A tea-dust-glazed bottle vase, Qianlong six-character incised seal mark and of the period (1736-1795). Estimate $15,000 – $25,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The vase has a compressed globular body raised on a spreading foot and is covered overall with a finely speckled, opaque glaze of dark tea-dust color which also covers the base surrounding the tortoiseshell-glazed mark. 13 in. (33 cm.) high

Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 17 September 2003, lot 108.
Michael L. Vermeer, Atlanta, Georgia.

Notes: A similar tea-dust-glazed vase of this shape and size in the Victoria and Albert Museum is illustrated by R. Kerr,Chinese Ceramics, Porcelain of the Qing Dynasty, 1644-1911, London, 1986, p. 48, no. 25; and another is illustrated by R. Krahl, Chinese Ceramics in the Meiyintang Collection, vol. 2, London, 1994, pp. 256-57, no. 936.

Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 17 - 18 September 2015, New York, Rockefeller Plaza

A Vintage 18 Karat White Gold and Sapphire Bracelet, Seaman Schepps. Estimate $ 12,000-18,000 © 2015 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Inc.

consisting of numerous round and oval shape cabochon cut sapphires of various hues and saturations of blue, violet and purple, the ovals 
measuring from approximately 14.76 x 10.69 mm to 5.20 x 3.50 mm, the rounds measuring approximately 5.25-6.94 mm in diameter, the bezels each joined to a central mesh chain allowing movement in a clustered arrangement, joined with a box clasp containing one sugarloaf cabochon cut sapphire. 
Stamp: Seaman Schepps (significantly obscured).

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.  Important Jewelry / Estate of Rita Dee Hassenfel. September 16 2015 5:30 PM - contact jewelrycr@lesliehindman.com 

An 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Colored Diamond and Diamond Flexible Collar Necklace, Van Cleef & Arpels. Estimate $ 30,000-50,000 © 2015 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Inc.

in a repeated geometric panel design, containing 231 round brilliant cut yellow diamonds (origin of color not tested) weighing approximately 6.83 carats total, together with 429 round brilliant cut diamonds weighing approximately 14.95 carats total. 
Stamp: VCA NY 55210. 

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.  Important Jewelry / Estate of Rita Dee Hassenfel. September 16 2015 5:30 PM - contact jewelrycr@lesliehindman.com 

An 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Fire Opal, Colored Diamond and Diamond Starfish Brooch, Nicholas Varney. Estimate: $8,000-12,000. © 2015 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Inc.

consisting of a central freeform fire opal, the opal surrounded by five unequal curving arms containing 328 round brilliant cut yellow diamonds (origin of color not tested) weighing approximately 5.48 carats total, and 45 round brilliant cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.45 carat total. Stamp: Nicholas Varney 18K. 

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.  Important Jewelry / Estate of Rita Dee Hassenfel. September 16 2015 5:30 PM - contact jewelrycr@lesliehindman.com 

An 18 Karat Yellow Gold, Platinum, Citrine and Diamond Brooch, Jean Fouquet. Estimate $ 4,000-6,000 © 2015 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Inc.

containing a central octagonal step cut citrine measuring approximately 23.42 x 18.41 x 11.41 mm, partially surrounded by five oval mixed cut citrine measuring from approximately 12.40 x 10.75 mm to 9.30 x 5.00 mm, and six old mine cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.28 carat total. 
Stamp: (French assay mark). 
Hand inscribed: Jean Fouquet. 

