A silver-mounted blue and white bottle, Transitional period, circa 1635-1640. Estimate $5,000 – $7,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015.

The compressed, globular body is decorated with a scene of an official accompanied by attendants greeting a kneeling farmer holding a hoe and pointing towards his water buffalo, while another grazes in the foreground, all below a band of flower scroll on the shoulder and two stylized, leafy stems on the neck that rises to a rounded collar decorated with lotus scroll. The neck has a sterling silver mount and there is a sterling silver stopper. 13 3/8 in. (34 cm.) high

Provenance: Private American collection, acquired in the 1950s-60s.

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

A blue and white bottle, Transitional period, circa 1635-1650. Estimate $6,000 – $8,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015.

The body is decorated with a scene of six scholars gathered in a landscape setting, four shown seated, one holding a fan, one reading and one studying a painting, with a weiqi board and four wine cups in the foreground, and all below a foliate scroll band and three leafy flower stems on the tall neck. 14 5/8 in. (37.2 cm.) high

Note: The imagery of numerous scholars gathering together to enjoy the pleasures of drinking and poetry composition originated from the famous preface by Wang Xizhi (A.D. 307-65) bearing the title Lanting Xu, 'Preface (written) at the Orchid Pavilion'. This ideal prevailed throughout Chinese history to become a widespread theme that manifested in painting and works of art. 

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

A 7.54 carats Burmese sapphire and diamond ring, by Boucheron. Estimate £40,000 - 60,000 (€55,000 - 82,000).  Photo: Bonhams.

The rectangular step-cut sapphire, weighing 7.54 carats, between tapered baguette and brilliant-cut diamond shoulders, signed Boucheron London, numbered, ring size Q½

Accompanied by a report from SSEF stating that the sapphire is of Burmese origin, with no indications of heating. Report number 80659, dated 18 June 2015.

Accompanied by a report from GCS stating that the sapphire is of Burmese origin, with no indications of heating. Report number 5775-1669, dated 20 March 2015.

Bonhams. FINE JEWELLERY, 24 Sep 2015 12:00 BST - LONDON, NEW BOND STREET

A sapphire and diamond sautoir, circa 1925. Estimate £30,000 - 40,000 (€41,000 - 55,000).  Photo: Bonhams.

Composed of openwork buckle-shaped links channel-set with scissor-cut sapphires and rose-cut diamond floral decoration, suspending a large openwork lozenge pendant, of stylised rose-cut diamond floral and foliate motifs, with a step-cut sapphire to the centre, mounted in silver and gold, largest sapphire approximately 43.00 carats, one sapphire deficient, length 46.1cm

Accompanied by a report from GCS stating that the sapphire is of Sri Lankan origin, with no indications of heating. Report number 5775-1335, dated 29 January 2015. 

Provenance: From the Collection of Ernesto and Liuba Wolf

Bonhams. FINE JEWELLERY, 24 Sep 2015 12:00 BST - LONDON, NEW BOND STREET

A Sri Lankan sapphire and diamond brooch-pendant, circa 1900. Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 (€21,000 - 27,000).  Photo: Bonhams.

Composed of two cushion-shaped sapphires framed by old brilliant-cut diamonds in individual collets, connected by a single and rose-cut diamond spacer, mounted in yellow gold and platinum, millegrain detail throughout, sapphires approximately 45.00 carats total, length 5.1cm

Accompanied by a report from GCS stating that the sapphires are of Sri Lankan origin, with no indications of heating. Report number 5775-2691, dated 29 July 2015.

Bonhams. FINE JEWELLERY, 24 Sep 2015 12:00 BST - LONDON, NEW BOND STREET

A wucai jar, Transitional period, circa 1650. Estimate $3,000 – $5,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015.

The jar is sturdily potted with wide tapering sides and is decorated with Buddhist lions amidst leafy floral scroll. 9 ½ in. (24.5 cm.) high, Japanese wood box

Property from an important private Japanese collection.

