Otto Jakob, Kusari. Photo courtesy Otto Jakob.
Hoop earrings of white gold with diamond set chain ornaments, outlined with black enamel. White gold, 371 diamonds, vitreous cloisonné enamel.
Otto Jakob (stand 148). TEFAF Maastricht. 2014 14-23 march - http://www.tefaf.com/
Otto Jakob, Shiro & Kuro. Photo courtesy Otto Jakob.
Shiro. Diamond set hoop earrings of white gold, with cardan chains and natural clam pearls from the Pacific of perfect oval shape. The pearls’ slightly translucent surface of porcelain white color shows the typical flame pattern. White gold, 2 natural pearls, 578 micro pavé set diamonds
Kuro. Enameled hoop earrings of yellow gold with a pair of engraved onyx drops that are suspended on enameled and diamond set cardan chains. Yellow gold, onyx, 8 rose cut diamonds, vitreous cloisonné enamel
Otto Jakob (stand 148). TEFAF Maastricht. 2014 14-23 march - http://www.tefaf.com/
Otto Jakob, Stea. Photo courtesy Otto Jakob.
Earrings of white gold, with articulated diamond chains and Renaissance inspired rock crystal rosettes. Partially oxidized white gold, 172 diamonds, 2 rock crystal rosettes
Otto Jakob (stand 148). TEFAF Maastricht. 2014 14-23 march - http://www.tefaf.com/
Graff. An 10.47ct fancy vivid blue internally flawless briolette diamond pendant set in a delicate frame of white diamonds. Photo courtesy Graff
Graff (stand 142). TEFAF Maastricht. 2014 14-23 march - http://www.tefaf.com/
A large Longquan yingqing celadon glaze charger, 14th century. Photo California Asian Art Auction Gallery.
This large Longquan yingqing charger was impressed with delicate designs of flower scrolls aganist the celadon glaze. It is completed with a hard wood stand. The base is unglazed, and burned to a dark brown hue. Dimensions: Diameter: 19 1/2 in (50 cm). Estimated Price: $12,000 - $15,000
Includes a certificate issued by Hong Kong Art Craft Merchants Association Limited from 1974.
California Asian Art Auction Gallery.March 15, 2014, San Gabriel, CA, US. Website : http://californiaasianartauction.com/ - Email : info@californiaasianartauction.com
A large doucai Buddhism bowl, Qing Dynasty period. Photo California Asian Art Auction Gallery.
The deep bowl's exterior decorated with artistic shapes such as cross and flowers, enclosed in ruyi cloud, all against red ground, between scrolling flowers and vines patterns, the interior's center with flower planters in mirroring diamond design, the bottom bears four character "QIANLONG" mark. Dimensions: D: 7 1/2 in (19 cm) H: 4 in (10.2 cm). Estimated Price: $12,000 - $15,000
California Asian Art Auction Gallery.March 15, 2014, San Gabriel, CA, US. Website : http://californiaasianartauction.com/ - Email : info@californiaasianartauction.com
A pair of blue and white 'Wu Shuang Figures' vases, Qing Dynasty period. Photo California Asian Art Auction Gallery.
Of rectangular shape, each vase is decorated alternatively on each side with figure from 'Wu Shuang Pu', including Sun Quan, Di Renjie, Wu Zetian, and Fu Sheng, along with inscriptions about the figure. Both sides on the body are mounted with mythical beast ring handles. Rising to an everted rim, the waisted necks on each side are also decorated with inscriptions, all against the white glazed background. Dimensions: H: 22 1/8 in (56.2 cm) W: 7 3/8 in (18.8 cm). Estimated Price: $10,000 - $12,000
California Asian Art Auction Gallery.March 15, 2014, San Gabriel, CA, US. Website : http://californiaasianartauction.com/ - Email : info@californiaasianartauction.com
A white nephrite snuff bottle, 1760-1850. Photo Bonhams.