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.  Important Jewelry / Estate of Rita Dee Hassenfel. September 16 2015 5:30 PM - contact jewelrycr@lesliehindman.com 

A Vintage Flexible Platinum and Diamond Bypass Bracelet. Estimate $ 30,000-50,000 © 2015 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Inc.

in an openwork design with flared terminals surrounding two detachable sections that can be worn as ear pendants, the sections containing one round brilliant cut diamond weighing approximately 1.60 carats, one old European cut diamond weighing approximately 1.71 carats, and two baguette cut diamonds weighing approximately 1.06 carats total, the body of the bracelet containing one round brilliant cut diamond weighing approximately 0.86 carat, an old European cut diamond weighing approximately 1.04 carats, eight old European cut diamonds weighing approximately 3.82 carats total, 126 old European and round brilliant cut diamonds weighing approximately 10.08 carats total, eight baguettes weighing approximately 2.46 carats total, and 232 tapered baguette and baguette cut diamonds weighing approximately 19.15 carats total. 

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.  Important Jewelry / Estate of Rita Dee Hassenfel. September 16 2015 5:30 PM - contact jewelrycr@lesliehindman.com 

An 18 Karat Yellow Gold and Diamond Twin Ring, Marchak, Paris. Estimate $ 7,000-9,000 © 2015 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Inc.

containing two hexagonal step cut diamonds measuring approximately 9.70 x 6.03 x 4.04 mm and 9.85 x 5.46 x 3.58 mm respectively 
Hand inscribed: Marchak Paris 34.034. 

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.  Important Jewelry / Estate of Rita Dee Hassenfel. September 16 2015 5:30 PM - contact jewelrycr@lesliehindman.com 

Floris Gerritsz van Schooten (c.1585 Haarlem 1656), A fruit still life with plums, apples, grapes and pears on a table. CHF25,000 - CHF35,000. Photo Koller Auctions.

Oil on panel Monogramed lower right on a leaf: FV S. 51.7 x 82.8 cm. 

We are grateful to Fred G. Meijer of the RKD, The Hague, for Confirming the attribution of the present work on the basis of a photograph.

Old Master Paintings by Koller Auctions, Platinum House,  September 18, 2015, 3:00 PM CET, Zurich, Switzerland

A rare Longquan celadon 'Kinuta'meiping, Southern Song-Yuan dynasty, 12th-13th century. Estimate $300,000 – $500,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The bottle has a slender tapering body surmounted by a small cylindrical neck with rounded rim, and is covered allover in an even glaze of slightly bluish, sea-green color which falls in a line to just above the unglazed foot rim. 9 ¼ in. (23.6 cm.) high, Japanese silk brocade pouch, Japanese wood box and inner black lacquer box

Provenance: Mori Family Collection, Japan.

Notes: Many of the labels affixed to the wood box for the current vase represent certificates of periodic storage inspections conducted as early as 1818. A small accompanying wood tablet describes the vase as a 'Kinuta' celadon vase belonging to the Mori Family Collection. 

While many different vase shapes were made at the Longquan kilns during the Song and Yuan dynasties, the meipingform is remarkably rare prior to the Ming dynasty. The current Longquan meiping not only belongs to the rare early group, but is one of the finest surviving examples. Its glaze has the pure colour and soft translucence, which has been so admired by collectors and connoisseurs in China and Japan for more than 700 years, while its shape has been well potted and displays an attenuated elegance.

The neck of this meiping is of distinctive form, being slightly longer and more columnar than the necks seen on later examples. It may be compared with the necks of two Song dynasty Longquan meiping with carved and incised decoration. One of these is in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, and is illustrated by G. Hasebe in Sekai Toji Zenshu – 12 – Song, Tokyo, 1977, p. 198, no. 179. The other was excavated in 1977 from a Northern Song context at Songyangxian in Zhejiang province, and is illustrated by Zhu Boqian in Celadons from Longquan Kilns, Taipei, 1998, p. 108, no. 69. However, neither of these published vases has the elegant tapering from shoulder to foot that can be seen on the current vase. A Longquan meiping which is closer in profile to the current vessel is the undecorated, lidded vase which was excavated in 1960 from a Southern Song tomb in Longquanxian and included in the exhibitionGreen Wares from Zhejiang, Fung Ping Shan Museum, Hong Kong, 1993, no. 55. Two Yuan dynasty Longquan celadon meiping recovered from the cargo of the Sinan wreck are published in Xinan haidi wenwu, Seoul, 1977, pls. 40 and 41. Both of these vases have strongly tapering sides, however they have wider, more sloping shoulders than the current vessel.

