Late Qing Porcelain from the Barbara Jean Levy Collection

The Legacy of Cixi

Chinese Textiles

Imperial Seals

Property from the Collection of Dr. Maurice Berger

Sale Highlights

New York

This September, Sotheby’s&nbsp;<span class="Enhancement" data-inline>
            <span class="Enhancement-item">
                <a class="Link" href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/important-chinese-art"><i>Important Chinese Art</i></a>
            </span>
        </span><i> </i>auction features an impressive array of porcelains, early ceramics, textiles and jades from important private collections. Leading this sale is an exceptionally fine and impressive large Qianlong mark and period blue and white 'floral' moonflask and three imperial jade seals, two of which were commissioned for the Qianlong Emperor. The sale also features a selection of important ceramics and works of art from the Barbara and Lester Levy Collection, amassed with an emphasis on works produced for the court of the Dowager Empress Cixi (1835-1908), as well as an important collection of textiles.<br><br>Sale Number: N11275<br>

SVP, International Head of Department, Chinese Works of Art, Americas &amp; Europe

Angela McAteer

Senior Vice President | International Specialist and Head of Sale, Himalayan Art

Julian King

VP, Specialist &amp; Senior Researcher, Chinese Works of Art

Hang Yin

Associate Specialist

Cindy Qi

Associate Cataloguer

Serina Wei

Department Assistant

Ying Su

Pre-Sale Experience Coordinator, Chinese Works of Art

Rebecca Howard 

Meet our Specialists

For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact:<br><br>+1 212 606 7000<br><span class="Enhancement" data-inline>
            <span class="Enhancement-item">
                <a class="Link" href="mailto:enquiries@sothebys.com" target="_blank"><b>ENQUIRIES@SOTHEBYS.COM</b></a>
            </span>
        </span><br>

Stay informed with Sotheby’s top stories, videos, events &amp; news.<br>

<div class="Enhancement">
            <div class="Enhancement-item">
                <h4>Lot 646</h4>

            </div>
        </div>Please note that the dating of this lot has been updated. 請注意本拍品斷代已更新。<br><br><br><div class="Enhancement">
            <div class="Enhancement-item">
                <h4>Lot 698</h4>

            </div>
        </div>Please note that this lot has been withdrawn. 請注意本拍品已撤拍。<br>

Sales Room Notice

This September, Sotheby’s&nbsp;<span class="Enhancement" data-inline>
            <span class="Enhancement-item">
                <a class="Link" href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/important-chinese-art"><i>Important Chinese Art</i></a>
            </span>
        </span><i> </i>auction features an impressive array of porcelains, early ceramics, textiles and jades from important private collections. Leading this sale is an exceptionally fine and impressive large Qianlong mark and period blue and white 'floral' moonflask and three imperial jade seals, two of which were commissioned for the Qianlong Emperor. The sale also features a selection of important ceramics and works of art from the Barbara and Lester Levy Collection, amassed with an emphasis on works produced for the court of the Dowager Empress Cixi (1835-1908), as well as an important collection of textiles.&nbsp;

Important Chinese Art

<div class="Enhancement">
            <div class="Enhancement-item">
                <h4>Barbara and Lester Levy - Collecting with Pleasure and Style</h4>

