Lot 2377. A fine grisaille-decorated 'landscape' vase, Republican period, early 20th century; 7 11/16 in. (19.5 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 250,000 - HKD 350,000. Price realised HKD 275,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2012

The vase is of ovoid form, exquisitely enamelled around the exterior to depict a continuous landscape in grisaille and tones of pale iron-red and blue with dense bamboo trees growing along the river banks. The base is inscribed with a four-character Hongxian mark in iron-red, box. 

Lot 2359. A finely carved jadeite pendant with beaded chain; 3½ in. (8.7 cm.) long. Estimate HKD 250,000 - HKD 350,000. Price realised HKD 560,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2012

The elongated pendant is intricately carved and pierced in the form of a gnarled tree trunk entwined by vines issuing dense lingzhi-heads with a small chilong clambering on one of the scrolls. The stone has tones ranging from brilliant apple-green to pale whitish green and darker spinach-green. It is set with a chain with green and brown beads, box. 

Provenance: Dr Nancy Hsieh, New York, acquired in Shanghai in the 1930s.

An identification report from the Gemological Institute of America confirms that the present lot is natural green jadeite. 

Lot 2391. A tourmaline and aquamarine rosary-bracelet, shou chuan, Qing dynasty (1644-1911); 13¾ in. (35 cm.) long. Estimate HKD 180,000 - HKD 250,000. Price realised HKD 225,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2012

The rosary-bracelet comprises eighteen large pink tourmaline beads, divided by two small aquamarine beads, a larger central bead and a double-gourd bead suspending a rounded rectangular aquamarine plaque carved with peaches, lingzhi and a bat, terminating in two tourmaline drop-shaped beads, spaced with clusters of seed pearls, box. 

Lot 2404. A purple jadeite bangle; 2 1/4 in. (5.8 cm.) interior diam., 7/16 in. (1.1 cm.) thick. Estimate HKD 60,000 - HKD 80,000. Price realised HKD 400,000. © Christie's Image Ltd 2012

The bangle is of a pale purple semi-translucent stone with white suffusions. 

Burchard Precht, Mirror, 1690s. © Bukowskis.

STOCKHOLM.- A mirror just acquired by Nationalmuseum is among the most magnificent examples of Swedish Baroque ever produced. The ornately carved and gilded frame contains engraved, inset plate glass. The mirror’s unusually well-documented origins go back to the initial order. 

Count Wrede (1641-1712) was a top official who had earned the unwavering trust of King Karl XI. Following a career as Viborg County Governor, he contributed to preparations for the compulsory restitution of alienated estates in 1680. He was the Lord Marshall for the 1682 session of the Parliament. He subsequently held a number of prominent official positions. Promoting mercantilism in the private sector was among Wrede’s obsessions. It wasn’t long before he was elevated to countship and became one of the wealthiest Swedes alive. His political fortunes declined, however, after he advocated a more defensive military policy than Karl XII was pursuing. In 1711, he was pushed out of nearly all his positions. 

Burchard Precht, Mirror, 1690s, detail. © Bukowskis.

The frame of the large, 195-centimetre mirror features a lace border, acanthus, cornucopia, grape clusters and flowers. The inset plate glass is adorned with engraved, scattered flowers. The top of the mirror brandishes a meticulously engraved coat of arms for the Wrede lineage. Though not signed, the mirror is most certainly the handiwork of Burchard Precht (1651–1738). As the leading sculptor of his day, he received many royal and ecclesiastical projects, often in collaboration with court architect Nicodemus Tessin the Younger. Born in Bremen and educated in Hamburg, he emigrated to Stockholm in the 1670s. His workshop produced furniture, frames and crests for the court and nobility. The evidence strongly suggests that he was able to polish and silver glass. No wonder he is regarded as one of the first Swedish mirror craftsmen. The high quality of plate glass is due to the requirement back then that mirrors be imported. 

Engraving the glass with an artistic touch was a daunting challenge. The technique had been resurrected in Europe during the early seventeenth century and had become a coveted skill. A handful of engravers passed through Sweden from the 1650s to 1680s. After Kristoffer Elstermann arrived in the 1690s, engraving assumed its rightful place in the Swedish glassmaking tradition. The first time Elstermann shows up in the accounts is 1691, when he received an order from Queen Dowager Hedvig Eleonora for the new royal chapel at the Tre Kronor castle. He had his own workshop and later obtained projects from the Kungsholm Glassworks as well. He was skilful at engraving various motifs that went well with the surface and shape of the particular object. He exerted a major influence on Swedish engraving until his death in 1721. The glassworks have never produced such high-quality engravings as during that period. 

Burchard Precht, Mirror, 1690s, detail. © Bukowskis.

The panels in the frame of the Wrede mirror have the same types of scattered flowers as the glasswork used, but their placement is less standardized than later on. The noble coat of arms at the top typifies the dexterity of Elstermann’s works. More than likely, he engraved it himself. 

Precht’s mirrors also became more streamlined and formulaic as time went on. Cast pewter strips replaced sculptured wood, and the engraved adornment of the frame was painted white. No portents of such austerity are visible in this mirror, which is why it can be dated with so much exactitude to the 1690s. 

Burchard Precht, Mirror, 1690s, detail. © Bukowskis.

Wrede’s impact on the appearance of the mirror cannot be overestimated. It’s hard to miss signs of his close association with the court and contemporary vogues, including new ornamentation techniques and Precht’s carved, gilded furniture. He had the financial resources to purchase such an exquisite object, and the cornucopia is a nod to his mercantilist inclinations. The same mindset no doubt convinced him that the mirror should be produced in Sweden to the extent possible. 