Japanese connoisseurs have treasured fine Longquan celadon wares since they first began to be imported into Japan in the Southern Song period. It is therefore appropriate that this vase has been in the collection of one of Japan’s most historically important families – the Mori Family. This powerful clan can trace its origins to the nobleman Oe no Hiromoto (AD 1148-1225), who was instrumental in establishing the structure of the Kamakura Shogunate. Oe no Hiromoto’s fourth son founded the Mori clan. The power of the Mori family was at its height towards the end of the Muromachi period (1392-1573), when they controlled western Honshu. In 1589, Mori Terumoto instigated the building of Hiroshima Castle as a stronghold from which to govern the nine provinces under the family’s rule. In time, the area of their lands was reduced to modern day Yamaguchi Prefecture, and their new capital at Hagi City became an important centre for cultural activities. Even after the ending of samurai rule in 1868 the family remained both powerful and influential. Today the Mori Hontei Villa, with its beautiful gardens, is the setting for a museum devoted to the family collection. 

Rosemary Scott
International Academic Director, Asian Art 

Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 17 - 18 September 2015, New York, Rockefeller Plaza

A Yaozhou celadon carved conical bowl, Northern Song dynasty (AD 960-1127). Estimate $4,000 – $6,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The deep, flared sides are slightly rounded, and the interior is carved in the center with a peony sprig and below the lipped rim with a band of leafy scroll. The bowl is covered overall with a glaze of olive-green tone. 7 3/8 in. (18.8 cm.) diam.

Provenance: Sotheby's London, 9 December 1991, lot 122.

Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 17 - 18 September 2015, New York, Rockefeller Plaza

A rare Junyao foliate-rimmed vase, Song-Jin dynasty, 12th-13th century. Estimate $30,000 – $50,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The vase has a high-shouldered body that tapers towards the high, conical foot, and a waisted neck that rises to a scalloped rim shaped as five out-curved petals. The vessel is covered with a matte glaze of milky blue color decorated with a splash of reddish purple on one side, which thins to mushroom on the rim, and ends in a line above the unglazed foot rim, exposing the buff ware. 7 ½ in. (19 cm.) high

Provenance: Sotheby's London, 18 September 2007, lot 235.

Notes: Junyao vases of this unusual shape appear to be quite rare. A somewhat differently proportioned version of the form, with a blue Jun glaze inside and out is in the Simon Kwan Collection (see Song Ceramics from the Kwan Collection, Urban Council, Hong Kong, 1994, pp. 114-5, no. 39). A further very similar example is illustrated in The Tsui Museum of Art, Hong Kong, 1991, no. 39. Another example with even more exaggerated profile is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum (see R. Kerr, Song Ceramics, V&A Publications, London, 2004, p. 32, no. 22). The V&A vase was undoubtedly intended to be blue-glazed inside and out, but was misfired, so that the glaze remains greyish and with extensive crawling. A Yuan dynasty Jun ware vase with similarly lobed and down-turned mouth rim, but with differently shaped body, handles, splashed glaze, and a stand, was excavated from the northern ramparts at Beijing in 1971, and is now preserved in the Capital Museum, Beijing (see Zhongguo wenwu jinghua quanji - Taoci juan, Taipei, 1993, p. 358, no. 635). 

