The auction dedicated to the Asian “works of art” which will be held on May 12th,
presents over 250 goods of excellent origin, an eclectic exhibition that, starting from China, passes through the Siam region, up to Japan. Unmissable porcelains including some precious Green Family examples: a pair of large rouleau vases decorated with reserves with landscapes and floral elements (lot 61, estimate € 20,000 - 30,000), two large potiches with precious relief motifs of deer, cranes, and trees (lot 75, estimate € 12,000 - 15,000) and a large hexagonal shaped vase in white and blue porcelain (lot 170, estimate € 8,000-12,000). The sophisticated artistic production inspired by the reign of the enlightened emperor Kangxi (1662-1722) also returns in the highly sought-after red "sang-de-boeuf" and flambé enamel vases (lot 1, estimate € 700 - 1,000), belonging to a Milanese collection. Always from the city of Milan, the pair of doucai enamel vases bearing the Daoguang trademark at the bases (lot 32, estimate € 5,000 - 7,000).
Lot 61 A pair of large famille verte rouleau vases China, 19th century (h. 90 cm.)
Estimate: € 20,000 - 30,000
Lot 75 Two famille verte large jars and covers, both relief-moulded
enamelled and gilt with deer, cranes, pine trees and lingzhi fungus
China, 18th/19th century (h. 86.5 cm.)
Estimate: € 12,000 - 15,000
Lot 125 A large tianqiuping vase, decorated with dragons among clouds
Provenance: Mr and Mrs Aldo and Virginia Aulenti, their daughter Gae Aulenti (1927-2012)
and then to the present owner China, 19th century (h. 54 cm.)
Estimate: € 2,200 - 2,500
A large tianqiuping vase, decorated with dragons against a background of clouds and dated 19th century (lot 125, estimate € 2,200 - 2,500) ideally closes this section. The collectible peculiarities are displayed inside the catalogue through a substantial core of snuff bottles, of which about a hundred came from a Ligurian’s property of over three hundred exemples, heterogeneous for materials and periods of realization; and also thanks to a series of large seals among which it stands out one in ivory finely carved with dragons chasing the sacre pearl motif (lot 154, estimate € 10,000 - 12,000) and one spinach and russet jade seal, carved with dragons and clouds motif (lot 109, estimate € 4,000 - 6,000).
Lot 154 A large ivory seal, finely carved with dragons chasing the sacre pearl motif
China, 19th century (h 14.5 cm.)
Estimate: € 10,000 - 15,000
Referred to the religious sphere, is the beautiful 17th-century sculpture in lacquered and gilded wood depicting a Buddhist monk (lot 74, estimate € 4,000 - 6,000). Moving to Thailand, the attention of enthusiasts goes to a niello and gilt silver kettle (lot 225, estimate € 900 - 1,000), of which an extremely similar example is reported in the important publication "Thai Silver & Nielloware" by Paul Bromberg.
Lot 74 A carved wood figure depicting a monk
China, 17th century (h. 64 cm.)
Estimate: € 4,000 - 6,000
Lot 225 A Thai gilded silver niello globular water-pot
A similar example is published on the front cover and on
page 52 of "Thai Silver & Nielloware" by Paul Bromberg, River Books 2019.
Siam, Thailandia, 19th century
Estimate: € 900 - 1,000
Coming from Japan, numerous groups of netsuke in finely carved ivory, some with irreverent figurations, such as the one dedicated to the divinity Fukurokuju intent on drinking sake on a boat, and signed by the artist Ikkosai (lot 226, estimate € 600 - 800). At the end of this review, emerges also an important group of screens whose decorations cover the whole of Asia, and among which emerge a refined Chinese model of the 20th century with four panels and golden bird motifs (lot 142, estimate € 1,000 - 1,500).
Lot 226 An ivory netsuke signed Ikkosai, from the Tomkinson collection with number 783
Japan, 19th century (l. 5.2 cm.)
Estimate: € 600 - 800
Lot 142 A four panel lacquered screen
Cina, early 20th century
Estimate: € 1,000 - 1,500