Exhibited: On loan: Kyoto National Museum, c. 1965-2014.

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

An Art Deco corallium rubrum, jade, enamel and diamond brooch, circa 1930. Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 (€6,800 - 9,600).  Photo: Bonhams.

Set to the centre with three horizontal corallium rubrum batons, between curved bands of black enamel and single-cut diamond-set spacers with jadeite terminals, suspending a plaque with pavé-set old brilliant-cut ground, centred by further stepped corallium rubrum batons, to a black enamel border, diamonds approximately 0.65 carat total, width 4.9cm 

Bonhams. FINE JEWELLERY, 24 Sep 2015 12:00 BST - LONDON, NEW BOND STREET

A blue and white beaker  vase, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period. Estimate 8,000 — 12,000 USD. Photo Sotheby's.

of archaistic gu form, the splayed foot rising to a slightly convex middle section and to a wide trumpet mouth, the top section vibrantly painted with a scene from Wang Shifu's Xixiang ji (Romance of the West Chamber) depicting Cui Yingying and her maid, Hong Niang, bidding farewell to Zhang, the mid-section with a  continuous landscape, the lowest register with a seated scholar and attendant, the base with an apocryphal Jiajing mark. Height 10 in., 25.4 cm

Provenance: Collection of Mr. J.P. Argenti by 1947.
Sotheby's New York, 3rd May 1981, lot 295.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, New York. 15 sept. 2015

A blue and white and copper-red vase, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period. Estimate 30,000 — 40,000 USD. Photo Sotheby's. 

the globular body rising from a short foot to a tall cylindrical flared neck, decorated with a mythical bear with outstretched wings and an eagle perched on rocky outcrops among crested waves, the copper-red sun half covered in clouds, painted with two seals, apocryphal six-character Chenghua mark in underglaze blue within double circles. Height 15 1/2  in., 39.4 cm 

Provenance: Collection of Eric Nordstrom, Sweden, acquired in the 1920s.  

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, New York. 15 sept. 2015

A rare blue and white Ming-style 'Palace' bowl, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period. Estimate 15,000 — 20,000 USD. Photo Sotheby's.  

the gently rounded sides rising to an everted rim, deftly painted in darker tones of cobalt-blue forming outlines infilled with paler and varying tones of wash, the exterior with a gently undulating meander of four musk mallow blooms alternating with five-pointed leaves with serrated edges, between double line bands at the rim and foot, the interior with a central medallion enclosing a single flower head within a double circle, encircled by a similar musk mallow meander, the base with an apocryphal six-character Chenghua mark. Diameter 5 3/4  in., 14.6 cm 

Provenance: Christie's Hong Kong, 8th October 1990, lot 571.  

Notes: The present bowl adheres closely in every way to its famous 15th century prototype. For an example of a Chenghua period palace bowl of this same pattern now in the British Museum see Jessica Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, no. 6:4. 

The finely painted decoration on the present bowl is done in homage to the famed 'Palace' bowls of the Chenghua period. Since the time of their production, Chenghua imperial porcelains were lauded for their unmatched quality; a reputation that endured through the Ming and Qing dynasties. The early Qing period was one marked by conflict wrought by the turbulent shift of power from the Ming to the Manchus.  One of the many means the Kangxi emperor used to help soothe the transition was to show respect for his predecessors by referencing many of its great accomplishments through the arts. The present bowl exemplifies this effort by Qing potters to show veneration for one of the greatest periods of porcelain production while also displaying their own technical skill. The Kangxi period artisans used notably fine materials; a very white, soft body and rich cobalt in order to produce the present bowl as an tribute to the earlier ware. Among Kangxi porcelains, there is a group of superlative pieces, some unmarked, others bearing marks from earlier reigns, and with Chenghua marks, such as the present piece, which qualitatively are indistinguishable from the finest imperial wares of the period. 