Although this form is very rare in Jun ware, it was a popular form among other wares, some of which would have been made at kilns located not far from those producing Jun ware in Yuxian. A vase of similar form to the current vessel, but belonging to the Cizhou tradition and decorated with incised petal design and sancai type glazes is in the collection of the Idemitsu Art Gallery, Tokyo (see Tsugio Mikami, Sekai toji Zenshu 13 Liao Jin Yuan, Shogakukan, Tokyo, p. 243, no. 278). This vase dates to the Jin-Yuan period. The largest number of vases of this form are those decorated in black slip over white in the Cizhou tradition. One of the most famous of these is the large example from the collection of the Seattle Art Museum, illustrated op. cit., pp. 110-11, no. 92, which is dated by different scholars to the Jin or Yuan dynasties. The central portion of a vase very similar to the Seattle vessel was excavated at Bacun, Yuxian, Henan province ( see Wenwu, no. 8, 1964, p. 32, pl. 5:1), which suggests that the Seattle vessel was made in the same area. The Seattle vase shares with the current Jun vessel the same distinctive cone-shaped foot with straight sides, and it can be no coincidence that both vases were probably made in the Yuxian area. 

Several other black and white Cizhou type vases of similar form, but with curved flaring foot, and less detailed decoration are known. One of these was found at Bacun, Yuxian (see Wenwu, no. 8, 1964, p. 32 and 33, fig. 12), and it seems likely that other vases in the Royal Ontario Museum, the Yale University Art Gallery, the Shanghai Museum and a private Japanese collection were also made in the Yuxian area. A green-glazed vase of Cizhou type and similar form is in the Indianapolis Museum of Art (see Y. Mino, Freedom of Clay and Brush through Seven Centuries in Northern China: Tz'u-chou Type Wares, 960-1600 A.D., Indianapolis Museum of Art, 1980, pp. 216-7, pl. 96). An identical green-glazed vase is also preserved in the Cleveland Museum of Art, while an amber-glazed vessel was excavated from a tomb at Zhaigoucun, near Taiyuan, Shanxi province (see Kaogu, no. 1, 1965, p. 26, pl. 7:8).

Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 17 - 18 September 2015, New York, Rockefeller Plaza

A Junyao dish, Song-Jin dynasty, 11th-12th century. Estimate $4,000 – $6,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The shallow dish has widely flared sides that round up to the rim, and is covered inside and out with a crackled glaze of pale blue color that thins to mushroom on the rim and falls in an irregular line on the knife-cut foot. 6 ¼ in. (16 cm.) diam., box

Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 17 - 18 September 2015, New York, Rockefeller Plaza

A pair of small Yaozhou celadon molded dishes, Northern Song-Jin dynasty, 11th-12th century. Estimate $4,000 – $6,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

Each has shallow, rounded sides that rise to a lipped rim, and is molded on the bottom of the interior with a stem bearing three chrysanthemum blossoms amidst a dense ground of small curling leaves, below a narrow sawtooth border and leaf scroll in the well, and each is covered overall with a glaze of dark olive color that thins on the raised areas. 4 ¼ in. (10.9 cm.) diam.

Provenance: Christie's London, 19 December 1990, lot 108.

Notes: Compare the Yaozhou celadon molded dishes of the same shape, with a similar design, but of larger size (20.5 cm. and 19.3 cm.), illustrated by J. Wirgin, Sung Ceramic Designs, London, 1979 reprint, pl. 2 j and k, as well as pl. 2 i, described as a basin, which looks to have a rim very similar to that of the present dishes.

Christie's. FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 17 - 18 September 2015, New York, Rockefeller Plaza

An Art Deco Platinum and Diamond Convertible Sautoir, Cartier, Circa 1920. Estimate $ 110,000-130,000 © 2015 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Inc.

consisting of a central openwork stylized butterfly motif section suspending an articulated swag, the pendant joined with three separate and detachable matching geometric link bracelets allowing adjustable length, the necklace containing numerous bezel and bead set old mine cut diamonds weighing approximately 36.00 carats total. Stamp: 2318975. 

