Lot 124. A pair of 'huanghuali' and hardwood horseshoe-back armchairs, quanyi, Qing dynasty, 18th-19th century; 95.8 by 65,8 by 59 cm, 37 3/4  by 25 3/4  by 23 1/4  in. Estimate 10,000 — 15,000 GBP. Lot sold 22,500  £ (25,769 €). © Sotheby's.

each with curving toprail sloping down to the arms supported on serpentine side posts and terminating in a curved hook beyond the corner posts set with shaped spandrels, the curved backsplat carved with a shoucharacter medallion, the back corner posts continuing below the rectangular frame, with soft mat seat, to the back legs joined by stepped stretchers and a footrest, the front legs with a cusped arching apron.

Provenance: Collection of John T. Irvine, purchased in China in the 1920s.

Mr John T. Irvine, China, c.1920.

Lot 145. A jade finger citron, Qing dynasty; 13.5 cm, 5 1/4  in. Estimate 10,000 — 15,000 GBP. Lot sold 21,250 £ (24,338 €). © Sotheby's.

the naturalistically carved 'Buddha's hand' attached to a leafy gnarled stalk, the 'fingers' extending and curling at the tips, the translucent stone of an attractive yellowish-green colour, later carved zitan stand.

Lot 117.  A cinnabar lacquer 'Buddhist lion' box and cover, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736-1795); 18.2 cm, 7 1/8  in. Estimate 10,000 — 15,000 GBP. Lot sold 20,000 £ (22,906 €). © Sotheby's.

the cover delicately carved in varying levels of relief with three lions dancing around a brocade ball surrounded by auspicious emblems, their tufts of fur finely detailed, all reserved on a geometric diaper ground with the wan symbol, enclosed by a keyfret border at the rim, the side of the box and cover carved with floral roundels against a floral diaper ground, the interior and base lacquered black.

Provenance: Spink & Son Ltd., London (according to label)

Note: Lacquer boxes decorated with a related design include one of rectangular form in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, illustrated in Masterpieces of Chinese Carved Lacquer Ware in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1971, cat. no. 34; a six-lobed box and cover sold in these rooms, 15th June 1979, lot 250; another sold in these rooms, 16th May 2018, lot 37; and a polychrome lacquer circular box sold at Christie’s London, 7th November 2017, lot 115.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, London, 08 Nov 2018, 10:30 AM

Lot 118. A carved cinnabar lacquer stand, Qing dynasty, Qianlong-Jiaqing period (1736-1820);  95.5 by 41.5 cm, 37 5/8  by 16 3/8  in. Estimate 10,000 — 15,000 GBP. Lot sold 20,000 £ (22,906 €). © Sotheby's.

of square form, raised on legs joined by stretchers and set with a shaped apron, the top intricately carved with panels of stylised florets against leiwen and wan diaper grounds and bordered with keyfret around the sides, further decorated across with panels of birds perched on blossoming sprigs of peony and magnolia, with a fourth flying above a scenic waterscape, the legs decorated with lotus scrolls in a dense foliage followed by shou characters and keyfrets, the underside lacquered in black.

Note:Elaborately carved lacquer stands of this type were known to have been made to furnish the interiors of palaces in the imperial compound; see two carved cinnabar lacquer stands, together with a throne and screen, illustrated in The Palace Museum Collection. A Treasury of Ming & Qing Dynasty Palace Furniture. Volume 2., Beijing & Chicago, 2007, pl. 778; and a smaller rectangular lacquer stand carved with a dragon and clouds on the top panel, attributed to the mid-Qing dynasty, originally placed in the Qianqiu Ting (Pavilion of One Thousand Autumns) at the Summer Palace and now preserved in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Furniture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (II), Hong Kong, 2002, pl. 158.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, London, 08 Nov 2018, 10:30 AM

Lot 119. A 'zitan' incense stand, Qing dynasty, 18th-19th century; 80 by 43 by 43 cm, 31 1/2  by 17 by 17 in. Estimate 7,000 — 9,000 GBP. Lot sold 20,000 £ (22,906 €). © Sotheby's.

of square form, raised on legs joined by stretchers and set with a shaped apron, the top intricately carved with panels of stylised florets against leiwen and wan diaper grounds and bordered with keyfret around the sides, further decorated across with panels of birds perched on blossoming sprigs of peony and magnolia, with a fourth flying above a scenic waterscape, the legs decorated with lotus scrolls in a dense foliage followed by shou characters and keyfrets, the underside lacquered in black.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, London, 08 Nov 2018, 10:30 AM

Lot 67. A thangka depicting Mahakala, Tibet, 18th century; 47 by 68 cm, 18 1/2  by 26 3/4  in. Estimate 8,000 — 12,000 GBP. Lot sold 20,000 £ (22,906 €). © Sotheby's.