            </div>
        </div>

Barbara and Lester Levy were the quintessential ‘collector’ couple. She, bright and always cheerful, with a sharp eye for beauty and a love of surrounding them both with objects of fascination; he, quiet and yet acutely observant, missing nothing. Lester’s business, based in Dallas, Texas, took him around the world and Barbara often travelled with him opening his eyes to the cultural side of the exotic places they visited. In Hong Kong they visited the gallery of Patrick and Ellen Wang in the Mandarin Hotel where Lester noticed a photograph of a horse that turned out to be one of Patrick’s champions. Lester, too, loved horses, and a friendship of shared passions was born.<br><br>They would visit Hong Kong to see the auctions, buy pieces with Patrick and Ellen’s guidance, and always share time at the races. Together they focussed on small and elegant early Qing Imperial wares that they lived with decorating the library of their charming home in La Jolla, California. The choice was always based on quality, but the pieces had to ‘chime’ with each other and create an overall decorative ‘whole’ that became the room they most enjoyed entertaining in. It was Barbara’s meeting with Ron Longsdorf that spurred her own special focus on the surprisingly fine wares of the late Qing reigns, often associated with the Dowager Empress Cixi, with whom, as a successful and dynamic woman herself, she clearly identified. The collection grew to such a level that she and Lester created their own secret ‘gallery’ for the group – a secret place where only the most honored guests were brought to share the scintillating colours and dazzling array.<br><br>Levy 伉儷志趣相投，是一對模範收藏家夫婦。Barbara 似乎渾身充滿耗之不竭的熱情和力量，並且擁有敏銳的審美觸覺；Lester 則生性較為安靜，但溫和的笑意掩不住洞悉一切的犀利眼神。Lester 的公司总部设在德克萨斯州的达拉斯市，他經常因公幹而环游世界，Barbara 经常和他一起旅行，讓他領會到認識一個地方的文化的重要性。Lester 當初在香港吉慶堂看到了一張駿馬的照片，於是向主人王延慶先生和他的太太問詢，結果發現其正是王先生的冠軍馬。Lester 也同樣熱愛馬，四人就這樣結下緣分，對馬匹的喜愛更是加深了這段奇妙的友誼。<br><br>Levy 伉儷會去香港觀看拍賣會，在王延慶先生和他的太太的指導下購買藏品，並總會一起參與賽馬比賽。他們專注於小而優雅的清初官窰瓷器，並用這些瓷器來裝飾他們位於加州拉霍亞家中的圖書館。他們始終基於質量來做選擇，但這些藏品必須相互「協調」，而創造一個「整體」，因此那裏成為他們最喜歡的房間。正是 Barbara 與 Ronald Longsdorf 的結識激發了她自己對於清末精美的瓷器的關注，此類瓷器常常與慈禧太后聯繫在一起，Barbara 與慈禧太后同樣作為成功而充滿活力的女性而產生共鳴。Levy 伉儷的收藏不斷擴大，以至於她和Lester 為此特別建造了自己的秘密「畫廊」——只有最尊貴的客人才有機會進入，並有幸欣賞到夫婦二人精美絕倫的藝術收藏。

A rare copper-red and underglaze-blue 'dragon' bombe-form censer, Seal mark and period of Xianfeng | 清咸豐 青花釉裏紅雲龍趕珠紋鋪首耳簋式爐 《大清咸豐年製》款

A rare pair of inscribed blue and white cups, Marks and period of Tongzhi | 清同治 青花「五氏宗祠」盃一對 《同治年介臣製》款

A pair of famille-rose 'Eight Buddhist Emblems' dishes, Marks and period of Tongzhi | 清同治 粉彩八吉祥紋盤一對 《大清同治年製》款

A rare blue and white 'flower-balls' ash container, Seal mark and period of Tongzhi | 清同治 青花皮球花紋灰槽 《同治年製》款

A pair of yellow-ground famille-rose 'longevity' bowls, covers, and dishes, Qing dynasty, Tongzhi period | 清同治 黃地粉彩開光「萬壽無疆」蓋盌連托兩套 《長春同慶》款

A pair of yellow-ground famille-rose 'longevity' zhadou, Qing dynasty, Tongzhi period | 清同治 黃地粉彩開光「萬壽無疆」渣斗一對 《長春同慶》款

A pair of yellow-ground puce-enameled 'dragon' altar candlesticks, Qing dynasty, Tongzhi period, dated jiaxu year, corresponding to 1874 | 清同治甲戌年（1874年） 黃地胭脂紅彩趕珠龍紋燭臺一對 《甲戌年製》款

A group of coral-red-ground famille-rose 'imperial wedding' wares, Qing dynasty, Tongzhi period | 清同治 珊瑚紅地粉彩開光龍鳳呈祥紋瓷一組 《長春同慶》《燕喜同和》《光緒年製》《同治年製》款

