A bronze figure of Bodhisattva, China, Ming dynasty, 15th-16th century

June 8, 2019, 3:13 am

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Lot 123. A bronze figure of Bodhisattva, China, Ming dynasty, 15th-16th century. H. : 33 cm (13 in.) Estimation : 8 000 € / 12 000 €. Courtesy Artcurial.

Représenté assis en padmasana sur une double base lotiforme, vêtu d'un dhoti, un châle sur les épaules retombant en volutes sur les bras et la base, paré de bijoux, la main droite en varadamudra, la main gauche en vitarkamudra, tenant des tiges de lotus remontant le long des épaules et supportant une verseuse et un oiseau, le visage serein, les cheveux coiffés en chignon et portant un diadème ; manques à deux doigts, à l'extrémité de la verseuse, à l'arrière du diadème et à la bordure arrière de la base .

Art d'Asie chez Artcurial, 75008 Paris, le 10 Juin 2019 à 14h00

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A pair of bronze figures of Bodhisattva, China, Ming dynasty, 16th century

June 8, 2019, 3:18 am

≫ Next: A gold lacquered bronze figure of bodhisattva, China, Ming dynasty, 17th century

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Lot 46. A pair of bronze figures of Bodhisattva, China, Ming dynasty, 16th century. H. : 28 et 28,5 cm (11 ½ in.) Estimation : 12 000 € / 18 000 €. Courtesy Artcurial.

Assis en bhadrasana, l'un, sur une chimère couchée, l'autre, sur un éléphant, reposants sur une base lotiforme, parés de bijoux, vêtus d'une robe aux bordures ciselées de motifs floraux, les mains en vitarkamudra tenant un rouleau pour l'un et ruyi pour l'autre, le visage légèrement souriant, les cheveux coiffés en chignon, le front ceint d'un diadème ; petits manques ou trous à la base.

Art d'Asie chez Artcurial, 75008 Paris, le 10 Juin 2019 à 14h00

A gold lacquered bronze figure of bodhisattva, China, Ming dynasty, 17th century

June 8, 2019, 3:23 am

≫ Next: Antique Imperial Spinel, Pearl and Emerald Necklace

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Lot 43. A gold lacquered bronze figure of bodhisattva, China, Ming dynasty, 17th century. H. : 18,2 cm (7 ¼ in.) Estimation : 1 500 € / 2 000 €. Courtesy Artcurial.

Représenté assis en padmasana, la main gauche tenant une coupe, la main droite en vitarkamudra, vêtu d'une robe ceinturée à la taille, paré d'un collier, le visage serein, les cheveux coiffés en chignon et portant un diadème ; manque à une branche du diadème, petit manque à la base.

Art d'Asie chez Artcurial, 75008 Paris, le 10 Juin 2019 à 14h00

Antique Imperial Spinel, Pearl and Emerald Necklace

June 8, 2019, 5:07 am

≫ Next: 'The Nizams of Hyderabad Sarpech'. An Antique Diamond, Spinel, Pearl and Enamel Sarpech

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Lot 282. Antique Imperial Spinel, Pearl and Emerald Necklace. Estimate USD 1,000,000 - USD 2,000,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2019.

Seven tumbled spinel beads, pearls, pear-shaped cabochon emerald drop, gold, 20 ½ ins., spinel beads from the 17th century, restrung at a later date.

SSEF, 2014, report no. 73623: 7 Spinels, Tajikistan, no indications of any treatment.

Provenance: Christie's, Geneva, 14 May 2014, lot 177

Exhibited: Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2015, pp. 40-41, no. 36
The Miho Museum, Koka 2016, p. 74, no. 45
Grand Palais, Paris 2017, p. 59, no. 41
The Doge’s Palace, Venice 2017, p. 78, no. 35
The Palace Museum, Beijing 2018, p. 90, no. 36
de Young Legion of Honor, San Francisco 2018, p. 60, no. 11.

Note: Mughal Emperors were captivated by regal red spinels, also called ‘ballas rubies’. Spinels were the gemstone of choice to carry imperial titles, as important as rubies or emeralds. Mughal Emperors were known to have their best and largest stones inscribed with their names. Calligraphy was the highest art of the Islamic courts and its practitioners were the most renowned artists. The best calligraphers were tasked with these engravings.

Jahangir Shah [son of] Akbar Shah (Jahangir). ©Denis Hayoun / Diode SA.