depicted in alidhasana to the centre with a torana of fire behind, surrounded by other immortals, with handprints on the reverse.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, London, 08 Nov 2018, 10:30 AM

Lot 2. A blue and white 'Floral' bell, Qing dynasty, 18th century; 22 cm, 8 5/8  in.. Estimate 6,000 — 8,000 GBP. Lot sold 18,750 £ (21,474 €). © Sotheby's.

the rounded body rising from a gently splayed foot to a domed top, painted and pierced to the top and around the body with large cash symbols, surrounded by meandering floral scrolls, all between a band of plantain leaves at the shoulder and a keyfret border at the foot.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, London, 08 Nov 2018, 10:30 AM

Lot 24. A reticulated pale celadon jade 'Deer and Cypress' plaque, Qing dynasty, 18th-19th century; 22 cm, 8 5/8  in.. Estimate 3,000 — 5,000 GBP. Lot sold 18,750 £ (21,474 €). © Sotheby's.

of circular form, skilfully rendered in openwork around the central aperture depicting a pair of deer grazing amongst elaborate foliage including pine trees and flowering branches, standing on jagged rockwork, the stone of an even pale celadon tone.

Provenance: Collection of Richard Drew (1938-2017). 

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, London, 08 Nov 2018, 10:30 AM

Dionysio Miseroni (Prague around 1607 - 1661 Prague), Bowl with grape decoration, Prague, 1648/49. Stone, smoky quartz. L. 18.5 cm, B. 10.5 cm, H. 8.9 cm, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Kunstkammer, 1345. © KHM-Museumsverband

Dionysio Miseroni (Prague around 1607 - 1661 Prague), Oblong bowl, Prague, around 1650. Citrine. H. 8 cm, L. 18.5 cm, B. 10.9 cm, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Kunstkammer, 1367. © KHM-Museumsverband

Dionysio Miseroni (Prague around 1607 - 1661 Prague), Bowl, so-called Groppo, Prague, around 1650. Smoky quartz, burned. H. 5.4 cm, L. 11.4 cm, B. 9.4 cm, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Kunstkammer, 1447. © KHM-Museumsverband

Dionysio Miseroni (Prague around 1607 - 1661 Prague), Pot, Prague, 1653-1656. Rock crystal. H. 26.5 cm, L. 18 cm, B. 17.9 cm, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Kunstkammer, 1412. © KHM-Museumsverband

Dionysio Miseroni (Prague around 1607 - 1661 Prague), Deckelpokal, Prague, 1655. Rock crystal, gold, enamel. H. 44.9 cm, D. 13.7 cm, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Kunstkammer, 2256. © KHM-Museumsverband

Dionysio Miseroni (Prague around 1607 - 1661 Prague), Covered cup, Prague, 1658. Rock crystal, gold, enamel. H. 27 cm, D. bottom 5.5 cm, top 6.1 cm. Foot: dm. 6.1 cm. Cover: Dm. 6.5 cm, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Kunstkammer, 2326. © KHM-Museumsverband

Dionysio Miseroni (Prague around 1607 - 1661 Prague), Shaped bowl, Prague, 1653-56. Rock crystal. H. 14.7 cm, L. 41.5 cm, B. 16.2 cm. Cover: Dm. 6.5 cm, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Kunstkammer, 2375. © KHM-Museumsverband

Dionysio Miseroni (Prague around 1607 - 1661 Prague), Hexagonal covered cup, Prague, around 1650. Stone, smoky quartz, gold, enamel. H. 12.2 cm, D. 5.7 cm, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Kunstkammer, 2329. © KHM-Museumsverband

Dionysio Miseroni (Prague around 1607 - 1661 Prague) & Ferdinand Eusebio Miseroni (Prague 1639 - 1684 Prague), Hexagonal bottle, Prague, before 1660. Rock crystal. H. 31.2 cm, L. 15.7 cm, B. 15.2 cm, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Kunstkammer, 2341. © KHM-Museumsverband

Dionysio Miseroni (Prague around 1607 - 1661 Prague), Hexagonal lidded vase, Prague, 1653-1654. Rock crystal; Socket: silver, gold plated, gold, enamelled. H. 48.2 cm, B. 23 cm, T. 19.1 cm, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Kunstkammer, 1372. © KHM-Museumsverband

Attributed to Dionysio Miseroni (Prague around 1607 - 1661 Prague), Covered vessel, Prague, around 1640-1650. Stone, smoky quartz, silver, gold plated, enamel. H. 15.7 cm, L. 16.2 cm, B. 12.2 cm, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Kunstkammer, 1337. © KHM-Museumsverband.

