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Click here to subscribeMOTHER-OF-PEARL-INLAID BLACK LACQUER STAND MING DYNASTY OR LATER 明或以後 黑漆嵌螺鈿詩文高士圖束腰香几 the rectangular flattened top decorated with overlapping panels with figures in a landscape with pagodas on the right, poem on left with signature, all above a narrow waist and short shaped apron with further inlays that continue down the in-curving legs Dimensions:55.5cm wide x 15.2cm high x 32.3cm deep
Ines, a chic addition to the House of Cats family, shines in Shadow crystal, with her ears and tail in the rich hues of Morion crystal. Her aquamarine blue crystal eyes, adorned with black pupils, sparkle with elegance as she poses gracefully, sporting a Dark Gray Pearl necklace. Swarovski backstamp. Artist: Edith MairIssued: 2009-2013Dimensions: 1.5"L x 1"W x 2.5"HManufacturer: SwarovskiCountry of Origin: AustriaCondition: Age related wear.
THREE INSIDE-PAINTED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLESThe first decorated with a scholar reading by candlelight beside an attendant in a hut beneath a pine tree, the reverse with a lengthy inscription, signed Ma Shaoxuan, dated 1899 and of the period, stopper and ivory spoon, 6cm (2 1/4in) high; the second with a pair of goldfish and a carp swimming in a pond, the reverse with a riverside scene, signed Zhou Leyuan, dated 1891 and of the period, tourmaline stopper, 7cm (3in) high; the third with a bird hovering above a floral shrub, the reverse signed Liu Baojun, dated 1903 and of the period, coral stopper inlaid with a pearl, 6.5cm (2 1/2in) high. (6).Footnotes:1899年（己亥年） 馬少宣 玻璃內畫秋聲賦詩文鼻煙壺；1891（辛卯年） 周樂元 玻璃內畫荷塘游魚圖鼻煙壺；1903（癸卯年） 劉寶鈞 玻璃內畫花鳥圖鼻煙壺The item within this lot containing ivory has been registered in accordance with the Ivory Act (Section 10). Ref.BCGDF13C該批次中含有象牙的物品已根據《象牙法案》（章節10）註冊，Ref.BCGDF13CProvenance: Sydney L. Moss Ltd., Hong Kong, November 1966 (the Ma Shaoxuan snuff bottle)Hugh M. Moss Ltd., Hong Kong, March 1970 (the Zhou Leyuan and the Liu Baojun snuff bottles)來源：香港古董商Sydney L.Moss Ltd.，1966年11月（馬少宣作）香港古董商Hugh M. Moss Ltd.，1970年3月（周樂元作, 劉寶鈞作）The inscription painted inside the snuff bottle sighed by Ma Shaoxuan is from Song dynasty poet and politician Ouyang Xiu's 歐陽修 (1007-1072) work 'Ode to the Sound of Autumn' (秋聲賦), which reads:錄秋聲賦童子曰：星月皎潔，明河在天，四無人聲，聲在樹間。余曰：噫嘻，悲哉！此秋聲也，胡為乎來哉。己亥臘月上浣。馬少宣Which may be translated as:'Transcribing the Ode to the Sound of Autumn：The boy servant says: The stars and moon shine bright. The Milky Way is high up in the sky. There is no sound of human but that of the forest. I sighs: How sad it is. It is the sound of autumn. Is autumn already here?'The first half of the twelfth month of the year of JihaiCompare the snuff bottle signed by Ma Shaoxuan with a similar inside-painted glass snuff bottle signed by the same artist, 1895-1920, which was sold at Bonhams New York, 21 November, lot 51. Compare the one signed by Zhou Leyuan with a similar inside-painted glass snuff bottle, signed by the same artist, 1892, which was sold at Bonhams New York, 21 November 2022, lot 5.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: Y ФY Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the UK, see clause 13.Ф This lot contains or is made of ivory and cannot be imported into the USA or any country within the EU.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A VERY RARE CARVED AND INSCRIBED AMBER SNUFF BOTTLEWang Baishi (1830-1850)Of flattened baluster shape rising from a flat base, the orange-honey tone bottle finely carved on both sides with a calligraphic inscription by Wang Baishi, seals of Yinfeng (To sing in the breeze), Baishi (used twice), Shanren (hermit, used twice), and Nongyue (To admire the moon), stopper inlaid with a pearl and ivory spoon. 5.5cm (2 1/4in) high. (2).Footnotes:十九世紀 王白石（1830-1850） 琥珀刻詩文鼻煙壺The item within this lot containing ivory has been registered in accordance with the Ivory Act (Section 10). Ref.5DFNKQRH該批次中含有象牙的物品已根據《象牙法案》（章節10）註冊，Ref.5DFNKQRHProvenance: Tristan Knight collectionHugh M. Moss Ltd., Hong Kong, February 1971An English private collection, and thence by descentExhibited: The Oriental Ceramic Society, The Chinese Scholar's Desk, 17th to 18th Century: An Exhibition Held in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 1979Published: H.Moss, V.Graham and K.B.Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol.7 (part 1), Hong Kong, 2009, no.1569, p.259, A2.來源：Tristan爵士舊藏香港古董商Hugh Moss，1971年2月英國私人收藏，並由後人保存迄今展覽：東方陶瓷學會，《The Chinese Scholar's Desk, 17th to 18th Century: An Exhibition Held in the Ashmolean Museum》，牛津，1979年著錄：H.Moss, V.Graham and K.B.Tsang，《A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection》，第7冊（第1部分），香港，2009年，編號1569，第259頁，A2The inscription on one side reads: 空憐北闕歸東野偶作草堂Which can be translated: 'It is unnecessary to pity a gentleman who leaves the Imperial palace and goes back to the countryside. The occasionally built thatched cottage.The other side with:卻怪西瀼客拾遺偶草并芝蘭It is only needed to blame the west of the Xiang River to treat the Shiyi as a guest.Messy grass and fragrant grass.Shiyi was a the title of an advisory official in the Tang dynasty. This probably refers to the Tang dynasty poet Du Fu (712-770), who used to undertake this position and lived in the west of the Xiang river for years. Du Fu was sometimes called Du Shiyi by later generations.Baishi is best known as the carver of a small series of hornbill snuff bottles of masterly quality, but he also made at least three amber snuff bottles, all with inscriptions and seals only, without the pictorial content we have come to expect of his hornbill carvings. H.Moss, V.Graham and K.B.Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol.7 (part 1), Hong Kong, 2009, p.259, list three known amber snuff bottles by Wang Baishi: the first, noted as A1, no.1570 in the Bloch collection, which was sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 23 November 2010, lot 12; the second, noted as A2, is the present snuff bottle; and the third, noted as A3, with an inscription from an archaic bronze.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: Y ФY Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the UK, see clause 13.Ф This lot contains or is made of ivory and cannot be imported into the USA or any country within the EU.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A RARE BLACK LACQUER AND MOTHER-OF-PEARL-INLAID DOCUMENTARY PIPA17th centuryThe musical instrument of elongated tear-drop shape, the finely-grained wooden belly decorated in gilt with a pair of birds and gnarled branches of prunus and bamboo, rising to a long shaft with four strings leading to four tuning pegs on the sides of the bent-back pegbox inlaid in mother-of-pearl with a rooster on a rock with crashing waves, the reverse of the body lacquered black and decorated in mother-of-pearl with two figures gazing at three tall rocks across the sea, a large cartouche with long calligraphic inscription below, Japanese wood box and cover. 91cm (36in) long. (3).Footnotes:十七世紀 黑漆嵌螺鈿花鳥人物紋詩文琵琶Provenance: R.H.van Gulik (1910-1967), and thence by descent來源：高羅佩（1910-1967）舊藏，並由後人保存迄今Robert Hans van Gulik (1910-1967), also known as Gao Luopei (高罗佩) was a famous Dutch diplomat, musician, writer and sinologist. He was a great admirer of traditional Chinese literati culture and apart from practicing Chinese calligraphy everyday, he also learnt to play the guqin. The guqin was often played by van Gulik at diplomatic events, helping him to forge close ties with China's elite; and his book The Lore of the Lute was the first academic study of the instrument and its role in Chinese culture, introducing it to a Western audience for the first time. Van Gulik was one of the rare and great sinologists at the time who embodied the literati ideal and through his rigorous study and translations of classical Chinese texts allowed Chinese culture to speak for itself, acting as a bridge of understanding between East and West.Van Gulik was born in Zutphen in the Netherlands, but from the age of three he lived in Jakarta, with his father who was a medical officer in the Dutch East Indies. While there, he learned Indonesian and Chinese as well as other languages. In 1935, van Gulik earned his PhD from Utrecht University with a dissertation on Hayagriva, the Mantrayanic aspect of Horse-cult in China and Japan. His linguistic skills allowed him to have a position in the Dutch Foreign Service from 1935 where he was largely based in Japan and China. During the Second World War he was with the Dutch mission in Chongqing. While in Chongqing, he married Shui Shifang (1912-2005), the daughter of a Qing dynasty official.Van Gulik was a polymath with broad interests and expertise. Aside from his interests in the guqin and traditional Chinese culture, van Gulik was a writer of Detective fiction. His 'Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee' (first published in Tokyo in 1949, with illustrations by himself) was based on the 7th century statesman and detective Di Renjie. Based on this, his earned a reputation as an expert on Imperial Chinese jurisprudence. His other pioneering scholarly works were in sexuality and his Sexual Life in Ancient China and Erotic Colour Prints of the Ming Period are still major reference works in the field. Van Gulik was also an enthusiast of gibbons and kept them as pets as well as writing a study of them: The Gibbon in China.Although van Gulik is most well known as a musician of the guqin, he was interested in Chinese music and musical instruments in general. The pipa, or Chinese lute, was introduced from Central Asia during the Han dynasty, and gradually evolved within different areas of China since the Tang dynasty. The term 'pipa' describes two original playing motions of the plectrum held in the performer's right hand: pi is 'to play forwards' (towards the left), and pa, 'to play backwards' (towards the right). The pipa was originally held horizontally, and its twisted silk strings were plucked with a large triangular plectrum until the end of the Tang dynasty when musicians began using their fingernails to perform the more exuberant