The Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art sale, to be held in Hong Kong on Tuesday 28 November 2017, at 2:00pm, offers a curated sale of the finest Chinese works of Art representing the richness and breadth of China's artistic heritage. Pieces range from a jade ritual cong vessel from the Neolithic period, to the Imperial porcelain, jades, lacquer, and cloisonné enamel dating to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Precious wood carvings, gilt bronzes and rhinoceros horn carvings are also well-presented.
The sale is highlighted by a very rare Imperial blue and white 'peony scroll' bowl, Xuande six-character mark and of the period, estimated at HK$800,000 - 1,200,000, from an English private collection, acquired in China circa 1930s, and thereafter by descent. The present bowl, superbly painted in vivid shades of cobalt blue, is exceptionally rare and only one other very similar example appears to have been published.The purpose of the bowls remains obscure, but suggestions range from scholarly brush washers, to containers for playing dice and 'battle fields' for fighting crickets, as the Xuande emperor was known to have enjoyed cricket fighting.
A very rare Imperial Ming-style doucai 'dragon' jar and a cover, Yongzheng six-character mark and of the period, estimated at HK$4,000,000 - 6,000,000, previously in the collections of N.H.P. Huth and W.W. Winkworth (1897-1991). This 'winged-dragon' jar stands as a tribute by the Yongzheng emperor to the celebrated porcelain produced during the Chenghua reign period.
An exceedingly fine and rare pair of doucai 'lingzhi' cups, Chenghua six-character marks, Yongzheng, is estimated at HK$700,000 - 1,000,000. The present lot inspired by the Chenghua period design, is very rare for its apocryphal Chenghua mark as most surviving 18th century examples mostly bear a Yongzheng mark. The Yongzheng emperor, though a Manchu, was also a strong proponent of traditional Confucian thinking in Han Chinese culture, seeking to achieve cultural continuity, reflected in him continuing the project of compiling a history of the previous Ming dynasty to demonstrate the orthodoxy of Qing rule. His fascination with antiquity led him to repeatedly send antiques from the Palace to the kilns to serve as standards for quality, models for designs and as inspiration for innovation
A very rare pair of Imperial white-gazed relief-carved bottle vases, Qianlong seal marks and of the period, is estimated at HK$1,500,000 - 2,000,000. The present pair of vases is very rare and no identical example appears to have been published. They belong to a small group of wares produced during the Qianlong reign period referred to as fang Ding yao, or 'in imitation of Ding ware' produced during the Song dynasty. The aesthetic reference to the Ding wares is a personal reflection of the Qianlong emperor's personal affinity to antiquity and his admiration and desire to learn and be inspired by the forms and glazes first introduced during the Song dynasty. The carved design on the pair of vases is precise and crisp and beautifully spaced around the surface of the vases, demonstrating the technical virtuosity achieved by the master potters during the Qianlong reign.
A very rare pair of imperial iron-red reading lamps, Daoguang seal marks and of the period, is estimated at HK$1,500,000 - 2,000,000, previously collected by Maurice Marchant de Vernouillet (1829-1898), Second Secretary to the French Ambassador in Beijing, 1861-1862. The pair of iron-red reading lamps are extremely rare and no other Daoguang Imperial candlesticks of such type appear to be recorded. The smaller, more intimate, size and form of the pair of candlesticks is similar to that of Qianlong period ones, which are recorded to have been especially made to for use in the zhuzhai or Imperial reading room and referred to as shudeng, reading lamps, rather than la tai or 'wax lamp'.
An outstanding example of Imperial jade is an Imperially inscribed white and russet jade 'birthday celebration' boulder, first half of the 18th century, signed Chun He, is estimated at HK$5,000,000 - 8,000,000. The jade boulder is signed in an oval cartouche enclosing the characters Chunhe or 'Peaceful Spring'. The seal would indicate that the inscription was composed by Prince Yunli (originally named Yinli 1697-1738), the 17th son of the Kangxi emperor. Prince Yunli was a fine scholar and patron of the arts, and compiled an anthology of his own poetry entitled Chunhe Tang Ji or 'The Collected Works of the Master of Peaceful Spring Hall'.
A very rare Imperial archaistic yellow jade trompe l'oeil ewer, guang, Qianlong, estimated at HK$500,000 - 800,000, is exceptional for its rich honey-yellow tone heightened with warm chestnut inclusions. The master carver celebrated the rare stone by leaving it plain except for the subtle and imaginative trompe l'oeil decoration simulating a silk sash tied around the body displaying masterful fluid contours, mirrored in the sweeping curvature of the spout and rim.
The sale also features an important collection of six rhinoceros horn carvings from a European private collection, which were all published in the seminal book by Jan Chapman, The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, London, 1999.
Two of the most prized examples are a very rare rhinoceros horn 'Zhang Qian in a raft' pouring vessel, 17th/18th century, estimated at HK$500,000 - 800,000 and another very fine rhinoceros horn 'yu qiao geng du' libation cup, 17th/18th century estimated at HK$400,000-600,000. Sophisticated and superbly carved, these rhinoceros horn carvings stand as a testament to technical virtuosity achieved during the late Ming to early Qing dynasty, and the rise in popularity and appreciation by the Imperial Court and the literati of the prized material.
Commenting to the sale, Xibo Wang, Head of Chinese Works of Art, Bonhams Hong Kong, said: "We are delighted to present this carefully curated sale with extraordinary works of art to collectors around the world with an increasing emphasis on the quality and provenance of each object."
Asaph Hyman, International Head of Chinese Art further added: "Following on from our recent success in London during the 20th anniversary for Asian Art in London, we look forward to an exciting sale and to welcoming all to our exhibition and sale in Hong Kong."
Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
Bonhams Suite 2001 One Pacific Place Hong Kong Admiralty
Tuesday 28 November at 2:00 p.m.
Specialist: Xibo Wang, Head of the Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
For further information and images call Louise Oram on +852 6892 1171, or email [email protected] or [email protected].