18 Exceptional Pieces of Chinese Art from the Junkunc Collection

18 Exceptional Pieces of Chinese Art from the Junkunc Collection

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  A white marble inscribed triad group, Northern Qi dynasty, dated Tianbao tenth year, corresponding to 559. Estimate $300,000–500,000.
  

  The present stele is carved in the simplified style of carving in white marble found in Quyang, Hebei province, and is particularly notable for the sensitively carved face of the main figure. It features the region’s characteristic overall shallow relief treatment, with only the hands protruding in higher relief. The smaller attendant monks are carved in shallower relief and with even more restraint in detailing, creating a sense of harmony and veneration.
  
  Junkunc: Chinese Buddhist Sculpture
  12 September | New York
  

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  An exceptional large limestone figure of a bodhisattva, Tang dynasty. Estimate $1,500,000–2,500,000.
  

  This figure of a bodhisattva is remarkable for its graceful pose, naturalistic, yet genderless physique, elegant flowing skirt and scarves, and voluminous flower-decorated hair style. It is a classic example of China’s Buddhist stone carving from the period that saw perhaps the greatest flowering of China’s plastic arts, the High Tang period under Emperor Xuanzong (r. 713-755).
  
  Junkunc: Chinese Buddhist Sculpture
  12 September | New York

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  An exceptionally rare brown conglomerate limestone head of a luohan, Song-early Ming dynasty. Estimate $150,000 – 250,000.

  Sensitively modeled with meticulous attention to detail which successfully captures the luohan's expressive countenance, this superbly carved head is striking for both its large size and vivid realism. Furthermore, a powerful and meditative aura is imparted through the gently downcast pupils within the deep-lidded eyes. Together with the restrained smile which contributes to the benevolent expression, it is an outstanding representation of a luohan.
  
  Junkunc: Chinese Buddhist Sculpture
  12 September | New York

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  A marble figure of a standing bodhisattva, Northern Zhou/Sui dynasty. Estimate $400,000–600,000.

  Regal in countenance and adornment, this figure effortlessly bridges the aesthetic style of the Northern Zhou and Sui dynasties. Carvings from this period are rare, and even rarer are those of this exceptional quality carved from marble. The figure holds a 'pure water bottle' in the left and, the missing right hand would probably have held a willow branch – attributes that identify the subject as Guanyin.
  
  Junkunc: Chinese Buddhist Sculpture
  12 September | New York

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  A peachbloom-glazed brushwasher, Kangxi mark and period. Estimate $30,000 – 50,000.

  Notoriously difficult to achieve due to the temperamental nature of the copper pigment, the attractive 'peachbloom' glaze is only found on a small group of vessels for the scholar's table and is one of the most iconic groups of porcelain created under the Kangxi emperor.
  
  Important Chinese Art
  12 September | New York

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  A rare white-glazed 'Beehive' waterpot, Kangxi mark and period. Estimate $80,000 – 120,000.

  Beehive waterpots of this shape are well-known with peachbloom glazes but those covered in other monochrome glazes were produced in smaller numbers.
  
  Important Chinese Art
  12 September | New York

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  A fine small white-glazed 'Lingzhi' cup, Yongzheng mark and period. Estimate $40,000 – 60,000.
  

  Small cups of this type are extremely rare, this form more often having been decorated with anhua incised dragons or covered in lemon yellow or other enamels.
  
  Important Chinese Art
  12 September | New York

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  A fine and rare 'Guan'-type vase, Qianlong seal mark and period. Estimate $60,000 – 80,000.
  

  Notable for its elegant form and subtle bluish glaze suffused with fine streaks of golden-brown crackles, this well-potted vase embodies the Qianlong emperor’s fondness for celebrated Guan ware of the Southern Song dynasty. It also testifies to the high level of technical dexterity of the potters of the imperial kilns at Jingdezhen, who have skilfully imitated not only the iconic unctuous glaze of the prototype, but also the dark brown foot, which has been left unglazed and stained dark brown.
  