music; see for example, the painting The Night Revels of Minister Han Xizai, attributed to Gu Hongzhong (10th century), in the Palace Museum, Beijing, which shows a lady holding the instrument horizontally with a plectrum. To make it easier to use fingers, the instrument began to be held in an upright position which slowly became the beipa (northern pipa).However, the concept of early horizontally-held pipa was preserved in Nanyin music. Nanyin, also Nanguan, literally 'southern pipe' music, is popular in the Minnan area (southern Fujian Province) from whence it spread to Taiwan and other Southeast Asian countries. Minnan musicians are tempted to assign the origins of Nanyin music to the Tang and Song dynasties, which to a certain degree can be supported by the the survival of many archaic features, such as the tradition of horizontally held pipa. The music today is seen by academics as primarily part of an amateur tradition with ancient historical roots, that is played both for the musicians' own entertainment and occasionally for ritual practice and storytelling. the present lot's relatively small size may indicate that it is a Nanyin pipa. Pipa is the leading instrument in Nanyin music, accompanied by pai (wood clapper), erxian (two-stringed fiddle), sanxian (three-stringed lute), and xiao (vertical flute, also called dongxiao). Although a Nanyin pipa preserves some features of types of pipa from the Tang dynasty, its modern form appears to have been finalised no later than the Ming dynasty. Compare with a pipa in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, late 16th/early 17th century, illustrated by J.K.Moore, J.K.Dobney and B.Strauchen-Scherer, Musical Instruments: Highlights of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2015, pp.48-49, fig.II. The backs of pipa are usually plain since it is unseen by an audience, but the extraordinary pipa in this lot is decorated and has an inscription, which reads as:予家小築小溪灣，漁父村西指顧間。竹槿編篱依綠水，柴荊成戶對青山。有時□釣歸明月，盡□看雲坐翠鬟。倘肯杖藜過曲徑，新茶堪煮荀堪刪。吳趨陳衷並書Which may be translated as:My little hut is built on the bay of the creek, the fishermen live only a stone-throw away to the west. The bamboo and hibiscus woven into the fence is by the green waters, the gate formed by firewood trees faces the green hills. Occasionally, I come back from fishing accompanied by the moon, and watch the clouds curling up on the verdant hills like ladies' hair buns. If you could walk through the winding road on a crutch (to my home), the fresh tea could be boiled, and bamboo sprouts could be chopped for you.Written by Chen Zhong of the land of WuThe seal reads: 字能坦, 'Courtesy name Nengtan.'Chen Zhong (陳衷), courtesy name Nengtan (能坦), was a scholar active in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Very little is known about him. However, the inscription alludes to many of the eremitic ideals of the literati including a life away from the perils of the Court and dedicated to fishing, tea, and meeting with friends.Compare with a related black lacquer and mother-of-pearl-inlaid pipa, late Ming/early Qing dynasty, which was sold at China Guardian, Beijing, 7 June 2021, lot 5184.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
'WU MING': AN EXTREMELY RARE AND IMPORTANT LACQUERED AND ZITAN GUQIN Late Ming Dynasty The flat elongated body with two waisted sections on both sides, lacquered black, the surface slightly ice-cracked and worn due to age, the forehead inlaid with a peach-shaped jade plaque of a duck, one edge with thirteen mother-of-pearl-inlaid studs (hui), seven strings threaded through tasselled wooden pegs (qinzhen) running over the top and tied to either of the two button-like wood pegs (yanzu) on the back, with two rectangular openings, the large one termed 'dragon pool' (longchi) and the smaller 'phoenix pond' (fengzhao), the bridge and 'dragon's gums' in zitan, the underside bearing several seals and calligraphic inscriptions, Japanese wood box and cover with inscription by R.H.van Gulik. 121cm (47 1/2in) long. (3). FootnotesFor further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A BLACK LACQUER AND MOTHER-OF-PEARL INLAID BOX AND COVERJun Zan mark, 17th centuryThe box and cover meticulously decorated with a scene of a scholar beneath a gnarled pine tree seated beside a large double-gourd, fanning a stove, all surrounded by a ruyi-head band and florets on the rim, the sides with floral scrolls, the box raised on a tapered foot, the base with mother-of-pearl inlaid Jun Zan mark.7.6cm (6 7/8in) diam. (2).Footnotes:十七世紀 漆嵌螺鈿人物松石圖蓋盒「君贊」款Provenance: Bluett and Sons Ltd., London (label)A French private collection來源：倫敦古董商Bluett and Sons Ltd.