15th century

A rare blue and white dish. Ming Dynasty, 15th century. Photo Christies Ltd 2011 Painted to the interior with a peacock standing on rocks below a large peony bloom surrounded by leafy branches, the cavetto with large blooms borne on leafy scrolls, repeated on the exterior; 13 in. (33 cm.) diam. Estimate £10,000 - £15,000 ($16,710 - $25,065) Notes: Compare a similar blue and white dish painted with a peacock in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul, illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, A Complete... [Lire la suite]

A rare blue and white Ewer and Cover. Ming Dynasty, 15th century. Photo Christies Ltd 2011 The ovoid body with tall flaring neck, slender S-scroll faceted spout and C-scroll handle, painted to the body with a wide band depicting an Immortal and attendant seated on rockwork below bamboo and weeping willow among clouds, the reverse with a figure on horseback with boy attendant carrying lanterns suspended from a pole, the neck with two phoenix in flight among clouds, all between borders of stiff leaves and classic scroll to the neck... [Lire la suite]

A Chinese Longquan celadon glazed shallow bowl. Early Ming dynasty, 15th Century.  Courtesy Marchantwith flat everted rim, carved in the well with three phoenix birds in flight amongst insects, encircled by a continuous scrolling branch of flowering lotus, the exterior with a band of lappets above the foot, covered over all in a rich celadon glaze, the base with a burnt red unglazed ring.; 6 3/8 inches, 16.3cm diameter. Price on request • Formerly in a private Japanese collection. MARCHANT;... [Lire la suite]

Portrait miniature of the Qajar ruler, Fath‘ali Shah, Iran, early 19th century. Gold sheet, painted with opaque and translucent enamels, JLY 1231 © Nour Foundation AMSTERDAM.- De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam presents highlights from one of the world’s most renowned collections of Islamic art. Passion for Perfection will include some 500 objects from the collection of Professor Nasser D. Khalili. On view through April 17 2011, De Nieuwe Kerk glitters with richly illuminated Qur’ans and manuscripts, paintings, gold, jewels,... [Lire la suite]

The Brunswick Armourers With its proximity to the Harz mountains and their wealth of metal deposits Brunswick had been an important metalworking centre as early as the 13th Century. The death of Conrad de platenmekere (the armourer) is recorded in 1320. From surviving documents from 1303 onwards there are increasingly frequent mentions in the old city of the crafts of Helmsleger (helm forger), Platenschleger (armour forger), platenmekere (armour maker) and Harneschmeker (harness maker).The Brunswick armourers reached their highest... [Lire la suite]

A blue and white 'Windswept' meiping. Ming dynasty, 15th century. Photo: Sotheby's the slender body rising from a spreading foot to a rounded shoulder and a short narrow tapering neck, freely painted in 'windswept' style around the exterior with an Immortal in a landscape beneath a band of scrolling foliage and above a band of ascending leaves; 31cm., 12 1/4 in. Estimate 8,000—12,000 GBP. Lot Sold 10,000 GBP Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 10 Nov 10, London www.sothebys.com

Dragon ewer, mid 15th century, Hoi An, Vietnam. Art Gallery of New South Wales porcelain, moulded, with underglaze blue and white decoration, 22.3 x 17.0 x 7.8cm. Not signed. Not dated. Purchased 2000. Accession number 523.2000. Associated with the aquatic aspects of creation, dragons are central themes in Vietnamese cosmology and it was believed that fish of great age transformed themselves into dragons capable of flight. The Ly dynasty named its capital Thang Long or ‘rising dragon’. The dragon has a ubiquitous presence on... [Lire la suite]

Miniature Water Dropper in the Shape of a Blowfish, 15th century. Vietnam. The Art Institute of Chicago Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration, 5.5 x 8.3 x 3.8 cm (2 1/8 x 3 1/4 x 1 1/2 in.). Gift of Cheney Cowles, 2006.5 Bowl with relief parrot, 15th century. Vietnam. The Art Institute of Chicago Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration, 3.6 x 9.3 x 8.9 cm (1 3/8 x 3 5/8 x 3 3/8 in.). Gift of Margaret Gentles, 2005.84 Box, 15th century. Vietnam. The Art Institute of Chicago Porcelain with underglaze... [Lire la suite]

A Massive 15th Century 早明 Early Ming Longquan Celadon Dish. photos Vermeer & Griggs A magnificent massive early Ming Longquan celadon dish heavily potted with shallow rounded sides rising to a lipped rim. The center carved with bunches of pendant grapes with large palmate leaves and spiraling tendrils. The cavetto carved with a double border, the inner of a meandering lingzhi fungus and bamboo and the outer scrolling lotus blossoms. The reverse decorated with eight floral fruit sprays consisting of cherry, loquat,... [Lire la suite]

A brass alms dish decorated with the arms of Joan of Arc. Photo: Bonhams. LONDON.- A brass alms dish decorated with the arms of the French national heroine and Catholic saint, Joan of Arc (1412-1431), is to be sold at Bonhams at its monthly Period Design sale on 6 July 2010. Believed to date from the early 15th century and inscribed 1429, the dish has attracted a pre-sale estimate of £3,000 – 5,000. The dish commemorates Joan of Arc’s victory at Orleans in the Hundred Years’ War in 1429, which resulted in the coronation of... [Lire la suite]