imperial

An aquamarine 'cicada and gourd' snuff bottle, ('The Imperial Cicada and Gourd Aquamarine'). Probably imperial, 1760–1840. Photo Bonhams Treasury 3, no. 409. Aquamarine; reasonably well hollowed, carved in the form of a gourd growing from a vine, with leaves and tendrils, the bottom of the gourd serving as a natural foot; carved in relief with a butterfly and a cicada. Height: 5.6 cm - Mouth: 0.47 cm. Stopper: tourmaline, carved to suggest a double-gourd shape. Sold for HK$108,000 Condition: Original material: suffused... [Lire la suite]

An important and very rare Ming imperial doucai stemcup. Chenghua six-character mark and of the period (1465-1487). Photo: Christie's Images Ltd. 2011 The small stemcup delicately potted with deep flaring sides rising to a slightly everted rim, painted in underglaze-blue and primrose-yellow, aubergine and very dark grey enamelled around the exterior with four lotus blooms, the interior plain, supported on a slender knopped hollow stem foot spreading at the base, with the reign mark inscribed in a line on the underside, some... [Lire la suite]

 HONG KONG.- Following on from the extraordinary results of Part I and Part II, in which every snuff bottle from the celebrated Mary and George Bloch Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles has sold, with world records broken in eleven different categories, Part III is eagerly awaited. Several great collections of snuff bottles were formed in the early 20th century in Asia, Europe and the USA. However, no collection formed in the modern era can rival that formed by the late George Bloch (1920-2009). It consists of 1720 bottles,... [Lire la suite]

An Imperial doucai conical bowl and domed cover. Yongzheng six-character mark in underglaze blue and of the period. photo Nagel Auktionen Brightly painted and enamelled with a green and a yellow five-clawed dragon chasing flaming pearls amidst cloud and flame scrolls. D. 19,5/20,2 cm. Estimate 20000 / 30000 € Cf. Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst, Köln, 1965, 'Kostbare Chinesische Keramik', Katalog, Farbtafel XVII, Nr. 134a Nagel Auktionen. Asian Art. May 6th 2011 www.auction.de

A very rare imperial 'café-au-lait'-ground dragon porcelain dish, China, underglaze-blue Kangxi six-character mark and of the period.  photo Nagel Auktionen Good condition. D. 20,1 cm. Estimate 12000 / 18000 € Cf. Gugong bowuyuan cang qingdai yuyao ciqi, Beijing, no 11., p. 76 Nagel Auktionen. Asian Art. May 6th 2011 www.auction.de

An inscribed Imperial Jade Boulder. Qing dynasty, Qianlong period.  Photo Sotheby's well carved in varying layers of depth with a craggy mountainscape, the front depicting two scholars strolling in a rocky landscape amidst pine trees and below a five-column inscription finely incised in lishu (clerical script), a fast flowing waterfall tumbling over a precipice crossed by a small stone bridge leading to a small pavilion, the reverse carved with an immortal and his attendant walking towards a small thatched pavilion, followed... [Lire la suite]

A finely carved Imperial Lapis Lazuli Hawk. Qing dynasty, Qianlong period. Photo Sotheby's the bird with finely carved partially outstretched wings perched on a rocky ledge, his beak clenching a ribboned bi disc with head turned sharply to one side, the stone of an intense blue color with gold flecks, imperial stand; 8.6 cm., 3 3/8 in. Estimate 300,000—400,000 HKD. Lot Sold 524,000 HKD Sotheby's. Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, 08 Apr 11, Hong Kong www.sothebys.com

Chinese Imperial Painted Wood Plaque. Qing Dynasty, 1710.  photo courtesy Doyle New York Of rectangular form, worked with red lettering reading 'Presented to the 7th Civil Rank Official, serving at Jingde County...presented by scholar regional leader Lu Youge, Qing Dynasty, 1710' on a black ground. Height 34 inches, width 8 feet 3/4 inch.  Estimate $6,000-8,000 This item presented for the 80th birthday celebration of the scholar who is a 7th civil rank official, Jingde County is in Anhui province under the... [Lire la suite]

Imperial Rhinoceros Horn 'Dragon' Bowl Ming dynasty, 16th /17th Century. Photo: Sotheby's HONG KONG.- Sotheby’s Hong Kong Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Spring Sale Series 2011 will be held on 7 and 8 April, 2011 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Leading the season is a special Evening Sale, featuring a prestigious European collection of Chinese Art – The Meiyintang Collection – An Important Selection of Imperial Chinese Porcelains (see separate press release). Together with another private collection, a... [Lire la suite]

The Imperial Birthday Ruby. A ruby and silver 'peach' snuff bottle. Probably Imperial, 1700–1900. photo Bonhams Ruby with silver; very well hollowed and carved in the form of a peach, the mouth lined with silver. Probably imperial, 1700–1900. Height: 3.58 cm . Mouth: 0.5 cm. Stopper: coral, a fragment of a pendant carved as a fish. Condition: Natural flaws to the underside, nothing too obtrusive; otherwise, in workshop condition. 3.58cm high.- Sold for HK$240,000 Treasury 3, no. 406Provenance: Robert Hall... [Lire la suite]