Of upright tapering near rectangular form with a flat lip and straight neck, a raised panel on each of the four faces, with a rectangular foot rim with notched corners echoing the shape of the body, the stone with icy white inclusions. 2 1/8in (5.5cm) high. Estimate US$ 4,000 - 6,000 (€2,900 - 4,300)
Property from the Collection of Emmanuel Dimitri Gran (1894-1969)
Bonhams.CHINESE ART FROM THE SCHOLAR'S STUDIO. 17 Mar 2014, New York - www.bonhams.com
A white nephrite snuff bottle, 1760-1850. Photo Bonhams.
Of near rectangular form, with a slight taper towards the foot, with a flat lip and neat, oval foot rim surrounding a shallowly recessed foot, each of the four sides with a raised panel. 1 3/4in (4.4cm) high. Estimate: US$ 1,500 - 2,500 (€1,100 - 1,800)
Property from the Collection of Emmanuel Dimitri Gran (1894-1969)
Bonhams.CHINESE ART FROM THE SCHOLAR'S STUDIO. 17 Mar 2014, New York - www.bonhams.com
A celadon nephrite snuff bottle, 1750-1880. Photo Bonhams.
Of compressed peach form, the interior well-hollowed, the stone with icy white inclusions and faint russet flecks. 2in (5cm) high. Estimate US$ 3,000 - 5,000 (€2,200 - 3,600)
Property from the Collection of Emmanuel Dimitri Gran (1894-1969)
Bonhams.CHINESE ART FROM THE SCHOLAR'S STUDIO. 17 Mar 2014, New York - www.bonhams.com
A grey nephrite snuff bottle, 1750-1850. Photo Bonhams.
Of compressed ovoid form with a slightly concave lip, a straight neck and concave foot, the interior very-well hollowed, the stone with russet and grey striations, a black patch, and icy white inclusions. 2 3/8in (5.9cm) high. Estimate US$ 3,000 - 5,000 (€2,200 - 3,600)
Property from the Collection of Emmanuel Dimitri Gran (1894-1969)
Bonhams.CHINESE ART FROM THE SCHOLAR'S STUDIO. 17 Mar 2014, New York - www.bonhams.com
A white nephrite snuff bottle, 1760-1850. Photo Bonhams.
The form imitating a porcelain moon flask, with a flat, everted lip and a high foot rim, the front with a low relief carving of twin archaistic kui dragons around a stylized shou medallion, an identical design on the reverse. 1 3/4in (4.4cm) high. Estimate US$ 2,000 - 3,000 (€1,400 - 2,200)
Property from the Collection of Emmanuel Dimitri Gran (1894-1969)
Bonhams.CHINESE ART FROM THE SCHOLAR'S STUDIO. 17 Mar 2014, New York - www.bonhams.com
A white and russet nephrite snuff bottle, 18th-19th century. Photo Bonhams.
Of flattened meiping form, with a flat, everted lip, and a flat oval foot, the interior well-hollowed, the exterior carved in high relief with a chi dragon climbing the side of the vase, the russet skin highlighting the dragon's body. 2 7/8in (7.3cm) high. Estimate US$ 10,000 - 15,000 (€7,200 - 11,000)
Property from the Collection of Emmanuel Dimitri Gran (1894-1969)
Bonhams.CHINESE ART FROM THE SCHOLAR'S STUDIO. 17 Mar 2014, New York - www.bonhams.com
A russet nephrite snuff bottle, 1750-1840. Photo Bonhams.
Of natural pebble form, carved in low relief to appear as if wrapped with a fabric and bow, the surface carved with a multitude of bats and swastika, the stone with a russet skin. 2in (5cm) high. Estimate US$ 6,000 - 8,000 (€4,300 - 5,800)
Property from the Collection of Emmanuel Dimitri Gran (1894-1969)
Bonhams.CHINESE ART FROM THE SCHOLAR'S STUDIO. 17 Mar 2014, New York - www.bonhams.com
A celadon nephrite snuff bottle with russet skin, 1750-1850. Photo Bonhams.
