A pair of fine Dehua pear-shaped vases. Kangxi, Xuande mark.
The pear-shaped body incised by a raised keyfret band, and the tapering neck flanked by ear-shaped handles suspending loose rings. An apocryphal Xuande six characters mark is impressed to the base of each vase.
An aubergine-brown glazed pomegranate pyramid. China, 18th c.
The pyramid with naturalistic miniature pomegranates sits on a fluted dish. The fruits are arranged in six layers with leaves added in between. To construct this piece, each pomegranate would have been individually moulded, then arranged layer by layer.
A Chinese blue and white “hu” vase. Kangxi
Of pear shape, stoutly potted, with a slightly spreading neck, twin beast mask loop handles, standing on a flared foot, it is decorated in underglaze blue with yin yang symbols ; underneath, a blue band with cut-out leaf motifs and half flowers. The neck with the same band and with a ‘taotie’ masks on napkin […]
A Chinese blanc-de-chine group of Wenchang. Kangxi
The (blanc de Chine) group depicts Wenchang and two attendants. Wenchang is seated on a rocky throne, wearing long robes with an ornamented belt, and an official’s hat. Below stand a horse between his two acolytes, Tianlong (‘Heavenly Deaf’) and Diya (‘Earthly Dumb’).
A pair of imari armorial plates for the French market (Thomas-Auguste Miniac of Saint-Malo). Kangxi
Painted in the centre in characteristic Imari palette, underglaze blue, rouge-de-fer and gilding with the coat-of-arms of Miniac, Quaterly: 1 and 4, gules, an eagle displayed argent between five billets of the last, three and four; 2 and 3, azure, a cross cantoned with four crescent or, within a roptwist border enclosed by scrollwork and […]
A Blanc-de-chine figure of Zhenwu, Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven. 17th c.
The figure modelled as Zhenwu seated in a domineering posture on jagged rockwork with a tortoise and snake emerging from the crevices, dressed in martial attire with cape over his shoulders, depicted with characteristic long combed-back hair, bare feet and mudra, with seven apertures over the face. He holds a sword in his left hand. The […]
A Chinese brush rest decorated with green enamels on the biscuit. Kangxi period
A hallow rectangular box-shaped brush rest, with three openings on the top for holding brushes, two of which are circular and the other in a shape of a square, which open into a sealed cavity. The top surface is also pierced with three openwork cash-shaped designs above a hollow space. The front vertical side is […]
A finger citrons biscuit pyramid. China, Kangxi
The pyramid with naturalistically miniature finger citrons sits on a fluted dish. The coloured enamelling is in various shades of ochre-yellow, green and aubergine-brown. The fruits are arranged in five layers, with green leaves added in between. To construct this piece, each finger citron would have been individually moulded, then arranged layer by layer and […]
A very rare and large famille jaune figure depicting a Censor of the Imperial Court
The sculpture is modelled as a tall and elegant Mandarin with an expression of supreme confidence, it is clear this figure has no doubt whatsoever about the power and importance that his position entailed. He is dressed in famille jaune brocade surcoat (wai gua) with iron red prunus blossoms, and a famille verte robe, with iron […]
A Chinese armorial dish for the Spanish market (1st Marquess of Ensenada). Qianlong period
Of octogonal form and decorated in the famille rose palette with the coat of arms of Zenon de Somodevilla y Bengoechea, 1st Marquess of Ensenada, 1. Purpure, an arm brandishing a sword in bend sinister argent between two Moor’s head crowned or. 2. Azure, a tower and on the sinister three mullets in pale argent. […]