Dionysio Miseroni (Prague around 1607 - 1661 Prague), Vase so-called Maienkruglein, Prague, around 1638-1639. Stone, smoky quartz, burned; gold, enamel. 12.4 cm × 7.1 cm × 5.1 cm, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Kunstkammer, 1422. © KHM-Museumsverband

Lot 116. A rare turquoise-glazed vase, meiping, Incised Qianlong seal mark and of the period (1736-1795); 24cm (9 1/2in) high. Estimate £6,000 - 10,000. Sold for £ 35,000 (€ 40,205). © Bonhams.

Rising from a slightly flared foot to high rounded shoulders, surmounted by a waisted neck and rounded mouth rim, covered overall with a lustrous turquoise-blue glaze, pooling neatly above the foot ring and base of the neck.

Provenance: a European private collection and thence by descent.

Note: Turquoise is among the rarest of glaze colours found on marked Imperial monochromes. A turquoise-glazed meipingvase, 18th century, in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is illustrated in Catalogue of the Special Exhibition of K'ang-hsi, Yung-cheng and Ch'ien-lung Porcelain Ware from the Ch'ing Dynasty in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, 1986, no.25.

Lot 120. A pair of wucai'dragon and phoenix' bowls, Daoguang seal marks and of the period (1821-1850). Each 15.5cm (6 1/8in) diam. Estimate £8,000 - 12,000. Sold for £43,750 (€ 50,256). © Bonhams.

Lot 122. A blanc-de-chine archaistic tripod incense burner, 17th century; 13cm (5 1/8in) diam. Estimate £3,000 - 5,000. Sold for £3,750 (€ 4,307). © Bonhams.

Lot 124. A rare blue-glazed pear-shaped vase, Qianlong seal mark and of the period (1736-1795); 14cm (5 1/2in) high. Estimate £8,000 - 12,000. Sold for £60,000 (€ 68,923). © Bonhams.

Lot 125. An Yixing hexagonal teapot and cover, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 13cm (5 1/8in) across. Estimate £1,600 - 2,000. Sold for £ 1,875 (€ 2,153). © Bonhams.

Lot 129. A pair of large famille verte'Qilin and Phoenix' dishes, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Each 37cm (14 1/2in) diam. Estimate £ 6,000 - 8,000. Sold for £6,875 (€ 7,897). © Bonhams.

Lot 130. A large famille verte'Romance of the Western Chamber' saucer-dish, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 35.5cm (13 3/4in) diam. Estimate £ 4,000 - 6,000. Sold for £ 16,250 (€ 18,666). © Bonhams.

Lot 133. A fine and rare famille verte 'Temptations of Lu Dongbin' rouleau vase, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 46cm (18in) high. Estimate £ 20,000 -25,000. Sold for £ 18,750 (€ 21,538). © Bonhams.

Lot 134. A large famille verte'Hundred Antiques' jar and cover, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 35.5cm (14in) high. Estimate £ 6,000 -7,000. Sold for £ 11,250 (€ 12,923). © Bonhams.

Funerary stele with male figure, 4000-3000 BCE. Saudi Arabia, El-Maakir, Qaryat al-Kaafa, near Ha’il. Sandstone. Riyadh, National Museum. 

ABU DHABI.- The Louvre Abu Dhabi opened Roads of Arabia: Archaeological Treasures of Saudi Arabia, the second international exhibition of the museum’s cultural season. The exhibition explores the rich history of the Arabian Peninsula through archaeological and cultural artefacts, including a selection of rare pieces from the United Arab Emirates. 

The exhibition explores five chapters in the history of the Arabian Peninsula, spanning early prehistoric settlements; maritime exploration; caravan trading routes that linked the region with Asia, Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean; routes of holy pilgrimage emerging in the 7th century CE; and the social and economic developments between the 14th and 16th centuries that set the stage for the modern day region. 

Fourteen acclaimed editions of the show have toured throughout Europe, the USA and Asia before now coming back to the region at Louvre Abu Dhabi, where it is enriched by selected pieces from the UAE. The exhibition was conceived through cooperation between SCTH and the Musée du Louvre in Paris, where it was first presented in 2010. 

“Roads of Arabia: Archaeological Treasures of Saudi Arabia forms the centrepiece of our latest cultural season at Louvre Abu Dhabi. The exhibition embodies a significant friendship and convergence between the UAE, Saudi Arabia and France. With the museum located at one of Abu Dhabi’s gateways to the Arabian Peninsula, I can’t think of a more appropriate exhibition to present on the occasion of this institution’s first anniversary.” said H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. 

The expanded exhibition displayed at Louvre Abu Dhabi is co-curated by Jamal S. Omar, Vice President of Antiquities and Museums Department at STCH, Dr. Souraya Noujaim, Scientific, Curatorial and Collection Management Director at Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Noëmi Daucé, Chief Curator for Archaeology at Louvre Abu Dhabi. 

