved wood stand. 14.5cm (5¾in) wide (2). Sold for £14,40 Bonhams. Fine Chinese Art, 12 May 2011, New Bond Street www.bonhams.com  

An extremely rare translucent banded agate oval dish.  Incised Yongzheng horizontal four-character mark and of the period. Photo Bonhams Finely and thinly carved as a slender deep bowl, entirely plain, the stone containing natural whorls of banded white and grey tone, the mark carefully carved within a recessed oval forming the underside. 18.7cm (7 3/8in) wide. Sold for £216,000 Provenance: a British private collection. According to the family, the agate dish has been with the family from at least as early as the... [Lire la suite]

A Blanc-de-chine figure of Guandi. Qing dynasty, 19th century. Photo Sotheby's the deity seated on a raised platform draped with a tiger skin, wearing armour under his long flowing robes belted at his chest, his face with a stern expression and surmounted by an official cap with two tassels falling on his shoulders, covered overall with a cream ivory glaze; 23.8cm., 9 3/8 in. Estimate 3,000—5,000 GBP. Lot Sold 15,000 GBP A Blanc-de-chine figure of Guanyin. Qing dynasty, 18th-19th century. Photo Sotheby's standing on a rocky... [Lire la suite]

A pair of large white glazed anhua conical bowls. Photo Sotheby's each with steep sides rising from a short straight foot to a slightly flaring rim the exterior decorated in anhua with two confronting five-clawed dragons in pursuit of a flaming pearl amidst flames and above swirling waves, covered overall with a creamy ivory glaze, the base with apocryphal four-character Yongle marks in underglaze blue, wood stands; 23.2cm., 9 1/8 in. Estimate 5,000—7,000 GBP. Lot Sold 6,250 GBP Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of... [Lire la suite]

An unusual white stoneware flask in the form of a leather pouch. Liao Dynasty, 10th Century. Photo Sotheby's the lower part of oval section, the upper part terminating in a flat bracket-lobed flange and tubular spout with everted lip, the flange enclosed by a raised border and pierced with a hole surrounded by an incised heart-shaped motif, the narrow sides outlined by applied bands of clay to simulate sewn gussets, the near-white stoneware covered with a white slip and a transparent ivory-tinged glaze, leaving the flat base... [Lire la suite]

A rare white-glazed relief-decorated vase and cover. Qianlong-Jiaqing.  Photo Bonhams The tall baluster vase with high slanted shoulders rising to the slightly waisted neck and galleried rim, supported on a splayed foot, deeply carved with a dense design of a composite leafy floral and fruiting scroll, including lotus, peony, pomegranate, peach and possibly finger citron, all between a ruyi-head border on the shoulders and lotus-petal panels above the foot, the neck with upright stiff leaves below the rim with a key-fret... [Lire la suite]

A blanc-de-chine pear-shaped vase. 18th century. Photo Bonhams The slender body applied on one side with a tall upright coiling branch of plum blossom, the shoulder with two amusing elephant-head handles, the ears open. 26.5cm (10½in) high. Estimate: £4,000 - 6,000, HKD 51,000 - 76,000, $ 6,500 - 9,800. Unsold. A rare blanc-de-chine barrel-shaped jar and cover. 18th century. Photo Bonhams The exterior applied with a large spray of plum blossom, between two applied lion-mask handles and small bosses around the rims. 14.5cm... [Lire la suite]

A specialist from Christie's auction house introduces a Famille Rose revolving and reticulated 'Chilong' double vase. EPA/YM YIK. A "Magnificent Famille Rose Revolving And Reticulated 'Chilong' Double Vase", with Qianlong iron-red six-character sealmark, is lit up during a Christie's preview in Hong Kong May 17, 2011. The item is expected to fetch $31 million at the auction house's upcoming Hong Kong Spring Sale of Chinese ceramics and works of art on June 1. REUTERS/Bobby Yip. HONG KONG.- Christie’s Hong Kong Spring sales of... [Lire la suite]

A carved rhinoceros horn libation cup. 17th century. .Photo Sotheby's of flaring U-shape resting on a flat base, carved with a gnarled tree forming the handle with associated leaves continuing over the rim, the exterior decorated in relief with a sage and an acolyte set within a landscape, with further trees rising from rockwork amid a cloud mist, the horn of rich toffee tone darkening to a dark chocolate tone at the base; 16cm., 6 1/4 in. Estimate 50,000—70,000 GBP. Lot Sold 181,250 GBP PROVENANCE: Christie's Rome, 7th May... [Lire la suite]