A rare 'Longquan' octogonal dish, Ming dynasty, 15th century

January 18, 2018, 10:01 am

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Lot 577. A rare 'Longquan' octogonal dish, Ming dynasty, 15th century; 21.5cm., 8 1/2 in. Estimate 750 — 1,000 GBP. Lot sold 2,250 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's 2008. 

the flaring sides rising from an angled base and short tapering foot, moulded to the interior with a trellis-diaper medallion and encircled with a freely carved floral spray in each of the eight lobes, covered overall with a soft bluish-green glaze .

Literature: Bo Gyllensvard, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, pl. 159.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, London, 05 Nov 2008

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A carved celadon-glazed dish, Ming dynasty

January 18, 2018, 10:09 am

≫ Next: A white-glazed stem bowl, Ming dynasty, 16th century

≪ Previous: A rare 'Longquan' octogonal dish, Ming dynasty, 15th century

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Lot 578. A carved celadon-glazed dish, Ming dynasty; 20.2cm., 8in. Estimate 150 — 250 GBP. Lot sold 4,750 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's 2008. 

the widely flaring sides rising from an angled base and short tapering foot to a foliate rim, freely carved to the interior with a rosette medallion encircled by a leafy floral band, covered overall with a bluish-green glaze; together with a small ribbed celadon jar, Yuan Dynasty. Quantity: 2

Literature: Bo Gyllensvard, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, pls 161 and 154.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, London, 05 Nov 2008

A white-glazed stem bowl, Ming dynasty, 16th century

January 18, 2018, 10:21 am

≫ Next: A rare dated blue and white funerary tablet and stand, Wanli period, dated 1608

≪ Previous: A carved celadon-glazed dish, Ming dynasty

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Lot 579. A white-glazed stem bowl, Ming dynasty, 16th century; 14cm., 5 1/2 in. Estimate 800 — 1,000 GBP. Lot sold 3,500 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's 2008. 

the deep rounded sides rising from a tall hollow spreading foot to an everted rim, covered overall with a white glaze.

Literature: Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, pl. 683.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, London, 05 Nov 2008

A rare dated blue and white funerary tablet and stand, Wanli period, dated 1608

January 18, 2018, 11:06 am

≫ Next: Two blue and white 'seed pod' jars and covers, Transitional period, circa 1640

≪ Previous: A white-glazed stem bowl, Ming dynasty, 16th century

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Lot 584. A rare dated blue and white funerary tablet and stand, Wanli period, dated 1608; 26.1cm., 10 5/16 in. Estimate 800 — 1,000 GBP. Lot sold 1,125  GBP. Photo courtesy Sotheby's 2008. 

of rectangular form, the front and back face with a lengthy calligraphic inscription in under-glaze blue, the separate rectangular stand painted to each face with a panel variously enclosing flowers, cash symbols and a two-character inscription. Quantinty: 2.

Literature: Chinese Ceramic Treasures, a Selection from the Ulricehamn East Asian Museum, including The Carl Kempe Collection,The Museum of Art and Far Eastern Antiquities in Ulricehamn, Ulricehamn, 2002, pl. 94.

Note: The inscriptions include genealogical details of Cheng Bozhong and is dated to the thirty-sixth year of the Wanli reign (AD 1609).

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. 05 Nov 08. London

Two blue and white 'seed pod' jars and covers, Transitional period, circa 1640

January 18, 2018, 11:28 am

≫ Next: A large Dehua ‘peony’ charger, 17th century

≪ Previous: A rare dated blue and white funerary tablet and stand, Wanli period, dated 1608

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Lot 586. Two blue and white 'seed pod' jars and covers, Transitional period, circa 1640. The Largest: 28.7cm., 11 3/8 in. Estimate 1,200 — 1,800 GBP. Lot sold 2,500 GBP. Photo courtesy Sotheby's 2008.

each body of ovoid form rising from a short straight foot to a short straight neck, painted around the exterior with floral sprays and insects with single lines at the neck and base, the domed cover similarly painted. Quantity: 4

Provenance: The Hatcher Collection, Christie's Amsterdam, 12th-13th June 1984, lot 746.

Literature: The Tectus Collection. Chinese Ceramics, Stockholm, 1991, pl. 79.