  Important Chinese Art
  12 September | New York

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  A very rare imperially inscribed double lozenge-form famille-rose brushpot, Qianlong seal mark and period. Estimate $60,000 – 80,000.
  

  This unusual brushpot represents the Qianlong emperor’s personal taste, which gravitated towards porcelain designs that were artistically complex, and revealed his appreciation for scholarship as expressed in his writings and poems.
  
  Important Chinese Art
  12 September | New York

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  A superb peachbloom-glazed 'Beehive' waterpot, Kangxi mark and period. Estimate $200,000 – 300,000.
  

  Striking for its vibrant crimson-red glaze, this waterpot is a rare example that has been successfully fired to an extraordinary quality. Copper pigment is notoriously difficult to control due to its temperamental nature, and the number of examples featuring different tones of red glaze impressively highlights the difficulties experienced by the potters working at the imperial kilns during the Kangxi period (r. 1662-1722). This attractive glaze is found only on a select group of vessels for the scholar’s table in eight different shapes, one of the most iconic groups of porcelain created under the Kangxi emperor.
  
  Important Chinese Art
  12 September | New York

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  An exceptionally rare pair of copper-red relief-molded 'Chilong' bottle vases, Kangxi marks and period. Estimate $100,000 – 150,000.
  

  Porcelain vases decorated with relief-molded dragons from the Kangxi period are extremely rare and rarer still is the present pair, of which no other example appears to be published. Vessels of this type were produced as a variation of the ‘chrysanthemum’ vase which formed one of the eight prescribed vessels for the scholar’s table, one of the most iconic groups of porcelain created under the Kangxi emperor. The present vases are unusual for their white body and chilong which have been colored in the peachbloom glaze that was typically reserved for these eight prescribed vessels.
  
  Important Chinese Art
  12 September | New York

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  A rare white marble vessel and cover (Xu), Early Spring and Autumn period or later. Estimate $8,000 – 12,000.
  

  Stone wares made in the form of archaic bronze ritual vessel, such as the present xu and cover, are extremely rare, although examples of this type have been excavated, providing evidence of the existence of stone ritual vessels in Bronze Age China.
  
  Important Chinese Art
  12 September | New York

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• 

  A rare dated 'Qiangjin' and 'Tianqi' lacquer 'Dragon' box and cover, Wanli mark and period, dated Jiachen year. Estimate $40,000 – 60,000.
  
  

  Important Chinese Art
  12 September | New York

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  An archaic bronze ritual wine vessel (Jue), late Shang dynasty. Estimate $40,000 – 60,000.
  

  Important Chinese Art
  12 September | New York

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  A peachbloom-glazed amphora vase, Kangxi mark and period. Estimate $3,000 – 5,000.
  

  Saturday at Sotheby’s: Asian Art
  15 September | New York

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• 

  Zhang Ling, Plum Blossoms. Estimate $120,000 - 180,000.

  Fine Classical Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy
  12 September | New York

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• 

  Attributed to Wang Meng, The Hall of Tianxiang Shenchu. Estimate $300,000–500,000.
  

  Fine Classical Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy
  12 September | New York

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• 

  Attributed to Li Gonglin, Figure of Tao Kan. Estimate $100,000–150,000.
  

  Fine Classical Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy
  12 September | New York

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• • 

    Type: story

    Category: Asia Week

    The Untold Story of Stephen Junkunc III, One of the Great Chinese Art Collectors
  • 

    Type: auction

    Category: Past Auction

    Junkunc: Chinese Buddhist Sculpture

    12 September 2018 | 10:00 AM EDT | New York

    View Auction
  • 

    Type: auction

    Category: Past Auction

    Important Chinese Art

    12 September 2018 | 10:30 AM EDT | New York

    View Auction
  • 

    Type: auction

    Category: Past Auction

    Fine Classical Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy

    13 September 2018 | 11:30 AM EDT | New York

    View Auction