A yellow-ground famille-rose 'magpie and prunus' cup, Mark and period of Tongzhi | 清同治 黃地粉彩喜上眉梢紋盃 《同治年製》款

A large yellow-ground famille-rose 'magpie and prunus' bowl, Mark and period of Tongzhi | 清同治 黃地粉彩喜上眉梢紋大盌 《同治年製》款

A yellow-ground famille-rose 'magpie and prunus' dish, Mark and period of Tongzhi | 清同治 黃地粉彩喜上眉梢紋盤 《同治年製》款

A yellow-ground famille-rose 'butterfly and shuangxi' bowl, Mark and period of Tongzhi | 清同治 黃地粉彩百蝶雙喜紋盌 《同治年製》款

A pair of yellow-ground famille-rose 'butterfly and shuangxi' bowls, Marks and period of Tongzhi | 清同治 黃地粉彩百蝶雙喜紋盌一對 《同治年製》款

A yellow-ground famille-rose 'butterfly and shuangxi' double-lozenge-form narcissus tray, Qing dynasty, Tongzhi / Guangxu period | 清同治 / 光緒 黃地粉彩百蝶雙喜紋方勝式水仙花盆

A yellow-ground famille-rose 'butterfly' jardinière, Qing dynasty, Tongzhi / Guangxu period | 清同治 / 光緒 黃地粉彩百蝶紋花盆

A pair of famille-rose 'Dayazhai' 'parrot and peach' rectangular jardinières, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 粉彩壽桃鸚鵡圖長方花盆一對 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》款

A pair of yellow-ground famille-rose 'orchid' bowls and covers, Qing dynasty, Tongzhi / Guangxu period | 清同治 / 光緒 黃地粉彩墩蘭紋蓋碗一對 《官窰而康堂製》款

A pair of yellow-ground famille-rose 'bamboo' dishes, Marks and period of Tongzhi | 清同治 黃地粉彩竹紋盤一對 《同治年製》款

A pale yellow-ground blue-enameled 'Tihedian' 'bats and peaches' foliate-rim jardinière, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1885 | 清光緒 約1885年 黃地粉彩福山壽海圖花口花盆 《體和殿製》款

A carved yellow-glazed biscuit 'dragon' square box and cover, Mark and period of Guangxu | 清光緒 黃釉雕瓷雲龍戲珠紋方蓋盒 《大清光緒年製》款

An archaistic yellow-glazed ritual vessel and cover (Fu), Mark and period of Guangxu | 清光緒 黃釉浮雕仿古瑞獸紋簠 《大清光緒年製》款

A massive yellow-ground green- and aubergine-enameled 'Chuxiugong' 'dragon' charger, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1889 | 清光緒 約1889年 黃地紫綠彩雲龍趕珠紋大盤 《儲秀宮製》款

A famille-rose 'Dayazhai' 'lotus and egret' circular box and cover, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 粉彩路路連科紋蓋盒 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《永慶長春》款

A pair of yellow-ground grisaille-painted 'Tihedian' 'peony' fishbowls, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1885 | 清光緒 約1885年 黃地墨彩牡丹紋缽罐一對 《體和殿製》款

A pair of purple-ground famille-rose 'Dayazhai' 'bird and flowers' ogee-form bowls, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 紫地粉彩花鳥紋折腰盌一對 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《永慶長春》款

A large purple-ground famille-rose 'Dayazhai' 'bird and flowers' bowl, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 紫地粉彩花鳥紋大盌 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《永慶長春》款

A pair of purple-ground famille-rose 'Dayazhai' 'hwamei and flowers' dishes, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 紫地粉彩花鳥紋盤一對 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《永慶長春》款

A purple-ground famille-rose 'Dayazhai' 'hwamei and flowers' circular box and cover, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 紫地粉彩花鳥紋蓋盒 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《永慶長春》款

A gilt-decorated yellow-ground famille-rose 'bats and shou' dish, Mark and period of Tongzhi | 清同治 黃地粉彩福壽萬年紋盤 《同治年製》款