Of compressed form with a straight neck and flat lip, supported by a high oval foot rim, with fixed ring lion mask handles to each side, one face of the bottle slightly concave and displaying a russet skin. 2 3/8in (5.9cm) high. Estimate US$ 5,000 - 7,000 (€3,600 - 5,000)
Property from the Collection of Emmanuel Dimitri Gran (1894-1969)
Bonhams.CHINESE ART FROM THE SCHOLAR'S STUDIO. 17 Mar 2014, New York - www.bonhams.com
Pendant. Gold filigree and pearls; 11 x 11,5 cm. Spain, circa 1670. Photo courtesy Deborah Elvira
A two part filigree structure in a bow shape, covered in pearls, with a cluster of bigger gems in the middle. This type of jewel, known in Spanish as corbatas were popular towards the end of the 17th century, set either with pearls or gemstones (see the portrait of María Luisa de Orléans, by Carreño de Miranda, in the Royal Monastery of Guadalupe ). However, examples like this are rare as such delicate work is so fragile that it has only survived in the treasuries of convents, where it was presented to the Virgin as a proof of devotion or as a dowry by the nuns joining the congregation.
Provenance: Private collection
Literature: Pearls, Beatriz Chadour - Sampson and Hubert Bari, V&A Publishing, London 2013. p. 79
Exhibitions: Pearls, Victoria and Albert Museum, London (September 2013 - January 2014)
Pendant with miniatures by Valerio Marucelli (1563 - 1626) The Virgin of the Santissima Annunziata and the Angel Gabriel. Gold, enamel, crystal, copper, vellum; 6,5 x 4,5 cm. Miniatures 3,1 x 2,4 cm. Florence, 1618. Photo courtesy Deborah Elvira.
The small images set in this pendant are copies of the heads of the Virgin and Angel Gabriel in the Annunciation fresco of the Santissima Annunziata church in Florence. The image had great fame due to some reported miracles and during the late 1500’s and the early 1600’s the Medici grand dukes of Tuscany promoted the cult of the miraculous fresco by sending replicas to relevant personalities across Italy and Europe. There is ample documentation concerning these gifts in the Medici correspondence and account books which belong to the Florence State archives. A great number of the replicas were painted by Alessandro Allori (1535 - 1607) and his son Cristofano Allori (1577-1621). Some scholars have attributed this pendant to Cristofano Allori but it is quite sure that the author is a lesser known Florentine artist, Valerio Marucelli, active in Florence in the last decades of the 1500’s and the first of the 1600’s. The archival sources refer to him as a copist in the service of the Medici family, specialized in miniatures of famous works of art: almost forty different miniatures painted by him are mentioned in the inventories and account books of the Galleria dei Lavori, the court’s workshops on the second floor of the gallery of the Uffizi and the registers of the Guardaroba, the department responsible for the administration of the grand duke’s possessions.
These miniatures can be identified with those described in an inventory of the Medici Guardaroba of November 8 1618, when they were delivered to Cosimo II. The description does not however include the size of the ovals so we are are forced to conclude that even if we are sure about the author, we have a margin of doubt about the identification of the miniatures in the inventory.
A full report on the research by Dr. Lisa Goldenberg - Stoppato is available for consultation.
Provenance: Private collection
Ring. Gold and amethyst. The bezel 1.7 x 1.7 cm. Spain, before 1724. Photo courtesy Deborah Elvira.
Recovered from the Spanish galleon Conde de Tolosa
In the early morning of August 25th 1724, hit by an hurricane, the Guadalupe and the Tolosa sank on the northern coast of La Española. Both ships were loaded with 400 tons of mercury, used to refine the silver from the mines of Potosí. They were known as the 'Quicksilver fleet' and their loss was a catastrophy for the Spanish crown: 600 lives were lost and a severe crisis in the silver production led to serious consequences in both continents. However, after an extraordinary ordeal, through rivers, cliffs and mangroves, about 40 survivers from the Tolosa and more that 500 from the Guadalupe were rescued in a huge operation that lasted till September 27th, nearly a month after the shipwreck.
The Tolosa was found in 1979 and after the identity of the ship was established with a thorough research in the Archivo de Indias, in 1994 a multidiscipline and international team launched the excavations on the site of the Guadalupe, setting the standard for modern day underwater archeology.
Provenance: Private collection
Literature: P.J. Borrell, Pérez Montás, Cruz Apestegui et al., Huracán, 1724, Fundación La Caixa, 1996; Tracey Bowden, Quest for Adventure, Miami, 2004, page no.?