Manuel Rabaté, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi, said: “Over the past year, Louvre Abu Dhabi has been telling the world’s universal story through its international exhibitions and innovative programming. Louvre Abu Dhabi’s ambition is to celebrate cross-cultural connections and highlight bridges between civilisations. We launch the exhibition’s programme in our anniversary week with On the Roads of Arabia, a world first showcasing more than 80 talented musicians and their respective cultures from across the ancient trade routes of Arabia.” 

Dr. Noujaim added: “Louvre Abu Dhabi’s international exhibitions are always an extension of the artworks and stories we present in our permanent galleries. As part of our season, Worlds of Exchanges, our latest exhibition Roads of Arabia tells the story of this region and offers a closer look at its interconnected history and heritage, across roads weaved throughout the peninsula. 

The important archaeological pieces from the UAE include a pearl found in Umm Al Quwain dating from 5500-5300 BCE (loaned by Umm Al Quwain Museum); a stone decorated with a wild camel from the late 3rd millennium BCE (loaned by Al Ain Museum), and objects from Julfar (loaned by the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah). 

These are being displayed alongside significant artefacts from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including outstanding funerary Neolithic stela, a 3rd-century BCE bronze statue head (loaned by the Department of Archaeology at King Saud University); a 1st-century BCE gold funerary mask from Eastern Province (loaned by the National Museum in Riyadh), 9th-century engraved steles (loaned by King Fahad National Library); 4th-millennium BCE Anthropomorphic stele (loaned by the National Museum in Riyadh); a door of the Kaaba dating to 1355 (loaned by the National Museum in Riyadh) and a key of the Kaaba (loaned by the Department of Islamic Art at the Musée du Louvre).

'Anthropomorphic Stele', (4th millennium B.C.E.) El-Maakir-Qaryat al-Kaafa, near Ha’il, Saudi Arabia, National Museum, Riyadh.© Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.

Stele representing a man with dagger: 1st–3rd century BCE Calcite alabaster, 57 × 30 cm Qaryat al-Faw. © Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.

Head of a man, 100 BCE-200 CE, Saudi Arabia, Qaryat al-Faw. Cast bronze, Riyadh, Archaeology Department museum, King Saud University. © Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.

Statue of an eagle standing on a bull’s head: 1-100 CE United Arab Emirates, Ed-Dur Stone. Department of Tourism and Archaeology – Umm Al Quwain. © Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.

Tombstone of ‘Abbas, Son of ‘Abdallah, Son of Muhammad, Son of Nasih, al-Ma’la Cemetery, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 9th century C.E. Basalt, H x W x D: 24 x 13 ¾ x 4 ¼ inches. National Museum, Riyadh, 451. © Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.

Double pages from a Qur’an (Sura 5:6–18), 800–900. North Africa or West Asia; Abbasid period (approx. 750–1258). Ink and gold on parchment, National Museum of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, 1/47. © Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.

Section of a sacred cloth (Kiswa), 1992 Mecca. Cotton, silk, and gold and silver wire, National Museum of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, M/1 . © Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.

Qur’an, 1500–1700, Turkey, Ottoman dynasty (1299–1922). Ink, color, and gold on paper National Museum of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, 2 Cat. no. 303. © Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.

Lock plate, 1603–1617, Turkey Ottoman dynasty (1299–1922). Gilded silver, National Museum of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, 3005/1–2 Cat. no. 307. © Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.

Door of the Ka’ba, Probably Turkey, A.H. 1045 / 1635 – 36 C.E. Hammered, engraved and gilded silver leaf on a wooden core, 11 ¼ feet x 6 feet. National Museum, Riyadh, 1355. © Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.

‘Incense Burner Commissioned by the Mother of Sultan Murad IV’, Hujra, (A.H. 1059 / 1649 C.E.), Sanctuary of Medina, Saudi Arabia, National Museum, Riyadh. © Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.

Lot 140. A blue and copper-red 'carp' saucer-dish, Kangxi period (1662-1722); 35cm (13 6/8in) diam. Estimate £4,000 - 6,000. Sold for £ 5,000 (€ 5,743). © Bonhams

The deep sides rising from a channelled foot, painted in vibrant tones of copper-red and blue with a leaping carp above breaking waves rising towards a setting sun on the horizon, encircled in the cavetto by fish, crabs, shrimp, other crustacea and water weeds, the exterior similarly painted with various fish swimming on a diagonal wave ground with florets.

Note: Compare with a very similar dish, Kangxi, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, illustrated by R.Kerr, Chinese Ceramics: Porcelain of the Qing Dynasty 1644-1911, London, 1998, no.55.