A yellow-ground famille-rose 'bats and shou' cup, Mark and period of Tongzhi | 清同治 黃地粉彩福壽萬年紋盃 《同治年製》款

A gilt-decorated yellow-ground famille-rose 'bats and shou' bowl, Mark and period of Tongzhi | 清同治 黃地粉彩福壽萬年紋盌 《同治年製》款

A gilt-decorated yellow-ground famille-rose 'bats' narcissus tray, Mark and period of Tongzhi | 清同治 黃地粉彩百福紋水仙盆 《同治年製》款

A gilt-decorated yellow-ground famille-rose 'bats and shou' hexagonal jardinière, Qing dynasty, Tongzhi period | 清同治 黃地粉彩福壽萬年紋六方花盆

A massive blue-ground green-enameled 'Chuxiugong' 'dragon' charger, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1889 | 清光緒 約1889年 青花地綠彩雲龍趕珠紋大盤 《儲秀宮製》款

A yellow-ground famille-rose 'Dayazhai' 'wisteria' double-lobed narcissus tray, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 黃地粉彩紫藤花鳥紋雙圓連體亞腰水仙花盆 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《永慶長春》款

A yellow-ground famille-rose 'orchid' bowl and cover, Marks and period of Tongzhi | 清同治 黃地粉彩墩蘭紋蓋碗 《同治年製》款

A famille-rose 'Dayazhai' 'hwamei and flowers' brushpot, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 粉彩藤夢畫眉月季圖筆筒 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《永慶長春》款

A famille-rose 'Dayazhai' 'morning glory' oval narcissus tray, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 粉彩牽牛花紋水仙花盆 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《永慶長春》款

A lime-green-ground famille-rose 'Dayazhai' 'magpie and prunus' floriform narcissus tray, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 淺綠地粉彩喜上眉梢紋梅花式水仙花盆 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《永慶長春》款

A yellow-ground famille-rose 'magpie and prunus' oval dish, Qing dynasty, Tongzhi period | 清同治 黃地粉彩喜上眉梢紋盤 《吉祥如意》款

A rare yellow-ground famille-rose 'magpie and prunus' rectangular pillow, Qing dynasty, Tongzhi period | 清同治 黃地粉彩喜上眉梢紋長方枕

A yellow-ground famille-rose 'magpie and prunus' bowl, Mark and period of Tongzhi | 清同治 黃地粉彩喜上眉梢紋盌 《同治年製》款

A yellow-ground famille-rose 'magpie and prunus' four-tiered box and cover, Qing dynasty, Tongzhi period | 清同治 黃地粉彩喜上眉梢紋四層蓋盒

A large yellow-ground grisaille-painted 'Dayazhai' 'peony' bowl, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 黃地墨彩牡丹紋大盌 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《永慶長春》款

A yellow-ground grisaille-painted 'Dayazhai' 'peony and hibiscus' box and cover, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 黃地墨彩牡丹芙蓉紋蓋盒 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《永慶長春》款

A massive and rare turquoise-ground grisaille-painted 'Dayazhai' 'bird and flowers' fishbowl, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 松石綠地墨彩葵菊花鳥紋大缸 《大雅齋》款

A yellow-ground grisaille-painted 'Dayazhai' 'birds and flowers' vase (Tianqiuping), Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 黃地墨彩花鳥紋天球瓶 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《永慶長春》款

A pair of yellow-ground grisaille-painted 'Dayazhai' 'peony' fishbowls, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 黃地墨彩牡丹紋缽缸一對 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《永慶長春》款

A pair of turquoise-ground grisaille-painted 'birds and flowers' boxes and covers, Marks and period of Guangxu | 清光緒 松石綠地墨彩菱菊花鳥紋蓋盒一對 《大清光緒年製》款

A pair of purple-ground grisaille-painted 'Dayazhai' 'peony' rectangular narcissus trays, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 紫地墨彩牡丹紋長方水仙盆一對 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《永慶長春》款

A rare pair of blue-ground grisaille-painted 'Dayazhai' 'plantain lily' rectangular narcissus trays, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 藍地墨彩萱花紋長方水仙花盆一對 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《永慶長春》款