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Art, New York. 15 sept. 2015

A blue and white 'Lotus pond' bowl, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Estimate $6,000 – $8,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The deep, rounded sides are decorated on the exterior with a continuous scene of a lotus pond, with water birds either wading in the water or in flight above, the decoration repeated in a medallion in the bottom of the interior below a diaper band at the rim. A four-character mark, Xinlin chunyan ('Spring banquet in the apricot grove'), is in underglaze blue within a double circle on the base. 8 ¼ in. (21 cm.) diam.

Provenance: Michael L. Vermeer, Atlanta, Georgia.

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

A blue and white high-shouldered vase, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Estimate $7,000 – $9,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

The vase is decorated on the shoulder with four cranes in flight above a band of four rocks rising from crashing waves at the foot, and on the neck with a four-clawed dragon pursuing a flaming pearl amidst flames. A double circle in underglaze blue is on the base. 9 7/8 in. (25 cm.) high

Provenance: Private American collection, acquired in the 1950s-60s.

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

A blue and white jardinière, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Estimate $7,000 – $9,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015 

The vase is decorated on the shoulder with four cranes in flight above a band of four rocks rising from crashing waves at the foot, and on the neck with a four-clawed dragon pursuing a flaming pearl amidst flames. A double circle in underglaze blue is on the base. 9 7/8 in. (25 cm.) high

Provenance: The Chinese Porcelain Company, New York.. 

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

A blue and white phoenix tail' vase, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Estimate $10,000 – $15,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015 

The exterior of the vase is decorated in underglaze blue with meandering leafy lotus scroll bearing large blossoms, separated by chevron bands at the base of the neck. 29 7/8 in. (75.9 cm.) high

Provenance: The Chinese Porcelain Company, New York.

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

A copper-red and celadon-decorated blue and white teapot and cover, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Estimate $12,000 – $18,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015 

The teapot has a globular body lightly carved on each side with a vignette of buildings nestled amidst trees detailed in copper red of brownish color and rocks of pale celadon color, and the domed cover is decorated with flowers growing either side of a celadon rock below the blue knob, all on a very pale blue-green ground. An apocryphal Chenghua mark is on the base. 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm.) wide

Notes: The combination of celadon green with underglaze cobalt blue and underglaze copper red is relatively rare, no doubt because it was so difficult to fire successfully. With the coming of the Kangxi reign came renewed imperial interest in porcelain and a demand for high quality and variety. In the early years of the reign the potters revived the combination of underglaze blue and underglaze copper red on single pieces, and with the re-establishment of the imperial kiln complex court demand for innovation resulted in molded and carved surface decoration and the use of areas of celadon green being added to this already challenging palette. The favored decorative theme in this technique is landscape with trees, mountains, water and molded and carved celadon-green rocks, as seen on the current tea pot.

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

A pair of blue and white 'dragon' jars, Kangxi period (1662-1722). Estimate $15,000 – $25,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015 

Each jar is decorated with four shaped panels enclosing ferocious five-clawed dragons both clutching and chasing flaming pearls, beneath a ruyi border encircling the neck. 13 ½ in. (34.3 cm.) high

Provenance: Imperial Oriental Art, New York, 2000.

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

A blue and white stem cup, Kangxi four-character mark in underglaze blue in a line and of the period (1662-1722). Estimate $8,000 – $12,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015  

The deep, bell-shaped cup is raised on a tall, flaring foot and decorated in a penciled style with a spray of camellia opposite a similarly rendered spray of crabapple, all below a dentil band interrupted by a four-character Kangxi mark in a line at the rim and above plantain leaves on the foot. 4 in. (10 cm.) high 

Provenance: J. M. Hu (1911-1995) Collection. 
Wedding gift to H. H. Hu, early 1930s, and thence by descent to the present owner. 