Chinese Ceramic Treasures. A Selection from the Ulricehamn East Asian Museum, Including the Carl Kempe Collection, Ulricehamn, 2002, pl. 113.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. 05 Nov 08. London

A large Dehua ‘peony’ charger, 17th century

January 18, 2018, 12:50 pm

≫ Next: A small purple-splashed 'jun' censer, Ming dynasty

≪ Previous: Two blue and white 'seed pod' jars and covers, Transitional period, circa 1640

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Lot 21. A large Dehua ‘peony’ charger, 17th century; 34cm., 13 3/8 in. Estimate 3,000 — 5,000 GBP. Lot sold 3,750 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's 2013.

the shallow rounded sides supported on a short foot, freely carved to the interior with a leafy peony spray; together with a large Dehua tripod censer. Quantity: 2

Provenance: Purchased in France, 12th February 1996 (charger) and 1989 (censer).

 Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, London, 15 May 2013

A small purple-splashed 'jun' censer, Ming dynasty

January 19, 2018, 1:28 am

≫ Next: A ‘Longquan’ celadon-glazed censer, Ming dynasty

≪ Previous: A large Dehua ‘peony’ charger, 17th century

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Lot 25. A small purple-splashed 'jun' censer, Ming dynasty; 6.5cm., 2 5/8 in. Estimate 5,000 — 8,000 GBP. Lot sold 7,500 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's 2013.

the six-lobed body rising from three spreading legs to a ribbed neck with an everted rim, covered overall in a milky-lavender glaze splashed with reddish purple, ivory stand; together with a small green-glazed Jun bowl. Quantity: 3

Provenance: Purchased in France, 15th May 1992 (censer) and 1964 (bowl).

 Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, London, 15 May 2013

A ‘Longquan’ celadon-glazed censer, Ming dynasty

January 19, 2018, 1:29 am

≫ Next: A blue and white 'dragon' dish, Zhengde mark and period (1506-1521)

≪ Previous: A small purple-splashed 'jun' censer, Ming dynasty

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 Lot 45. A ‘Longquan’ celadon-glazed censer, Ming dynasty; 11.8cm., 4 5/8 in. Estimate 3,000 — 5,000 GBP. Lot sold 4,000 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's 2013.

the compressed globular body rising from three legs issuing from animal masks to a flared neck and an everted rim, flanked by a pair of upright fish handles, the body freely carved with lotus blooms below a band of stiff leaves, covered overall in a sea-green glaze running short of the foot revealing the dark brown body.

Provenance: Collection of Carl Kempe.

Literature: Bo Gyllensvärd, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, pl. 163.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, London, 15 May 2013

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A blue and white 'dragon' dish, Zhengde mark and period (1506-1521)

January 19, 2018, 1:36 am

≫ Next: The Courtauld Gallery opens first exhibition dedicated to the drawings of Antoine Caron

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Lot 104. A blue and white 'dragon' dish, Zhengde mark and period (1506-1521); 21cm diam., 8 1/4 in. Estimate 80,000 - 120,000 GBP. Lot sold 98,500 GBP. Photo Sotheby's 2013

well potted with rounded sides and painted in vibrant inky-blue tones with a central medallion enclosing a sinuous five-clawed dragon, surrounded by two striding dragons at the cavetto, with two further dragons around the exterior framed by a ruyi band at the foot, all against a dense lotus scroll and within double-line borders, the base inscribed with a four-character mark within double circles

Provenance: A European Private Collection.

Note; The dragon and lotus design was one of the favourite designs of the Zhengde emperor and adorned a variety of vessels, including bowls, stemcups, jars of zhadou shape and dishes. Although this design was popular throughout the Ming period, the dense and even composition rendered in soft cobalt blue seen on the present dish is peculiar to the Zhengde reign.

Closely related examples, all bearing the four-character reign mark that is characteristic of this group of dishes, are found in museums and collections around the world; see one in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Blue and White Porcelain with Underglazed Red (II), Shanghai, 2000, pl. 63; one in the Capital Museum, Beijing, published in Zhongguo taoci quanji, vol. 12, Shanghai, 2000, pl. 138; another in the Shanghai Museum, included in Wang Qingzheng, Underglaze Blue and Red, Hong Kong, 1993, pl. 116; and a fourth example in the Meiyintang collection, illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol. 4, pt. I, London, 2010, pl. 1679. For the Xuande prototype see one excavated at the waste heaps of the Ming imperial kilns, published in Lu Minghua, Mingdai guanyao ciqi, Shanghai, 2007, pl. 3-119.