（標籤）法國私人收藏The shape and mark as seen on the present lot are very rare. Black lacquer and mother-of-pearl boxes and covers of this type are usually marked and associated with Jiang Qianli. Jiang Qianli was a renowned craftsman specialising in inlaid lacquer. Although he was traditionally thought to have lived during the late Ming period, recent scholarship has dated him more to the Kangxi period. The present lot shows a mastery of the skill and control required for such minutely detailed workmanship, as well as a pleasing exploration of varied textural patterns and colour of the mother-of-pearl. For a lobed box inlaid with the Qianli mark, see G.Tsang and H.Moss, Arts from the Scholar's Studio, Hong Kong, 1986, no.144.Compare with a related hexagonal mother-of-pearl inlaid box and cover, 17th century, similarly decorated to the cover with a garden scene depicting a boy attendant serving wine to a seated scholar, which was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 8 October 2010, lot 2241.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A FINE BANDED AGATE SNUFF BOTTLE18th/19th century Smoothly carved and hollowed, of rounded square-shaped body surmounted by a cylindrical neck, the semi-translucent beige body encircled with white and grey bands, an ivory spoon and a coral stopper inlaid with a pearl. 6cm (2 3/8in) high. (2).Footnotes:The item within this lot containing ivory has been registered in accordance with the Ivory Act (Section 10). Ref.6PSB9C2A該批次中含有象牙的物品已根據《象牙法案》（章節10）註冊Ref.6PSB9C2A十八/十九世紀 玉帶瑪瑙鼻煙壺Provenance: an English private collection, and thence by descent來源：英國私人收藏，並由後人保存迄今See a related banded agate snuff bottle, 18th century, in the National Palace Museum, illustrated in Lifting the Spirit and Body: The Art and Culture of Snuff Bottles, Taipei, 2012, p.181. Another related agate snuff bottle, 19th century, is illustrated in The Baur Collection: Chinese Snuff Bottles, Geneva, 2007, p.289. Compare with a similar banded agate snuff bottle, 1750-1860, which was sold at Bonhams New York, 19 March 2018, lot 209.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: Y ФY Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the UK, see clause 13.Ф This lot contains or is made of ivory and cannot be imported into the USA or any country within the EU.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A PAIR OF YELLOW-GROUND GREEN AND AUBERGINE-ENAMELLED 'DRAGON' SAUCER-DISHESGuangxu six-character marks and of the period Each finely incised and enamelled to the well with a green and an aubergine five-clawed dragon contending a flaming pearl amidst flames, the exterior decorated with cruciform clouds divided by four cranes in flight. 14.4cm (5 6/8in) diam. (2).Footnotes:清光緒 黃地素三彩雙龍戲珠紋盤一對墨書「大清光緒年製」楷書款Provenance: a European private collection, and thence by descent來源：歐洲私人收藏，並由後人保存迄今Compare with a pair of similar green and aubergine yellow-ground 'dragon' saucer-dishes, Guangxu marks and of the period, which were sold at Bonhams London, 13 May 2021, lot 66.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A GILT-BRONZE GLASS AND MOTHER OF PEARL INLAID INCENSE BURNER AND COVER AND A VASEQianlongThe incense burner of rectangular form with upright lug handles, each side of the body and cover decorated with mother of pearl carved with bats and stylised chilong, the cover surmounted by a Buddhist lion, all supported on four flat blade-shaped legs issuing from dragon heads, 16.3cm (6 3/4in) high; the vase of flattened hu-form raised on a short foot, the sides decorated with mother of pearl carved with bats, chilong and geometric patterns, the waisted neck flanked by two s-shape handles, 12.5cm (4 7/8in) high; the outlines of both vessels inlaid with red and green glass stones. (3).Footnotes:清乾隆 銅鎏金嵌料石螺鈿扁瓶及香爐帶蓋 一組兩件The present incense garniture is inspired by the forms of archaic bronzes, which were extremely popular at the Qianlong Emperor's Court. See for example, a gilt bronze and semi-precious stone-inlaid incense burning set, Qing dynasty, in the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in Life in the Forbidden City of Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 2007, p.116. See also a small clock, similarly decorated, Qing dynasty, and part of a treasure box, illustrated A Garland of Treasures: Masterpieces of Precious Crafts in the Museum Collection, Taipei, 2014, p.172.A small related pastiche-glass embellished incense burner and cover, Qing dynasty, was sold at Sotheby's Paris, 16 June 2022, lot 140.Saleroom notices:Please note VAT will be charged at the prevailing rate on Hammer Price and Buyer's Premium †.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: †† VAT at the prevailing rate on Hammer Price and Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A RARE BLUE AND WHITE RECTANGULAR 'DRAGONS AND WAVES' BOX AND COVERWanli six-character mark and of the periodOf rectangular form with indented corners standing on a short and straight foot, the domed cover painted in blue-cobalt tones with a pair of confronted five-clawed dragons chasing a 'flaming pearl' amidst ruyi-shaped clouds above waves and rocks, the sides of the cover and the body of the box decorated with stylised peony scrolls bordered by bands of key-fret pattern at the rims. 23.5cm (9 2/8in) long. (2).Footnotes:明萬曆 青花雙龍戲珠長方蓋盒青花「大明萬曆年製」楷書款Provenance: an Asian private collectionPublished and Illustrated: T.Koopman, Heavenly Boxes: The Edrina Collection of Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing Boxes, Hong Kong, pp.94-95.