We found 216134 price guide item(s) matching your search
There are 216134 lots that match your search criteria. Subscribe now to get instant access to the full price guide service.
Click here to subscribe- List
- Grid
-
216134 item(s)/page
Lot 150
AN IMPORTANT LARGE CHINESE GREEN JADE RECUMBENT HORSE, the animal reclining to one side, its' head turned to the right with ears pointed forward and mane finely carved, the face with a serene and confident expression communicated through the crisply-defined mouth, nostrils and eyes, the front legs tucked under the body, the finely-detailed tail swept around and tucked between the back leg and generous hindquarters, the underside showing the four folded legs, the stone of sea-green tones with lighter and darker markings, the back area with some russet and brown skin remaining, late Ming - early Qing Dynasty, 17th century, 23.5cm long; in a custom-made fitted box with integral hardwood stand and wood outer case. Provenance: Spink & Son Ltd London 1961. An Important Private Collection of Chinese and other East Asian Art. CONVEYOR OF PEACE AND STRENGTH: AN IMPORTANT LARGE GREEN JADE RECUMBENT HORSE “… among the most ambitious and monumental examples of jade ever worked in China; and perhaps all of them once had their place in the pavilions of the various palaces in Peking.” These are the words of Jessica Rawson and John Ayers describing the important and rare group of large Chinese jade carvings of horses and buffalo to which the present lot belongs. They are from the catalogue to the 1975 exhibition ‘Chinese Jade Through the Ages’ organised by the Arts Council of Great Britain and the Oriental Ceramic Society and held at the Victoria and Albert Museum (see pages 118-120 of the text). The exhibition included no fewer than eight examples from this group – surely the largest number ever exhibited together, and gathered from important collections, including Mr and Mrs John D. Rockerfeller, Somerset de Chair, and the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge. In discussing the horses, the authors continue: “The horses in particular are remarkable for their intense observation and their powerful stylisation of artistic form, by means of which the artist has succeeded wonderfully in conveying the alert strength of the animal despite its fundamental attitude of repose.” It is difficult to imagine what better words could summarise the achievement of the anonymous Chinese jade carvers who created these magnificent works of sculpture. Although the details of their commissioning are unclear, it is likely that they were made for Imperial consumption, as the quote above suggests. Connoisseurship in this area has its own criteria and cannot be compared to the standard imposed upon later Qing Dynasty jade carvings where purity of stone is so critical. Generally thought to have been made in the 17th century, when there was a paucity of purer stone, it is the way in which the carver worked with the available material that counts. In this context, natural flaws are transformed and celebrated. For instance, on this horse the sea-green stone with its lighter opaque markings evokes a wonderful sense of depth which expresses the mysterious beauty of the stone. Also, the artist has left areas of the stone’s skin exposed on the back of the horse, no doubt caused by the constraints of the boulder but also appearing as an act of reverence to the material. The contrast of exquisite carving with the natural roughness of the stone’s skin is part of the object’s beauty and rewards handling. The form of the horse is also of great interest and appears unique on this scale. Other examples have a raised head whereas this one has its head low. This position seems to emphasise the sense of peace and confidence which the carver has captured on the horse’s face and which expresses so clearly the significance of the animal in Chinese culture. In doing this the artist has shown exceptional creativity, transforming the natural limitations of the boulder into such a successful composition. At 23.5cm long the present lot is towards the lower end of the size range within the group, with most falling between 20cm and 35cm in length. It is very rare for examples to appear on the market. A larger horse (31.5cm) from the Collection of Lord Cunliffe was sold by Bonhams London on 11th November 2002, lot 9. More recently a smaller example (19.5cm) was offered at the same salerooms on 10th November 2011, lot 349. This horse is an exciting discovery, having remained in a private collection since its purchase from Spinks in 1961. It now joins the group of published examples and thus adds to our understanding of these important jade sculptures.
Lot 1864
A late 19th early 20th Century circular brass and silver coloured metal sextant Unsigned with silvered scale and vernier with telescope and mirrors raised upon four feet contained within a brass banded hardwood box, a brass cased pocket compass signed Ross London with a damaged leather outer case and a No. 60 T Salters Trade Spring Balance to weigh twenty pounds 38cm (3).