A dish of this design is shown on the sixth scroll of the Guwan tu (Imperial Collection of Yongzheng), dated to the sixth year of his reign (1728), which was sold in our London rooms, 19th May 1939, lot 62, and is now in the British Museum, London, from the Sir Percival David collection.

Dish with dragons amid lotus scrolls, Ming dynasty, Zhengde mark and period AD 1506–21, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province. Porcelain with underglaze cobalt-blue decoration. Height: 41 millimetres, Diameter: 194 millimetres. Sir Percival David Foundation of Art, PDF A651© 2017 Trustees of the British Museum

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. London, 15 mai 2013,

The Courtauld Gallery opens first exhibition dedicated to the drawings of Antoine Caron

January 19, 2018, 2:46 am

≫ Next: A large blue and white 'Peacock' bowl, Ming dynasty, 16th century

≪ Previous: A blue and white 'dragon' dish, Zhengde mark and period (1506-1521)

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Antoine Caron, Game of Quintain, 1575 - 1580 © The Courtauld Gallery, London.

LONDON.- This focused international loan exhibition, the first dedicated to the drawings of Antoine Caron (1521-1599), brings together a celebrated group of drawings executed for his patron Catherine de’ Medici queen of France (1519-1589). 

Centred around the Valois series, a set of drawings of courtly pageantry here reunited for the first time, the display showcases the way in which the powerful and influential Catherine promoted herself and her dynasty through a series of lavish courtly events. Though not a court artist, Caron worked at the court of the Valois family, first at the Château de Fontainebleau, and then at the Château d’Anet where Henri II’s mistress Diane de Poitiers lived. He also contributed to the designs of the ephemeral decorations for the ceremonial entry into Paris of the young King Charles IX in 1571, and two years later to the celebrations of the election of his brother Henri to the kingdom of Poland and Lithuania. In 1581, Caron was the official painter for the wedding of the king’s favourite Anne d’Arques, duc de Joyeuse. 

At the centre of this exhibition are six drawings that evoke the Valois ‘Magnificences’, complex festivals organised by the French court between 1573 and 1581, during the reigns of Catherine’s sons King Charles IX and King Henri III. The drawings capture in minute detail these events: jousts, tournaments, and a mock naval battle, that are testimony of the lavish spectacles. The compositions of the drawings were later readapted to the designs of a set of tapestries. 

These works, together with other drawings by Caron included in this display, showcase the ways in which the artist helped Catherine to achieve her goal of promoting her progeny. The importance of these drawings cannot be overemphasised, not only because of the notion that they give us invaluable insights into the fashion, behaviour, protocol and the whole apparatus of the Valois ‘Magnificences’, but especially because they witness Catherine’s insatiable desire to promote her legacy through powerful and arresting spectacles.

Antoine Caron, Portrait of Catherine de' Medici as a widow (detail), 1560–74. Courtesy Louvre, Paris

Antoine Caron (1521 - 1599), Portraits of Henri II and Catherine de Medici, 1560 -1574. Courtesy Louvre, Paris

Antoine Caron, Le château d’Anet, 1565–1574. Courtesy Louvre, Paris.

Antoine Caron, An equestrian game with riders jousting among balls of fire, c. 1575–80. Courtesy of The Courtauld Gallery, London

A large blue and white 'Peacock' bowl, Ming dynasty, 16th century

January 19, 2018, 5:01 am

≫ Next: A blue and white bottle vase, Ming dynasty, Wanli period (1573-1620)

≪ Previous: The Courtauld Gallery opens first exhibition dedicated to the drawings of Antoine Caron

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Lot 107. A large blue and white 'Peacock' bowl, Ming dynasty, 16th century; 35.9cm., 14 1/8 in. Estimate 6,000 — 8,000 GPB. Lot sold 7,500 GBP.  Photo: Sotheby's 2013 

the deep rounded sides supported on a straight foot, the exterior painted with six peacocks in a garden landscape above a ruyi band, all below squirrels clambering amongst grape vines at the rim, the foot with a classic scroll, the interior with a medallion enclosing a peacock among flowering branches, encircled at the rim with six peacocks in shaped cartouches against a diaper band, inscribed to the base with a four-character mark reading Wanfu youtong (May a myriad blessings be bestowed) within a double-circle.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. London, 15 mai 2013,