來源：亞洲私人收藏著錄：馮英柱，《天作之盒：昇雯閣藏唐宋元明清珍寶盒》，香港，第94-95頁One assertion about the function of boxes as the present lot is that they were made as containers for gifts of sweetmeats; see J.Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, p.324. Compare with a related blue and white rectangular box decorated with two dragons and peach trees, Wanli mark and period, in the Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Porcelain of the National Palace Museum: Blue-and-white Ware of the Ming Dynasty, vol.VI, Hong Kong, 1963, p.42.Compare with a similar blue and white rectangular dragon covered box, Wanli mark and of the period, which was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 1 December 2010, lot 3115.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A RARE 'CRANE-CRY AUTUMN MOON' STYLE LACQUERED 'HUNDRED-PATCH' GUQINMing DynastySuperbly constructed with the top section made of patches of wutong wood cut hexagonally imitating Buddhist patchwork vestments, the lower section of zimu, the flat elongated body with waisted bulbous central section, the top with thirteen inlaid mother-of-pearl studs (hui), seven strings threaded through tasseled wood pegs (qinzhen) running over the top and tied to either of the two button-like 'goose-feet' (yanzu) on the back, with two rectangular openings, the large one termed 'dragon pool' (longchi), with a seal, and the smaller 'phoenix pond' (fengzhao), all covered in mottled red and black lacquer, metal case and packets of strings. 122.5cm (48 1/4in) long. (3).Footnotes:明 鶴鳴秋月式百衲琴Provenance: Cecilia Lindqvist (1932-2021), Stockholm, acquired in Beijing in 1962Published and Illustrated: C.Lindqvist, Qin, Beijing, 2017, p.33來源：林西莉（1932-2021），斯德哥爾摩，在1962年獲得於北京著錄：林西莉，《古琴》，北京，2017年，第33頁Cecilia Lindqvist was a famous Swedish sinologist and musician of the guqin. She was born in Lund, Sweden, in 1932, and had long held a fascination with China and its ancient history. She first visited China when she was 28 with letters of recommendation including one from the King of Sweden. It was there that she learnt to play the guqin in 'Beijing Guqin Research Association' (北京古琴研究會) under the tutelage of Wang Di. She wrote in the preface to her book Qin:In the early spring of 1961 I saw a Chinese qin at close quarters for the first time. It was lying in front of me on a wooden table in a bare classroom at the University of Peking. Seven strings of tightly twisted silk stretched over a sound box made of black lacquered wood. After a certain amount of difficulty I had managed to get hold of a Chinese student who had promised to try to teach me the basics of playing the qin, and we were due to have our first lesson. He had brought his instrument with him. It dated from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), and had been passed down through his family since that time.When I touched one of the strings, the tone that was released made the whole room vibrate. It was as clear as silver, but remarkably it also had a kind of metallic dullness, as if the instrument were made not of wood, but of bronze. During the years which followed it was precisely the tone of the instrument that captivated me the most, from the finest bell-like tones or fanyin, 'the floating sounds' as they are called in Chinese – delicate as the sound of the tiny temple bells right on the edge of the roof timbers when the wind gently stirs them – to the vibrating depths of the thick bass strings.The present lot was given to her by the 'Beijing Guqin Research Association' as a gift, which was of great significance to her career as a musician and sinologist. In her own words, 'this qin, and the people that I met in the Beijing Guqin Research Association are the important reasons why I write this book (Qin)'. She included the present lot in her monograph on qin as an example of the 'hundred-patch' qin (百衲琴) that is made of many hexagonal wutong wood sections and requires a high level of adhesive technique to enable an impeccable sound. See Cecilia Lindqvist, Qin, Beijing, 2017, pp.30-33. Apart from the rare 'hundred-patch' construction, its rare shape is known as 'Crane-cry Autumn Moon' (鶴鳴秋月), as it was said to resemble a crane with its wings tucked and standing upright. Compare with a related 'crane-cry Autumn Moon' style guqin, Ming dynasty, in the Hunan Provincial Museum, cited in 'Hunan sheng bowuguan guancang guqin zhi kaobian yu yanjiu (zai xu), Hunan sheng bowuguan guankan, 4, 2007, pp.424-428. See a 'Confucius-style' huanghuali and zitan 'hundred-patch' guqin, Ming dynasty, which was sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 1 December 2020, lot 13.