Exhibitions: Madrid, CosmoCaixa, Huracán, 1724. Navegantes y náufragos de la ruta del mercurio, 1997-1999
A set of buttons and a jewel. Gold and crystal, some remains of enamel in the jewel. Jewel 4.6 x 3 cm. Buttons 1 x 1 cm. Spain, before 1641. Photo courtesy Deborah Elvira.
Recovered from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de la Pura y Limpia Concepción.
On September 20th 1641 the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de la Pura y Limpia Concepción set sail from Havana, heavily armed as the Almiranta of the twenty-one-ship fleet of Nueva España, and loaded with one of the richest cargoes ever to embark from the New World. Eight days later, the fleet met a hurricane, was scattered and many ships sank. The Concepción survived the storm, only to run aground on the Abrojos reef, approximately 70 nautical miles north of the present - day Dominican Republic.
Repeated voyages to locate the wreck site were launched by the Spanish Crown in the following decades but it was found only in 1687 -with its treasures, by William Phips, a young sea captain from New England, with financial support of the English King James II.
In 1978 Burt Weber became the modern-day discoverer of the Concepción, after thorough research in the Archivo de Indias of Seville. It was a spectacular engineering feat, as the ship sank in a very dangerous reef maze. In 1993, Tracy Bowden and his companions received the rights to the Concepción site from the government of the Dominican Republic. In an amazing archeological adventure and with the support of National Geographic, the wreck was found in what is now known as the Silver Bank, in the Dominican Republic territorial waters. This set of jewels was found in an almost obliterated wooden chest, together with 3000 silver coins, a Ming jar and ambergris, and it was probably the personal possession of a lady passenger.
Literature: Tracey Bowden, Quest for Adventure, Miami, 2004, page??; Tracey Bowden, 'Gleaning Treasure from the Silver Bank', National Geographic, Vol. 190, no. 1, 1996, pp. 90-105; P.J. Borrell, Pérez Montás, Cruz Apestegui et al.,, Huracán, 1724, Fundación La Caixa, 1996, p.70
Exhibitions: Barcelona, Museo de la Ciencia, 1995-1997; Madrid, CosmoCaixa, 1997-1999; Louisville, The Frazier International History Museum, 15 May- 7 September 2010; Key West, The Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society, 1 December 2010-16 July 2012
A pair of shoe buckles. Gold and iron; 7 x 6,7 x 3 cm. Porto goldmark, 1784. Photo courtesy Deborah Elvira.
Necklace, Silver, pearls and diamonds. Chain 43 cm long, pendant 4,5 x 3 cm. The Netherlands, end of the 17th C. Photo courtesy Deborah Elvira.
Deborah Elvira (stand 267). TEFAF Maastricht. 2014 14-23 march - http://www.tefaf.com/
An amusing gem-set bird brooch designed as two birds perched on a branch. Signed 'Cartier, Paris' and numbered. Paris, circa 1950. Photo courtesy Epoque Fine Jewels.
The bodies set with grey and white pearl, the diamond-set heads with emerald and ruby eyes, the textured feathers with diamond details, mounted in platinum and 18 karat gold.
A ruby, diamond and peridot 'devant de corsage'. Circa 1885. Photo courtesy Epoque Fine Jewels.
Designed as an articulated foliate spray surmounted by a bird of paradise. Detaches into multiple brooches.
Epoque Fine Jewels (stand 130). TEFAF Maastricht. 2014 14-23 march - http://www.tefaf.com/
A blue glass overlay snuff bottle, 1750-1800. Photo Bonhams.
Of compressed spherical form, with a flat lip and oval foot rim around a convex foot, the sapphire blue overlay carved with a butterfly among melon vines on one face reversed by a squirrel and grape fine, with fixed ring mask handles to the sides. 2 1/4in (5.8cm) high. Estimate US$ 1,500 - 2,500 (€1,100 - 1,800)
Bonhams.CHINESE ART FROM THE SCHOLAR'S STUDIO. 17 Mar 2014, New York - www.bonhams.com
