4,000 Years of Creation: Important Chinese Art Highlights

4,000 Years of Creation: Important Chinese Art Highlights

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  A Fine and Exquisite Pair of ‘Famille-Rose’ ‘Sanduo’ Cups, Yongzheng Marks and Period.
  Estimate £1,200,000–1,800,000.

  This unique pair of cups are masterpieces of the fencai (famille rose) colour scheme. With the introduction of white enamel from Europe in the early 18th century, craftsmen working at the imperial kilns in Jingdezhen developed a new palette and realised its full potential in the early years of the Yongzheng reign (1723-1735).
  
  These cups, painted with sophisticated shades of pastel tones to capture a sense of three-dimensionality, embody to perfection the refined aesthetic of the Yongzheng Emperor. The auspicious sanduo (‘three abundances’) represent long life, an abundance of offspring and plentiful blessings.
  
  

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  An Important and Rare Relief-Carved White-Glazed ‘Lotus’ Vase, Qianlong Seal Mark and Period.
  Estimate £400,000–600,000.

  Brimming with elegance in form and design, this is a rare and outstanding example of relief-carved porcelain of the Qianlong period. It belongs to a special group of wares known as ‘fang Ding yao’, or ‘in imitation of Ding Ware’ that drew inspiration from the celebrated official Ding wares of the Song dynasty (960-1279). The sculptural quality of the lotus flowers provides an attractive contrast with the delicatly incised details of the petals and leaves.
  
  

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  A White Jade Dragon and Phoenix Vase and Cover, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period.
  Estimate £150,000–200,000.

  Jade vessels of this large size were only produced from the mid-18th century, when large boulders of high quality were made available through the Qing army’s conquest of jade-rich territories such as Khotan and Yarkand. This vase is an outstanding example of low-relief jade carving which successfully combines tradition and innovation in its form and design.
  
  

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  A Gilt-Bronze Figure of Shakyamuni Buddha, Ming Dynasty, Early 15th Century.
  Estimate £60,000–80,000.

  This exquisite figure embodies a sense of serenity through his undisturbed pose and gentle smile, which is further highlighted through the finely cast naturalistic folds of his robe and impeccable gilded surface. The inscription identifies its maker as Chen Yanqing, a sculptor who appears to have been active in Hangzhou during the 14th/15th centuries and of whose surviving signed sculptures are rare.
  
  

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  An Extremely Rare ‘Jun-Imitation’ Vase, Yongzheng Seal Mark and Period.
  Estimate £80,000–120,000.

  Deceptively simple in form and glaze, this rare vase embodies the essence of the Yongzheng Emperor’s aesthetic and the technical developments that were made to materialise his vision. It has been created in imitation of the elegant Jun ware of the Song dynasty and reflects the emperor’s deep reverence for antiquity as well as his role in encouraging craftsmen to pursue a high level of experimentation.
  
  

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  An Archaic Ritual Bronze Food Vessel, Gui, Zhou Dynasty.
  Estimate £60,000–80,000.

  Striking for its robust form and well-defined design, large bronze vessels of this imposing type were used to hold food and wine during ritual ceremonies and created an dramatic multi-sensory scene. The style of decoration, with its large diamond motif and bosses, suggests a middle Western Zhou date (10th-9th century BC).
  
  

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  A Rare Three-Colour Nine Dragon Cinnabar Lacquer Box and Cover, Qianlong Mark and Period.
  Estimate £80,000–120,000.

  Three-coloured cinnabar lacquer vessels represent an extremely challenging and labour-intensive type of lacquer production as it required absolute precision from the craftsman to carve into the multitude of layers of lacquer to the appropriate depth to allow the different colours to appear. The complex design of nine dynamic dragons reveals the opulent taste of the Qianlong Emperor and the zenith of lacquer carving achieved during his reign.
  
  

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  A Rare ‘Cizhou’ Sgraffiato Peony Vase, Northern Song Dynasty.
  Estimate £40,000–60,000.

  Some of the most attractive Cizhou ware produced in the Cizhou kilns during the Song dynasty are arguably those decorated in this striking black-and-white incised manner. Vessels of this type would have been popular with the literati due to the colour scheme and confident bold strokes of the carved design, which draw parallels with calligraphy and ink paintings.
  
  

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  A Wucai Dish, Wanli Mark and Period.
  Estimate £30,000–50,000.

  This vibrant dish belongs to a distinct group of dishes painted in either underglaze blue or <i>wucai</i> enamels depicting Daoist Immortals. Due to the Wanli Emperor’s keen interest in Daoism and the search for the elixir of immortality, the theme of longevity was popular during his reign.
  
  

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  Qi Baishi (1864-1957), Apples.
  Estimate £15,000–25,000.

  Qi Baishi is one of the most well-known contemporary Chinese painters. This painting is representative of his style, in the use of heavy ink, bright colours and vigorous strokes to express his love of nature and life in a fresh manner.
  
  

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    Type: auction

    Category: Past Auction

    Important Chinese Art

    8 November 2017 | 11:00 AM GMT | London

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  • 

    Type: slideshow

    10 Maps That Changed the World
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    Type: story

    Category: Jewelry

    A Princely Family with an Astonishing Collection
  • 

    Type: auction

    Category: Past Auction

    St George Street Sale of Chinese Art

    10 November 2017 | 10:00 AM GMT | London

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  • 

    Type: video

    Category: Contemporary Art

    Alberto Burri's Fiery Masterpiece