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A RARE AND LARGE MING-STYLE BLUE AND WHITE RESERVE-DECORATED 'DRAGON' VASE, MEIPING18th century The vase well-potted with with a tapered body rising to a broad shoulder, finely incised with a sinuous five-clawed dragon in pursuit of a flaming pearl amidst ruyi clouds and above turbulent waves crashing against rocky boulders, all reserved on an vibrant cobalt-blue ground imitating the Ming-style 'heaping and piling' effect, the base unglazed.36.7cm (14 3/8in) high.Footnotes:十八世紀 青花藍地白花海水雲龍紋梅瓶Provenance: a British private collection來源：英國私人收藏Well-potted with a powerful writhing dragon pursuing the flaming pearl above cruciform clouds, the present vase is based on prototypes produced during the 15th century and exemplifies how potters during the 18th century revisited highly-regarded designs to suit contemporary taste. The unusual technique of using raised, slip-decorated designs reserved in white against a dark blue ground, was developed in the Yuan dynasty; see for example a Yuan dynasty cover and an ink palette The excavated porcelain from the official kilns in Jingdezhen of the Yuan and Ming dynasties, Beijing, 1999, pp.70-71.Although no early Ming counterpart of identical design seems to be preserved, a vase with a very similar bold dragon was recovered from the Yongle stratum of the waste heaps of the Ming Imperial kilns, illustrated in Imperial Hongwu and Yongle Porcelain Excavated at Jingdezhen, Taipei, 1996, no.66, fig.3. See also another meiping decorated with an incised white dragon striding above blue waves, Yongle, illustrated in Chinese Porcelain Collections in the Near East: Topkapi and Ardebil, vol.3, Hong Kong, 1981, pl.A65.Compare with a very similar blue and white reserve decorated 'dragon' meiping vase, 18th century, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, (acc.no.07.31). Another similar meiping vase decorated with a dragon above waves and amidst clouds, 18th century, in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, published by R.L.d'Argencé, Chinese Ceramics in the Avery Brundage Collection, p.114, no.LIIC, where it is dated Ming dynasty, 16th century but later dated as Yongzheng by He Li, Chinese Ceramics A New Comprehensive Survey, San Francisco, 1996, pp.290-291, no.592; see another similar vase decorated with a dragon above waves, Yongzheng, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with Underglaze Red, vol.3, Hong Kong, 2000, pl.76.Compare with two similar blue and white meiping vases, 18th century, which were sold at Christie's New York, 22 March 2018, lot 604, and Christie's Hong Kong, 28 May 2021, lot 2946.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
TWO LARGE MIRROR-BLACK-GLAZED GILT-DECORATED BOTTLE VASESKangxiSimilarly gilt on the broad globular bodies with a four-clawed dragon coiling around a flaming pearl, a band of cell-pattern around the rim at the top of the long necks. The larger, 46cm (18in) high. (2).Footnotes:清康熙 烏金釉描金遊龍戲珠紋長頸瓶一組兩件Provenance: Ralph M. Chait Galleries, New York, 13 July 2005 (the vase with label)Mrs. Samuel T. Peters (1859-1943), New York (the other vase)Parke-Bernet Galleries Inc., New York, 15 October 1943, lot 352 (the other vase)(according to the collector's index card)Hans (1888-1966) and Ludmilla Arnhold (1894-1976) acquired from the above (the other vase)A European private collection來源：Ralph M. Chait Galleries，紐約，2005年7月13日(有標籤的一個)Samuel T. Peters夫人(1859-1943)，紐約(另一個)Parke-Bernet Galleries Inc., 紐約，1943年10月15日，拍品編號352（另一個）（據收藏者索引卡）Hans (1888-1966)和 Ludmilla Arnhold (1894-1976)從上處獲得（另一個）歐洲私人收藏Samuel T. Peters (1854-1921) and his wife Adeline (1859-1943) were known as great collectors and amassed an impressive and large collection of Chinese works of art.Distinguished from ordinary black glazes coloured with iron, the Kangxi period mirror-black glaze also includes manganese purple and cobalt blue as colourants. See P.Y.K.Lam, Shimmering Colours: Monochromes of the Yuan to Qing Periods, Hong Kong, 2005, p.233. A mirror-black glazed brushpot in the Palace Museum, Beijing, inscribed with the cyclical date of Yichou, corresponding to 1685, helps us to date mirror-black glazed wares to this period, when the Superintendent of the Imperial kilns was Zang Yingxuan (臧應選). For this reason, porcelains made during this period are sometimes called Zang wares; see Lu Chenglong, Zhongguo gudai yanse you ciqi, Beijing, 1999, p.137. See two similar mirror black and gilt-decorated bottle vases, Kangxi, illustrated by J.Ayers, Chinese and Japanese Works of Art: in the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen, London, 2016, pp.593-594, pls.1401-1402.See also a similar mirror-black-glazed bottle vase, but with the gilt rubbed off, Kangxi, which was sold at Sotheby's New York, on 23 September 2020, lot 800.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A CORAL-AND-GILT-DECORATED 'DRAGON' BOWL AND COVER'Jing si tang zhi' four-character hall mark, DaoguangThe flaring body with slightly everted rim and domed cover each brightly enamelled and gilt with two five-clawed dragons striding around the exterior in mutual pursuit of a flaming pearl amongst cloud-scrolls. 