Jahangir Shah [son of] Akbar Shah 1016 (Jahangir 1608-9 AD). ©Denis Hayoun / Diode SA.

Sahib Qiran-i thani 1043 [regnal year] 6 (Shah Jahan 1633-4 AD). ©Denis Hayoun / Diode SA.

Alamgir Shah 1070 (Aurangzeb 1659-60 AD). ©Denis Hayoun / Diode SA.

Jahangir Shah [son of] Akbar Shah 04 (part polished away) (Jahangir. Date uncertain).©Denis Hayoun / Diode SA.

Jahangir Shah [son of] Akbar Shah 1017 (Jahangir 1609-10 AD). ©Denis Hayoun / Diode SA.

Probably [A]lamgir Shah ibn [son of] Shah Jahan 1071 (Aurangzeb 1660-61 AD). ©Denis Hayoun / Diode SA.

Jahangir Shah [son of] Akbar Shah (part polished away) (Jahangir). ©Denis Hayoun / Diode SA.

Ahmad Shah [son of] Durduran 1168 (Ahmad Shah Durrani 1754-5 AD). ©Denis Hayoun / Diode SA.

Alamgir Shah [son of] Shah Jahan (Aurangzeb). ©Denis Hayoun / Diode SA.

Christie's. Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence, New York, 19 June 2019

'The Nizams of Hyderabad Sarpech'. An Antique Diamond, Spinel, Pearl and Enamel Sarpech

June 8, 2019, 5:32 am

≫ Next: A Spinel, Natural Pearl, Diamond and Emerald Bead 'Imperial Moghul Necklace' and Earrings, Cartier

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Lot 311. 'The Nizams of Hyderabad Sarpech'. An Antique Diamond, Spinel, Pearl and Enamel Sarpech. Estimate USD 1,000,000 - USD 2,000,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2019.

The turban ornament set with circular, pear and variously-shaped table-cut diamonds, tumbled spinel beads, pearls, foil, gold on a lac core, silver, 10 ½ ins., strings each 15 ins., early to mid 19th century, restrung at a later date, lower left spinel dated 1607-8 and 1633-34.

Provenance: Nizams of Hyderabad.

Literature: Jaffer 2013, p. 161, ill. p. 194, no. 72

Exhibited: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 2014, pp. 62-63
Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2015, pp. 104-5, no. 56
The Miho Museum, Koka 2016, p. 126, no. 93
Grand Palais, Paris 2017, p. 224, no. 166
The Doge’s Palace, Venice 2017, p. 224, no. 166
The Palace Museum, Beijing 2018, p. 264, no. 171
de Young Legion of Honor, San Francisco 2018, p. 122, no. 55.

Note: Sarpech is Hindi for 'head feather' but is generally known as a turban ornament. It was worn almost exclusively by the emperor, Indian princes and their immediate family. Considered the ultimate symbol of royalty and sometimes used as a reward for exceptional service to the emperor, it evolved from the tradition of pinning a heron's feather (kalgi) to the front of a turban. Even during the reign of Jahangir (1569-1627) a sarpech can be seen in most portraits when they were painted in miniature. During the reign of Shah Jahan (1592-1666), sarpechs became much more elaborate and began to be jewel encrusted. There are many references in the Shah Nama of expensive jighas being presented to noblemen and courtiers in recognition of deeds undertaken in the name of the emperor.

After Queen Victoria became Empress of India in 1857 no Indian Prince was supposed to wear a crown and perhaps this explains the emergence of highly elaborate and jeweled sarpechs with their own interpretation of royalty.

19th century sarpechs were significantly larger in scale. The central diamonds in this example are mounted in silver, suggesting that this sarpech was made in Hyderabad. Successor States suspended historic spinels inscribed with Mughal names from their turban ornaments as trophies.

Christie's. Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence, New York, 19 June 2019 

A Spinel, Natural Pearl, Diamond and Emerald Bead 'Imperial Moghul Necklace' and Earrings, Cartier

June 8, 2019, 6:11 am

≫ Next: 'The Shah Jahan Necklace'. An Antique Spinel, Pearl, Diamond and Multi-Gem Necklace

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Lot 97. A Spinel, Natural Pearl, Diamond and Emerald Bead 'Imperial Moghul Necklace' and Earrings, Cartier. Estimate USD 700,000 - USD 1,000,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2019.