Notes: It is very rare to find a stem cup of this type with a Kangxi mark. A cup of similar shape and with similar pencil-style decoration, but without a mark, from the collection of P.J. Donnelly, is illustrated in the Oriental Ceramic Society'sCatalogue of an Exhibition of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain, 14th to 19th Centuries, London, 1954, no. 239. See, also, a similar cup from the Collection of Julia and John Curtis, sold in An Era of Inspiration: 17th-Century Chinese Porcelains from the Collection of Julia and John Curtis; Christie’s New York, 16 March 2015, lot 2568. 

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

A gold and silver-inlaid bronze ornament, Warring States period. Estimate US$ 8,000 - 12,000 '€7,200 - 11,000). Photo: Bonhams.

Delicately cast as a frog crouching with four legs splayed and raised head and grinning mouth, the body inlaid with silver on the shoulders and haunches and stylized gold scroll and dot details on legs and torso, the underside with gold scroll work on the button-like belly. 1 3/4in (4.5cm) long

Notes: The present lot was likely used as a weight to secure the corner of a mat. The charming and naturalistic details of the frog are skilfully rendered in silver and gold inlay, creating an amusing ornament that would nevertheless indicate the high status and wealth of the owner. 

Bronze and precious metal animal forms were popular in the Eastern Zhou and Han periods, however examples shaped as a frog appear to be exceptionally rare. A pair of weights in the shape of bear-like animals was sold at Christie's New York The Collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth Part IV: Chinese Works of Art: Metalwork, Sculpture and Early Ceramics, sale 11421, 20 March 2015, lot 706, and another shaped as a tortoise also sold at Christie's New York, The Sze Yuan Tang Archaic Bronzes from the Anthony Hardy Collection, sale 2508, 16 September 2010, lot 907.

Bonhams. CHINESE PAINTINGS AND WORKS OF ART, 14 Sep 2015 10:00 EDT , NEW YORK

A small gilt metal weight, Song to Ming dynasty. Estimate US$ 5,000 - 7,000 (€4,500 - 6,300). Photo: Bonhams.

Naturalistically cast in the form of a pair of frogs, one seated upon the back of the other, with hammered and incised designs suggesting different skin patterns, each frog displaying eye sockets inset with semi-precious stones. 1 3/4in (4.6cm) high

Provenance: Walter Randel, New York, circa 2002

Bonhams. CHINESE PAINTINGS AND WORKS OF ART, 14 Sep 2015 10:00 EDT , NEW YORK

An archaistic gold and silver-inlaid bronze fitting, Song to Ming dynasty. Estimate US$ 6,000 - 9,000 (€5,400 - 8,100). Photo: Bonhams.

Finely cast in high relief as a taotie or animal mask, the bone structure sharply defined, the sides shaped by scrolling whorls of fur, with spiraling ears and horns and large sinuous eye sockets inset with pupils carved from black crystaline stone, the details and surface picked out in geometric designs of gold and silver. 2 3/9in (6cm) wide

Notes: This fitting is fascinating, both for its superb craftsmanship as well as its abstraction of the taotie motif towards a naturalistic animal face. The original spiritual significance of the taotie design was already lost to memory by the Warring States period, as the motif became a purely decorative convention. In the present piece, we find that the taotie has been further adapted into a realistic animal form, reflecting contemporary interest in the virtuosic portrayal of natural forms in luxury goods.

The use of animal-mask fittings, often for suspension of ring-handles, has a long history in China. Two pairs of attachments, one pair of bronze and suspending ring-handles and other pair of gold, both dated to the Warring States, are illustrated by B. Till, Treasures Unearthed: Chinese Archaeological Artefacts from the Shang to Tang, Victoria, British Columbia, pp. 58-59; a silver and gold-inlaid bronze mask and ring-handle dated to the Eastern Zhou dynasty is in the collection of the Freer Gallery, museum no.F1917.18, the gift of Charles Lang Freer. However the exceptionally crisp and three-dimensional casting and the realism of the present lot suggests a slightly later date.

Bonhams. CHINESE PAINTINGS AND WORKS OF ART, 14 Sep 2015 10:00 EDT , NEW YORK