11cm (4 1/4in) diam. (2).Footnotes:清道光 礬紅描金双龍戏珠紋蓋碗礬紅「經笥堂製」楷書款Provenance: Ralph M. Chait Galleries, New YorkA European private collection來源：Ralph M. Chait Galleries，紐約歐洲私人收藏The mark Jing si tang zhi (經笥堂製) meaning 'the Hall for Storing Classics' was used during the reign of the Daoguang Emperor. Although the owner of this hall has not been confirmed yet, the shapes, designs and even sizes of the vessels bearing this mark are almost exactly the same as the ones with the Imperial mark of the Daoguang Emperor. See a similar iron-red-and-gilt-decorated bowl but without cover, Jing si tang zhi mark and of the Daoguang period, illustrated in the catalogue of Qingdai diwang shenghuo ceying zhan (清代帝王生活側影展), Shanghai, 2012, p36. Compare also with a related iron-red-decorated 'dragon' bowl, Daoguang seal mark and of the period, which was sold at Christie's London, 21 February 2019, lot 126.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A RARE GREEN-ENAMELLED INCISED 'DRAGON' SAUCER DISHKangxi six-character mark and of the periodBoldly enamelled at the centre in translucent pale green enriched with black scales as a coiling five-clawed dragon in profile grasping at a flaming pearl amongst fire trails, the reverse with two similar dragons in mutual pursuit of flaming pearls on a ground lightly incised all over with breaking domed waves. 17.5cm (6 7/8in) diam.Footnotes:清康熙 白地綠彩趕珠龍紋盤青花「大清康熙年制」楷書款Provenance: a European private collection來源：歐洲私人收藏See a similar green-enamelled 'dragon' dish, Kangxi six-character mark and of the period, illustrated by J.Ayers, Chinese Ceramics: The Koger Collection, London, 1985, p.144, no.116. Compare also with a related green-enamelled 'dragon' dish, Kangxi mark and period, in the collection of the Princessehof Museum, Leeuwarden, illustrated by B.Harrison, Keramik uit Azie, Leeuwarden, 1985, pl.126; see also a related 'green dragon' dish, Kangxi mark and period, in the collection of the Palace Museum, Taipei, with dragon outlined and details in black rather than blue, illustrated in Porcelain of the National Palace Museum: Enamelled Ware of the Ch'ing Dynasty, Hong Kong, 1969, vol.1, pls.9 and 9a-c.A similar green-enamelled 'dragon' dish, Kangxi mark and period, was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 5 April 2016, lot 52.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A RARE FAMILLE VERTE YELLOW-GROUND 'DRAGON' MOONFLASK, BIANHUKangxiBoldly and brightly enamelled on the biscuit on one side with a large blue four-clawed dragon coiling around a central medallion of a lotus bud in profile and clutching at a flaming pearl, the other side with a similar green-bodied dragon reaching for an aubergine flaming pearl, all within trellis-pattern, the looped handles rising from peach-shaped terminals on the body suspending floral pendants, the garlic neck with four flower heads. 23.5cm (9 1/4in) high.Footnotes:清康熙 素三彩雲龍戲珠紋雙耳抱月瓶Provenance: Ralph M. Chait Galleries, New York, 18 November 2005A European private collection來源：Ralph M. Chait Galleries，紐約，2005年11月18日歐洲私人收藏The distinctive shape of the present vase is a revival of a classic blue and white 'pilgrim's bottle' produced in the Imperial kilns during the Yongle and Xuande periods and thought to be based on Near or Middle-Eastern metal-ware or pottery prototypes. For a related famille verte moonflask, Kangxi, see Geng Baochang, Ming Qing ciqi jianding, Hong Kong 1993, p.21, fig.31.Compare with a related famille verte moonflask, Kangxi, which was sold at Sotheby's London, 11 May 2022, lot 14.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A RARE PAIR OF YELLOW-GLAZED INCISED 'DRAGON' DISHESDaoguang seal marks and of the periodEach crisply incised at the centre of the interior with a single dragon coiling in profile and grasping at a sacred pearl with its five-clawed arms, the exterior incised with two similar striding five-clawed dragons in mutual pursuit of flaming pearls amongst clouds, all under a glossy dark eggyolk-yellow glaze. 17cm (6 3/4in) diam. (2).Footnotes:清道光 黃釉暗刻雲龍戲珠紋盤一對青花「大清道光年製」篆書款Provenance: Guest and Gray ltd., LondonA European private collection來源：倫敦古董商Guest and Gray ltd.歐洲私人收藏See a related yellow-glazed 'dragon' dish, Daoguang mark and of the period, in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, acc.no.FE.133-1975.Compare with a similar yellow-glazed dish, Daoguang seal mark and of the period, similarly incised with dragons amidst scrolling clouds, which was sold at Sotheby's New York, 18 March 2017, lot 1395; a related pair of yellow-ground 'dragon' dishes, Daoguang seal marks and of the period, was sold at Christie's Hong Kong on 29 November 2012, lot 2143.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
AN UNUSUAL BLUE-GLAZED BOTTLE VASEJiajing six-character mark, KangxiThe oviform body delicately painted on both sides with a coiling five-clawed dragon clutching at a flaming pearl, its ferocious head in profile, a band of cloud-collar lappets above the shoulder, the tall slender neck with a horizontal rib beneath key-pattern and a dot band, the blue glaze of even dark tone. 26cm (10 1/4in) high.Footnotes:清康熙 藍釉雲龍戲珠長頸瓶青花「大明嘉靖年製」楷書款Provenance: Ralph M. Chait Galleries, New YorkA European private collection來源：Ralph M. Chait Galleries，紐約歐洲私人收藏This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