Antique tumbled spinel beads, natural pearls, circular, briolette and rose-cut diamonds, carved emerald bead of 25.89 carats, platinum and 18k white gold (French marks), necklace 16 ½ ins., 2012, signed Cartier, nos. RE1943 (necklace), accompanied by a pair of earrings 2 ¼ ins., signed Cartier, no. RE4121 (earrings), custom red Cartier case inscribed 'The Imperial Moghul Necklace'.

Cartier, 2011: Certificate of Authenticity (necklace)
Cartier, 2011: Certificate of Authenticity (earrings)
AGL, 2009, report no. CS 41137: 17 spinels, Tajikistan, no enhancement, letter attesting to the unique importance of the spinels
SSEF, 2011, report no. 58195: Emerald, 25.896 carats, Colombia, moderate clarity enhancement, oil
SSEF, 2011, report no. 60723: 29 natural pearls, saltwater
SSEF, 2011, report no. 59289: Tassel, 50 natural pearls, saltwater

Exhibited: Grand Palais, Paris 2017, p. 379, no. 279
The Doge’s Palace, Venice 2017, p. 384, no. 270
The Palace Museum, Beijing 2018, p. 386, no. 270.

Note: This contemporary Cartier necklace is reminiscent of jewelry from the Mughal period. Incorporating an antique spinel engraved 'Akbar Shah Bahadur', the necklace continues the firm's tradition from the early twentieth century of designing jewelry that highlights historical elements. The spinel refers to the great Mughal ruler, Akbar Shah II, who was demoted to the rank of King of Delhi by the East India Company in the early 19th century.

Christie's. Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence, New York, 19 June 2019 

'The Shah Jahan Necklace'. An Antique Spinel, Pearl, Diamond and Multi-Gem Necklace

June 8, 2019, 6:33 am

≫ Next: An Imperial Tumbled Spinel Bead of 54.50 carats, mid to late 17th century

≪ Previous: A Spinel, Natural Pearl, Diamond and Emerald Bead 'Imperial Moghul Necklace' and Earrings, Cartier

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Lot 341. 'The Shah Jahan Necklace'. An Antique Spinel, Pearl, Diamond and Multi-Gem Necklace. Estimate USD 200,000 - USD 400,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2019.

Tumbled spinel beads, pearls, octagonal table-cut diamond, variously-shaped table-cut diamonds and rubies, carved jade, gold, 42 ½ ins., one spinel dated 1609-10, restrung at a later date.

Literature: Pal et al., 1989, pp. 136-167, no. 136
Jaffer 2013, pp. 97-98, no. 19.

Exhibited: Los Angeles 1989, pp. 136-37, no. 136
Paris 2001, pp. 220-21
The Miho Museum, Koka 2016, p. 76, no. 47
Grand Palais, Paris 2017, p. 61, no. 42
The Doge’s Palace, Venice 2017, p. 72, no. 31
The Palace Museum, Beijing 2018, p. 84, no. 32
de Young Legion of Honor, San Francisco 2018, p. 172, no. 28.

Christie's. Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence, New York, 19 June 2019 

An Imperial Tumbled Spinel Bead of 54.50 carats, mid to late 17th century

June 8, 2019, 6:46 am

≫ Next: An Imperial Tumbled Spinel Bead of 24.26 carats, dated 1607 and 1628-29

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Lot 44. An Imperial Tumbled Spinel Bead of 54.50 carats, mid to late 17th century. Estimate USD 100,000 - USD 150,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2019.

Provenance: Mrs. David Graham Pole
Private Collection
Sotheby's, London, 26 April 2017, lot 191.

Exhibited: The Doge’s Palace, Venice 2017, p. 81, no. 39.

Christie's. Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence, New York, 19 June 2019 

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An Imperial Tumbled Spinel Bead of 24.26 carats, dated 1607 and 1628-29

June 8, 2019, 6:55 am

≫ Next: An Imperial Spinel Bead of 14.90 carats

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Lot 43. An Imperial Tumbled Spinel Bead of 24.26 carats, dated 1607 and 1628-29. Estimate USD 70,000 - USD 100,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2019.

Exhibited: The Miho Museum, Koka 2016, p. 31, no. 8
Grand Palais, Paris 2017, p. 57, no. 38
The Doge’s Palace, Venice 2017, p. 79, no. 36
The Palace Museum, Beijing 2018, p. 92, no. 37
de Young Legion of Honor, San Francisco 2018, p. 59, no. 10.