A blue and white bottle vase, Ming dynasty, Wanli period (1573-1620)

January 19, 2018, 5:10 am

≫ Next: A large fahua ‘Peacock and Peony’ jar, Ming dynasty, 16th century

≪ Previous: A large blue and white 'Peacock' bowl, Ming dynasty, 16th century

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Lot 108. A blue and white bottle vase, Ming dynasty, Wanli period (1573-1620); 28.2cm., 11 1/8 in. Estimate 7,000 — 9,000 GPB. Lot sold 27,500 GBP.  Photo: Sotheby's 2013 

the globular body rising from a short foot to a tapering neck with lipped rim, painted with shaped cartouches variously enclosing peach, pomegranate, peony and chrysanthemum on stools wrapped with brocaded textiles, all below ruyi-shaped lappets decorated with smaller ruyi heads against a diaper ground, the neck similarly decorated, all divided by trellis, stiff leaf and keyfret bands, Japanese wood box. Quantity: 2.

Provenance: A Japanese Private Collection. 

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. London, 15 mai 2013,

A large fahua ‘Peacock and Peony’ jar, Ming dynasty, 16th century

January 19, 2018, 6:00 am

≫ Next: A blue and white octagonal vase, Ming dynasty, Chongzhen period (1627-1644)

≪ Previous: A blue and white bottle vase, Ming dynasty, Wanli period (1573-1620)

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Lot 120. A large fahua‘Peacock and Peony’ jar, Ming dynasty, 16th century; 38.7cm., 15 1/4 in. Estimation: 20,000 — 30,000 GBP. Lot sold 62,500 GBP. Photo: Sothebys 2013

the rounded shoulder tapering to a gently spreading foot, surmounted by a short neck with lipped rim, the exterior decorated in yellow, aubergine and turquoise enamel against a dark blue ground, depicting a pair of peacocks in a garden with blossoming peony branches, lingzhi and pierced rocks, all below a band of ruyi-shaped cartouches each enclosing a floral bouquet, the rim with stylised ruyi clouds and the foot with a lappet band, glazed in green to the interior.

Provenance: A Japanese Private Collection.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. London, 15 mai 2013

A blue and white octagonal vase, Ming dynasty, Chongzhen period (1627-1644)

January 19, 2018, 6:18 am

≫ Next: A pair of blue and white kosometsuke ‘Horse’ dishes, Ming dynasty, Tianqi period (1621-1627)

≪ Previous: A large fahua ‘Peacock and Peony’ jar, Ming dynasty, 16th century

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Lot 125. A blue and white octagonal vase, Ming dynasty, Chongzhen period (1627-1644); 31.8cm., 12 1/2 in. Estimation: 5,000 - 8,000 GBP. Lot sold 6,250 GBP. Photo: Sothebys 2013

the baluster body divided into eight facets and surmounted by a short neck, painted with a scene from Sanguo Yanyi (Romance of Three Kingdoms) depicting a military official riding a horse and pointing his halberd at a lady with a basket by the banks, in a distance three attendants carrying flags and weapons shielding behind rocks, all below pendent lappets each enclosing a lotus bloom, the foot encircled with stiff leaves and the rim with a trellis border.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. London, 15 mai 2013

A pair of blue and white kosometsuke ‘Horse’ dishes, Ming dynasty, Tianqi period (1621-1627)

January 19, 2018, 6:24 am

≫ Next: A 'Yue' triple box and cover, Northern Song dynasty (960-1127)

≪ Previous: A blue and white octagonal vase, Ming dynasty, Chongzhen period (1627-1644)

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Lot 126. A pair of blue and white kosometsuke‘Horse’ dishes, Ming dynasty, Tianqi period (1621-1627); 17.5cm., 6 7/8 in. Estimation: 5,000 - 7,000 GBP. Lot sold 6,250 GBP. Photo: Sothebys 2013

each modelled in the form of a recumbent horse with tail curled alongside its rear haunches, the interior and the underside outlined with details in underglaze-blue, all supported on four short legs.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. London, 15 mai 2013