Lot 2114
A Victorian carved oak bracket clock signed W & H Sch. With a 14.5cm brass dial with a silvered chapter ring with Roman and Arabic numerals, winged mask spandrels, the two-train eight-day movement stamped W R Patent, W & H for Winterhalder & Hofmeier, striking on a coiled gong, the case with a domed top carved with scale, urn finial above a blind fretwork carved frieze, baluster columns raised upon a plinth base and turned feet with two hinged side doors with fretwork panels, the rear door with a brass fretted panel door. 62x31x19cm with pendulum. CONDITION REPORT: Lot 2114 - Some shrinkage to the top, and angles between the scale carving, some discolouration to the front finials, front finial possibly original although the different designs to the front two, some discolouration to the dial requires polishing, minor scratching to the brass outer dial, glass good condition, hinge sound, fretwork panels good condition, some rusting to the two gongs, running but not running for duration, with pendulum.
Lot 1892
Six cased sets of calibration weights The first, a mahogany cased hinged box fitted with twelve cylindrical weights the largest 500 gms silver coloured weights and tweezers 8.5 x 28 x 11.5cm, a second cased set incomplete 11 x 7.5cm, a complete satin walnut cased set 14 x 7.5cm, a fourth boxed set 15 x 10cm with a paper label for E L Tools and Transport Hand Tools, a Bakelite cased set the largest brass weight 50 gms 15 x 7cm, a box enclosing eleven brass weights the largest 8cm high, a vintage electric shock machine, a black and gilt painted beam scale and two cased GEC gauges (10).
Lot 2129
A fine late 18th Century ebonised bracket clock, signed Robert Brown, London With a 17cm silvered chaptering with Arabic and Roman numerals signed Robert Brown, London on a sunken silvered sector in the matted centre above a calendar aperture, blued pierced leaf and scroll hands, strike silent ring in the arch enclosed Rococo foliate mounts the two train four pillar movement with twin fusee's, striking on a bell with verge escapement, the back plate engraved with a central urn on a pedestal overall engraved with leaves and scrolls, foliate engraved movement securing brackets to the case, the ebonised case with a bell top, brass handle above four urn finials, foliate scale frets to the side roundel and shaped upright panel each with a velvet lined ground, the arched front door inset with foliate cut brass spandrels, arched glazed back door raised upon a plinth base and brass bracket feet. 52cms including handle x28x19cms, with pendulum and key. (illustrated) CONDITION REPORT: Lot 2129 The ebonised case, some scratching and rubbing to the angles on the rectangular stepped plinth beneath the bell shape top, brass urn finials old but possibly replaced, the glass to glazed front door possibly replaced, red backing material behind spandrels replaced, top hinge has been re fixed and a piece of ebonised wood has been inset to the left of the hinge. Some scratching overall to the ebonised case. The movement, please note should read verge escapement. Replaced hammer, pendulum possibly later. Movement working, red velvet panels replaced behind fret work. With winding key front and back door keys.
Lot 103
A JAIN BRONZE FIGURE OF A TIRTHANKARA Western India, 15th-16th century standing in kayotsarga, the nude figure male figure with parasol over his head, a column on his left with remains of a small seated jina, a pair of lotus buds issuing from the ground below 34cm high Provenance London art market, circa 1990. This fragment originally formed part of a very large brass shrine or altarpiece. For a complete shrine of similar scale in the Norton Simon Museum, see Pratapaditya Pal, The Peaceful Liberators: Jain Art from India, Los Angeles 1994, no.37, p.150. The standing Jinas adjacent to the main image are almost identical to the figure in our fragment. Condition: Fragmentary condition with damaged edges, parasol and base bent, column slightly bent. Main figure mostly good.
Lot 365
A collection of old padlocks, scrap metal and a set of scale weights. Auctioneers Note: This lot is located at 93 Northorpe Road, Thurlby, Bourne, PE10 0HG. Viewing will only be by appointment on Tuesday 10th November between 10am and 4pm. It will be sold from the rostrum at The Bourne Auction Rooms.
Lot 923
Eight Minichamps 1:18 scale diecast model Formula 1 cars: R. Barrichello Stewart Ford 970022, D. Hill Jordan Mugen Honda 980009, J. Trulli Prost Peugeot 980012, E. Irvine Ferrari F300 980004, A. Wurz Benetton B198 980006, G. Berger Benetton B197 Renault 970008, J. Alesi Benetton B197 Renault 970007 and G. Fisichella Jordon 197 Peugeot 970012, all in original boxes
Loading...-
216134 item(s)/page