Christie's. Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence, New York, 19 June 2019 

An Imperial Spinel Bead of 14.90 carats

June 8, 2019, 7:05 am

≫ Next: A Tumbled Spinel Bead of 9.34 carats, circa 1747-73

≪ Previous: An Imperial Tumbled Spinel Bead of 24.26 carats, dated 1607 and 1628-29

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Lot 41. An Imperial Spinel Bead of 14.90 carats. Estimate USD 10,000 - USD 15,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2019.

Christie's. Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence, New York, 19 June 2019 

 

 

A Tumbled Spinel Bead of 9.34 carats, circa 1747-73

June 8, 2019, 7:13 am

≫ Next: An Antique Spinel, Ruby and Diamond Sarpech

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Lot 92. A Tumbled Spinel Bead of 9.34 carats, circa 1747-73. Estimate USD 10,000 - USD 15,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2019.

Note: Ahmad Shah Durrani, also known as Ahmad Khan Abdali, was the founder of the Durrani Empire and is regarded as the founder of the modern state of Afghanistan. He reigned for 25 years between 1747-1772 and raided India eight times during this time period.

Christie's. Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence, New York, 19 June 2019

An Antique Spinel, Ruby and Diamond Sarpech

June 8, 2019, 7:24 am

≫ Next: A rare Longquan Guan-type lobed cup, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279)

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Lot 241. An Antique Spinel, Ruby and Diamond Sarpech, mid to late 19th century. Estimate USD 300,000 - USD 500,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2019.

The turban ornament set with spinel beads, circular ruby cabochons, rounded and mixed-shape table-cut diamonds, diamond taveez beads, foil, gold and silver, 7 7/8 ins.

Literature: Jaffer 2013, p. 215, ill. p. 271, no. 89

Exhibited: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 2014, p. 66
The Miho Museum, Koka 2016, pp. 128-29, no. 95
Grand Palais, Paris 2017, p. 231, no. 171
The Doge’s Palace, Venice 2017, p. 249, no. 170
The Palace Museum, Beijing 2018, p. 268, no. 174
de Young Legion of Honor, San Francisco 2018, p. 122, no. 55.

Christie's. Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence, New York, 19 June 2019

A rare Longquan Guan-type lobed cup, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279)

June 8, 2019, 8:03 am

≫ Next: A Longquan celadon vase, Song dynasty (960.1279)

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Lot 367. A rare Longquan Guan-type lobed cup, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279); 10.1 cm, 4 in. Estimate 40,000 — 60,000 HKD. Lot sold 162,500 HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's

the deep rounded sides divided into six lobes and flaring to a foliate rim, applied overall save for the footring with a pale bluish-green glaze.

Provenance: An old Swedish collection.

Sotheby's. Chinese Art, Hong Kong, 30 may 2019 - 31 may 2019 

A Longquan celadon vase, Song dynasty (960.1279)

June 8, 2019, 8:08 am

≫ Next: A Longquan celadon 'Phoenix' vase, Song dynasty (960-1279)

≪ Previous: A rare Longquan Guan-type lobed cup, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279)

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Lot 374. A Longquan celadon vase, Song dynasty (960.1279); 14.9 cm, 5 7/8  in. Estimate 60,000 — 80,000 HKD. Lot sold 250,000 HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's

the globular body rising from a tapered foot to a tall neck and everted dished rim, covered overall save for the footring with an attractive bluish-green glaze.

Sotheby's. Chinese Art, Hong Kong, 30 may 2019 - 31 may 2019

A Longquan celadon 'Phoenix' vase, Song dynasty (960-1279)

June 8, 2019, 8:27 am

≫ Next: A Korean celadon plate, Koryo dynasty, 13th century

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Lot 387. A Longquan celadon 'Phoenix' vase, Song dynasty (960-1279); 19 cm, 7 1/2  in. Estimate 80,000 — 120,000 HKD. Lot sold 162,500 HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's

the tapering cylindrical body surmounted by a tall columnar neck and flanked by a pair of archaistic phoenix handles, covered overall in a sea-green glaze.

Provenance: A French private collection, ca. 2007.