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A 'Yue' triple box and cover, Northern Song dynasty (960-1127)

January 19, 2018, 7:25 am

≫ Next: A 'Yue' fruit-shaped box and cover, Song dynasty (960-1279)

≪ Previous: A pair of blue and white kosometsuke ‘Horse’ dishes, Ming dynasty, Tianqi period (1621-1627)

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Lot 515. A 'Yue' triple box and cover, Northern Song dynasty (960-1127); 8.7cm., 3 3/8 in. Estimate 300 — 400 GBP. Lot sold 2,500 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's 2008

each of the conjoined globular boxes and covers surmounted by high relief stems of lotus twisted together in the centre, covered overall with a pale olive-green glaze save for the base and rims revealing the grey body. Quantity: 2

Literature: Bo Gyllensvard, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, pl. 40.

Chinese Ceramic Treasures. A Selection from the Ulricehamn East Asian Museum, Including the Carl Kempe Collection, Ulricehamn, 2002, pl. 263.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, London, 05 Nov 2008

A 'Yue' fruit-shaped box and cover, Song dynasty (960-1279)

January 19, 2018, 7:34 am

≫ Next: A 'Yaozhou' saucer-dish, Song dynasty (960-1279)

≪ Previous: A 'Yue' triple box and cover, Northern Song dynasty (960-1127)

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Lot 516. A 'Yue' fruit-shaped box and cover, Song dynasty (960-1279); 8.2cm., 3 1/4 in. Estimate 350 — 450 GBP. Lot sold 3,500 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's 2008

the circular box with rounded sides rising from a recessed base, the domed cover carved with large petal and surmounted by a stalk finial, covered overall in an olive-green glaze. Quantity: 2

Literature: Bo Gyllensvard, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, pl.39.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, London, 05 Nov 2008

A 'Yaozhou' saucer-dish, Song dynasty (960-1279)

January 19, 2018, 7:42 am

≫ Next: A greenish-glazed bowl, Song dynasty (960-1279)

≪ Previous: A 'Yue' fruit-shaped box and cover, Song dynasty (960-1279)

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Lot 523. A 'Yaozhou' saucer-dish, Song dynasty (960-1279); 10cm., 3 7/8 in. Estimate 750 — 1,000 GBP. Lot sold 12,500 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's 2008

the gently curved lobed sides rising from a recessed base to an everted rim, moulded to the interior with a peony medallion and encircled in each of the six lobes with a similar peony spray, covered overall with an even olive glaze.

Literature: Bo Gyllensvard, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, pl.68.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, London, 05 Nov 2008

A greenish-glazed bowl, Song dynasty (960-1279)

January 19, 2018, 7:50 am

≫ Next: A 'Yaozhou''Peony' bowl, Song dynasty (960-1279)

≪ Previous: A 'Yaozhou' saucer-dish, Song dynasty (960-1279)

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Lot 524. A greenish-glazed bowl, Song dynasty (960-1279); 12.5cm., 4 7/8 in. Estimate 600 — 800 GBP. Lot sold 600 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's 2008

the gently curved sides rising from a short straight foot to a slightly everted rim, freely combed to the interior with an abstract wave design, covered overall with a pale olive-green glaze save for the foot revealing the grey body.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, London, 05 Nov 2008

A 'Yaozhou''Peony' bowl, Song dynasty (960-1279)

January 19, 2018, 8:02 am

≫ Next: A 'Yaozhou' celadon-glazed conical bowl, Northern Song dynasty (960-1127)

≪ Previous: A greenish-glazed bowl, Song dynasty (960-1279)

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Lot 525. A 'Yaozhou''Peony' bowl, Song dynasty (960-1279); 14.5cm., 5 5/8 in. Estimate 200 — 300 GBP. Lot sold 5,625 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's 2008

the conical body rising from a short straight foot to a flaring rim, moulded to the interior with a leafy peony scroll and covered overall in an olive-green glaze.

Literature: Bo Gyllensvard, Chinese Ceramics in the Carl Kempe Collection, Stockholm, 1964, pl. 79.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, London, 05 Nov 2008