AN UNUSUAL BLUE AND WHITE CRACKLE-GLAZED 'DRAGON' DISH18th centuryElegantly potted rising from an inward-tapering foot to sharply rising sides with flaring mouth rim, decorated with a writhing scaly four-clawed dragon in white slip with details in underglaze blue, leaping after the flaming pearl, all reserved on a powdered ground of speckled and finely crackled blue-grey tone, the flared rim with brown edges, and foot rim covered with a dark slip. 26cm (10 1/2in) diam. Footnotes:十八世紀 醬釉冰裂紋地青花龍紋盤Provenance: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 16 May 1977, lot 123 (part lot)來源：香港蘇富比，1977年5月16日，拍品編號123（部分拍品）A vase of baluster form, but with very similar design of three dragons on a dark greenish-grey ground in a white slip under a crackled glaze, Qianlong, from the Salting bequest is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (acc.no.C.986-1910).This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A Japanese naginata, Edo or Meiji period, the blade with twin fullers, tang signed, the top section of tsuka with mother-of-pearl, and copper mounts, complete with a black lacquer lower section, the lacquered saya (scabbard) decorated with a dragon,blade 35.5cm longoverall 231cm long大和守吉道 Yamatonokami YoshimichiShipping Disclaimer:Buyers must be aware of their country’s shipping and import policies regarding guns, knives, swords, and other offensive weapons prior to purchase. They are required to ensure that the lot can be delivered by a specialist shipper, whether in the UK, Europe or internationally. No compensation will be given to buyers who fail to organise shipping arrangements for goods and weapons due to the prohibitions, restrictions or import regulations of their country.Condition ReportMounting hole to tang. Tang signed. Slight crack to tang during manufacture. Saya and tsuka both with losses and cracks to lacquer. The copper ring fittings loose. There is some loss and wear to enamel of the fullers. The blade may require a polish due to possible fingerprint marks.
A Japanese su yari, Edo or Meiji, the blade with a red enamelled fuller, with a tang signed, to a mother-of-pearl inlaid wood handle, metal mount with pierced hearts decoration, blade head 14cm longoverall 189cm longShipping Disclaimer:Buyers must be aware of their country’s shipping and import policies regarding guns, knives, swords, and other offensive weapons prior to purchase. They are required to ensure that the lot can be delivered by a specialist shipper, whether in the UK, Europe or internationally. No compensation will be given to buyers who fail to organise shipping arrangements for goods and weapons due to the prohibitions, restrictions or import regulations of their country.Condition ReportTip slightly blunted and pitting. Losses to mother of pearl. Top mount is loose. Base of shaft heavily oxidised and loose.Tang signed.
A Japanese su yari,Edo or Meiji period, with a single fuller blade and signed tang, the shaft decorated with mother-of-pearl and a metal cross bar handle, blade 13.8cm longoverall 220cm longShipping Disclaimer:Buyers must be aware of their country’s shipping and import policies regarding guns, knives, swords, and other offensive weapons prior to purchase. They are required to ensure that the lot can be delivered by a specialist shipper, whether in the UK, Europe or internationally. No compensation will be given to buyers who fail to organise shipping arrangements for goods and weapons due to the prohibitions, restrictions or import regulations of their country.Condition ReportBlade in good condition. Small manufacturing split to the base of the tang. Tang signed.Chips and losses to mother-of-pearl. Cross-bar heavily pitted and worn.
A Japanese yadati (arrow stand),Edo period (1603-1868), the lacquer holder decorated with inlaid mother-of-pearl dragonflies, the front panel decorated with a mon, reads the number 'three' in a diamond shape,9.3cm deep35cm highShipping Disclaimer:Buyers must be aware of their country’s shipping and import policies regarding guns, knives, swords, and other offensive weapons prior to purchase. They are required to ensure that the lot can be delivered by a specialist shipper, whether in the UK, Europe or internationally. No compensation will be given to buyers who fail to organise shipping arrangements for goods and weapons due to the prohibitions, restrictions or import regulations of their country.Condition ReportWear to rope. Some mother-of-pearl leaves missing. Chips and losses to rim of inner lacquer box. Please see the additional images.
ANTIQUE FRENCH ENAMEL & GEM SET PENDANT 18ct gold (tested) enamel heart, approx 18.0 x 16.7mm, decorated with applied silver and grain set old rose cut diamonds and a bezel set natural pearl, surmounted by a yellow gold bale with rose cut diamonds set in silver. Total length including bale 3.0cm. Weight 4.9 grams. Condition Report : In good condition for age, no chips or cracks to enamel work. Condition reports are offered as a guide only and we highly recommend inspecting (where possible) any lot to satisfy yourself as to its condition.
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