Accompanied by a red folder signed Cartier Paris

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Inc. CARTIER COLLECTION. September 17 2015 12:00 PM 1338 West Lake Street - contact jewelrycr@lesliehindman.com  

An 18 Karat Yellow Gold, 3.06 carats Fancy Intense Yellow Diamond and Diamond Ring, Cartier. Estimate $ 25,000-35,000 © 2015 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Inc.

containing one radiant cut fancy intense yellow diamond weighing approximately 3.06 carats and two triangular brilliant cut diamonds weighing approximately 0.85 carat total. Stamp: 18K. Hand inscribed: Cartier 861121. 

Accompanied by a Gemological Institute of America colored diamond grading certificate number 2171247696, dated July 28, 2015, stating Color: Fancy Intense Yellow, Natural, Even, Clarity: VVS1, Polish: Very Good, Symmetry: Very Good, Fluorescence: None.

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Inc. CARTIER COLLECTION. September 17 2015 12:00 PM 1338 West Lake Street - contact jewelrycr@lesliehindman.com  

A Pair of Platinum, 18 Karat White Gold, Cultured South Sea Pearl and Diamond Earclips, Cartier. Estimate $ 8,000-12,000 © 2015 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Inc.

containing two South Sea pearls measuring approximately 14.60 mm in diameter and five marquise and six round brilliant cut diamonds weighing approximately 2.76 carats total. Stamp: Cartier 891915 Pt950 18K.

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Inc. CARTIER COLLECTION. September 17 2015 12:00 PM 1338 West Lake Street - contact jewelrycr@lesliehindman.com  

A Vintage Platinum, Aquamarine and Sapphire Ring, Cartier. Estimate $ 5,000-7,000 © 2015 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Inc.

containing one octagonal step cut aquamarine measuring approximately 17.09 x 13.42 x 9.56 mm and six square step cut sapphires weighing approximately 1.16 carats total. Hand inscribed: CARTIER 3918143. 

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Inc. CARTIER COLLECTION. September 17 2015 12:00 PM 1338 West Lake Street - contact jewelrycr@lesliehindman.com  

Important Pair of Platinum, 12.16 and 10.18 carats Colombian Emerald and Diamond Pendant-Earclips, Harry Winston. Estimate 650,000 — 750,000 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.

Supporting two emerald-cut emeralds weighing 12.16 and 10.18 carats, with cluster-style tops set with round, pear and marquise-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 13.65 carats, signed HW; pendants detachable.

Accompanied by AGL report no. CS 48875 A and B stating that the emeralds are of Colombian origin, clarity enhancement: minor, type: oil. Together with a letter from the AGL describing the rarity and quality of Colombian emeralds, in addition to noting that the two present emeralds received an Excellent Match Pair Rating, which, '..is the highest ranking and defines a matched pair of gemstones that is rare to achieve and reflects a high level of exclusivity.'

Accompanied by an AGL JewelFolio. 

Sotheby's. Important Jewels, New York, 24 Sep 2015

Fine Platinum and 12.21 carats Diamond Ring. Estimate 550,000 — 650,000 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.

Centering a pear-shaped diamond weighing 12.21 carats, flanked by tapered baguette diamonds weighing approximately .70 carat, size 6.

Accompanied by GIA report no. 2175129228 stating that the diamond is F color, VVS2 clarity.

Sotheby's. Important Jewels, New York, 24 Sep 2015

Platinum, 18 Karat Rose Gold, 3.55 carats Fancy Light Blue Diamond and Diamond Ring. Estimate 475,000 — 525,000 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.

Centering a pear-shaped Fancy Light Blue diamond weighing 3.55 carats, framed by round diamonds of pink hue weighing approximately .25 carat, bordered by round near colorless diamonds weighing approximately .60 carat, size 6½.

Accompanied by GIA report no. 1162772232 stating that the diamond is Fancy Light Blue, Natural Color, VS2 clarity.

Please note the diamonds of pink hue have not been tested for natural origin of color.

Sotheby's. Important Jewels, New York, 24 Sep 2015