A pair of gilt-decorated blue-glazed 'bats and fruits' boxes and covers, Marks and period of Guangxu | 清光緒 藍地描金福壽三多紋蓋盒一對 《大清光緒年製》款

A pale yellow-ground famille-rose 'floral' box and cover, Seal mark and period of Guangxu | 清光緒 黃地粉彩花卉團龍紋小蓋盒 《光緒年製》款

A famille-rose and underglaze-blue 'lotus' bowl, Mark and period of Xuantong | 清宣統 外粉彩內青花蓮紋盌 《大清宣統年製》款

An inscribed famille-rose lotus-form cup, Mark and period of Guangxu, dated 34th year, corresponding to 1908 | 清光緒三十四年（1908年） 粉彩荷花式秋操紀念盃 《大清光緒三十四年安徽太湖附近秋操紀念杯》款

A large yellow-ground famille-rose 'Dayazhai' 'birds and flowers' bowl, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 黃地粉彩花鳥紋大盌 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《吉祥如意》款

A yellow-ground grisaille-painted 'Dayazhai' 'wisteria' bowl, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 黃地墨彩紫藤花鳥紋盌 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《永慶長春》款

A yellow-ground grisalle-painted 'Dayazhai' 'wisteria' jardinière and stand, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 黃地墨彩紫藤花鳥紋方形花盆及盆托 《大雅齋》《永慶長春》款

A yellow-ground grisaille-painted 'Tihedian' 'narcissus and lingzhi' rectangular jardinière, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1885 | 清光緒 約1885年 黃地墨彩靈仙祝壽紋長方花盆 《體和殿製》款

A turquoise-ground famille-rose 'hwamei and flowers' barrel-form jar and cover, Mark and period of Guangxu | 清光緒 松石綠地粉彩藤夢花鳥紋鼓式蓋罐 《光緒年製》款

A turquoise-ground grisaille-painted 'Dayazhai' 'wisteria' bowl, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 松石綠地墨彩紫藤花鳥紋盌 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《永慶長春》款

A pair of turquoise-ground famille-rose 'lotus' boxes and covers, Marks and period of Tongzhi | 清同治 松石綠地粉彩纏枝番蓮紋蓋盒一對 《同治年製》款

A yellow-ground famille-rose and grisaille-painted 'Dayazhai' 'day lily' narcissus tray, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 黃地墨彩萱花紋長方水仙花盆 《大雅齋》《天地一家春》《永慶長春》款

A yellow-ground grisaille-painted 'Dayazhai' 'hwamei and flowers' jardinière, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1876 | 清光緒 約1876年 黃地墨彩花鳥紋長方倭角花盆 《大雅齋》《永慶長春》款

A yellow-ground green-enameled 'dragon' bowl, Mark and period of Guangxu | 清光緒 黃地綠彩趕珠龍紋盌 《大清光緒年製》款

A green-glazed bowl, Mark and period of Guangxu | 清光緒 綠釉盌 《大清光緒年製》款

A pair of lime-green-ground famille-rose 'dragon' dishes, Marks and period of Guangxu | 清光緒 檸檬綠地粉彩雙龍戲珠紋盤一對 《大清光緒年製》款

A pair of small yellow-ground famille-rose 'floral' boxes and covers, Seal marks and period of Guangxu | 清光緒 黃地粉彩花卉團龍紋小蓋盒一對 《光緒年製》款

A yellow-ground famille-rose 'dragon and phoenix' bowl, Mark and period of Tongzhi | 清同治 黃地粉彩開光龍鳳呈祥紋盌 《大清同治年製》款

A blue-ground yellow-enameled 'dragon' dish, Mark and period of Guangxu | 清光緒 青花地黃彩趕珠龍紋盤 《大清光緒年製》款

A large incised famille-verte biscuit 'floral' 'Chuxiugong' charger, Qing dynasty, Guangxu period, circa 1889 | 清光緒 約1889年 素三彩花卉暗刻龍紋大盤 《儲秀宮製》款