Sotheby's. Chinese Art, Hong Kong, 30 may 2019 - 31 may 2019

 

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A Korean celadon plate, Koryo dynasty, 13th century

June 8, 2019, 8:47 am

≫ Next: A set of three small celadon dishes, Korea, Koryo dynasty, 10th-14th century

≪ Previous: A Longquan celadon 'Phoenix' vase, Song dynasty (960-1279)

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Lot 368. A Korean celadon plate, Koryo dynasty, 13th century; 11.5 cm, 4 1/2  in. Estimate 20,000 — 30,000 HKD. Lot sold 52,500 HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's

incised to the interior with twin fish against waves, surrounded by four ruyi-clouds on the flat everted rim, the exterior decorated with petals, the footrim glazed and the base with three spur marks.

Provenance: An old Swedish collection.

Sotheby's. Chinese Art, Hong Kong, 30 may 2019 - 31 may 2019

A set of three small celadon dishes, Korea, Koryo dynasty, 10th-14th century

June 8, 2019, 8:57 am

≫ Next: A Longquan celadon 'Bajixiang' octagonal stem cup, Yuan dynasty (1279-1368)

≪ Previous: A Korean celadon plate, Koryo dynasty, 13th century

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Lot 369. A set of three small celadon dishes, Korea, Koryo dynasty, 10th-14th century; 8.9 to 9.2 cm, 3 1/2  to 3 5/8  in. Estimate 15,000 — 20,000 HKD. Lot sold 35,000 HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's

each of circular form, with upright sides supported on a flat base, covered overall save for three spur marks on the base with a sage-green glaze.

Sotheby's. Chinese Art, Hong Kong, 30 may 2019 - 31 may 2019

A Longquan celadon 'Bajixiang' octagonal stem cup, Yuan dynasty (1279-1368)

June 8, 2019, 9:13 am

≫ Next: A large Junyao purple-splashed bowl, Song-Jin dynasty (960-1234)

≪ Previous: A set of three small celadon dishes, Korea, Koryo dynasty, 10th-14th century

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Lot 388. A Longquan celadon 'Bajixiang' octagonal stem cup, Yuan dynasty (1279-1368); 14.2 cm, 5 5/8  in. Estimate 40,000 — 60,000 HKD. Lot sold 125,000 HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's

the interior centre with a fu (fortune) character, surrounded on the cavetto by cartouches enclosing the bajixiang and lotus, the exterior similarly decorated with cranes and flowers, the base pierced with a coin emblem.

Sotheby's. Chinese Art, Hong Kong, 30 may 2019 - 31 may 2019

A large Junyao purple-splashed bowl, Song-Jin dynasty (960-1234)

June 8, 2019, 12:16 pm

≫ Next: A Junyao moon-white glazed cup, Northern Song-Jin dynasty (1127-1234)

≪ Previous: A Longquan celadon 'Bajixiang' octagonal stem cup, Yuan dynasty (1279-1368)

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Lot 333. A large Junyao purple-splashed bowl, Song-Jin dynasty (960-1234); 20 cm, 7 7/8  in. Estimate 120,000 — 180,000 HKD. Lot sold 162,500 HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's

the steep rounded sides rising from a short foot to a gently incurved rim, applied overall save for the foot with a milky-blue glaze thinning to a mushroom tone at the rim, the interior liberally decorated with two purple splashes.

Property from the Xinyangtang Collection.

Provenance: Tai Sing Fine Antiques Ltd, Hong Kong, 17th August 2002.

Sotheby's. Chinese Art, Hong Kong, 30 may 2019 - 31 may 2019

A Junyao moon-white glazed cup, Northern Song-Jin dynasty (1127-1234)

June 8, 2019, 12:23 pm

≫ Next: A small Junyao cup, Jin dynasty (1115-1234)

≪ Previous: A large Junyao purple-splashed bowl, Song-Jin dynasty (960-1234)

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Lot 364. A Junyao moon-white glazed cup, Northern Song-Jin dynasty (1127-1234); 9.3 cm, 3 5/8  in. Estimate 15,000 — 20,000 HKD. Lot sold 75,000 HKD. Courtesy Sotheby's

the deep rounded sides rising from a short foot to an incurved rim, applied overall save for the foot with a pale bluish-white glaze.

Provenance: An old Swedish collection.

Sotheby's. Chinese Art, Hong Kong, 30 may 2019 - 31 may 2019