The records clearly show that his daughter Sohpia inherited the mirror when she married Erik Axelsson Sparre in 1707. It has been passed down from generation to generation ever since. 

Acquisition of the mirror by Nationalmuseum was made possible by an Axel Hirsch endowment. The museum has no funds with which to purchase handicrafts and works of art but is wholly reliant on donations and private foundations.

Burchard Precht, Mirror, 1690s, detail. © Bukowskis.

Lot 2263. An underglaze-blue and yellow-enamelled 'Dragon' bowl, Qianlong six-character seal mark and of the period (1736-1795); 5 1/2 in. (14 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 100,000 - HKD 150,000. Price realised HKD 437,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The bowl is finely potted with rounded sides rising to a slightly everted rim, and decorated around the exterior with two five-clawed dragons striding amidst ruyi clouds and flame-scrolls in pursuit of 'flaming pearls', above a band of overlapping petals encircling the foot. The interior is further decorated with a central medallion enclosing a third dragon, Japanese wood box.

Property from a Japanese Collection

Provenance: Acquired in Japan, circa 2000 

Christie's. Imperial Sale; Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall, 29 May 2013

Lot 2265. A small blue and white Ming-style dish, Yongzheng six-character mark within double circles and of the period (1723-1735); 5 3/8 in. (13.7 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 80,000 - HKD 150,000. Price realised HKD 350,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The dish is well potted with rounded sides rising from a short slightly tapering foot. The interior is painted in dark blue and paler shades of cobalt blue with areas simulating 'heaping and piling' with a lotus scroll surrounding a central bloom. The cavetto is deatiled with a continuous composite floral meander surrounded by a classic scroll to the rim, the exterior with a similar floral meander below a keyfret band to the rim.

Provenance: Sold at Christie's London, 13 May 2008, lot 217 (one of a pair) 

Christie's. Imperial Sale; Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall, 29 May 2013

Lot 2266. A copper-red decorated 'sanduo' bowl, Yongzheng six-character mark within double circles and of the period (1723-1735); 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 50,000 - HKD 80,000. Price realised HKD 350,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The bowl is finely potted with rounded sides rising to a slightly everted rim, and painted in copper-red with the sanduo, a peach, a pomegranate and a persimmon, Japanese wood box.

Property from a Japanese Collection

Provenance: Acquired in Japan, circa 2000. 

Christie's. Imperial Sale; Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall, 29 May 2013

Lot 2267. A fine and rare blue and white 'Dragon' bowl, Qianlong period, Zhiyuan Tang hall mark (1736-1795); 5 5/8 in. (14.1 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 200,000 - HKD 300,000. Price realised HKD 525,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The exterior finely painted with two dragons striding amidst clouds and above waves crashing against rocks at the four cardinal points, Japanese wood box.

Provenance: A private collection, Greenwich, Connecticut, sold at Christie's New York, 21 March 2002, lot 213. 

Note: The marks Zhiyuan Tang Zhi may be translated as 'Made for the Far Distant Hall'. This hall mark is recorded as having been used for a number of blue and white bowls of dragon and clouds design dating to the Qianlong period, see Geng Baocheng, Ming and Qing Porcelain on Inspection, Forbidden City Publishing House, 1993, p. 383.

A pair of bowls of this design was included in the exhibition, Ming and Qing Porcelain, Jeiwah's Gallery, Hong Kong, 1987, no. 18; and another bowl is illustrated by Patricia F. Ferguson, Cobalt Treasures, The Robert Murray Bell and Ann Walker Bell Collection of Chinese Blue and White Porcelain, 2003, p. 23, no. 14; where a similar pair of saucer dishes is also illustrated. 

Christie's. Imperial Sale; Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall, 29 May 2013

Lot 2288. A fine Ming-style blue and white cylindrical jar and cover, Qing dynasty, 18th century; 11 1/4 in. (28.5 cm.) high. Estimate HKD 300,000 - HKD 500,000. Price realised HKD 475,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The jar is well painted in the Ming-style to simulate 'heaping and piling'. The main register on the mid-body is decorated with five lotus blooms, each flower is encircled by its stem and set within a star-pattern formed by ten rhomboid petals, all against a complex geometric pattern-ground and bordered by breaking waves, between bands of scrolling lotus. The waisted neck is painted with further crested waves, supported on a low foot ring designed with half-flowerheads. The domed cover is similarly decorated and surmounted by a globular finial, box.

Note: The inspiration for this geometric pattern is an early Ming dynasty prototype. Two examples dated to the early fifteenth century have been published. The first is illustrated in Blue and White Porcelain with Underglaze Red, (I), The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 2000, p. 45, no. 43; and the other in the Freer Gallery of Art is llustrated by J. Pope, 'An Early Porcelain in Muslim Style', Aus der Welt der Islamischen Kunst: Festchrift fur Ernst Kuhnel, pl. 6A. This design is also found on early Ming moonflasks such as the example in the Percival David Foundation, illustrated by J. Pope, op. cit., pl. 4B; and the flask from the Reach Family and Marie Therese Rodgrigues collections, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 27 April 1997, lot 657.

Jars of this type were often referred to in the West by the Spanish term 'albarello', which Pope noted as having originally derived from 11th century pottery apothecary jars that were used throughout the Near East, and introduced into the West by the Moors to Spain.

Christie's. Imperial Sale; Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall, 29 May 2013

Lot 2289. A rare large inscribed blue and white rectangular tray, Jiaqing six-character seal mark and of the period (1796-1820); 14 3/8 in. (36.5 cm.) wide. Estimate HKD 150,000 - HKD 200,000. Price realised HKD 187,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The large tray is finely decorated to the interior with dwellings and pavilions in a mountainous riverscape. A solitary figure on a fishing boat is depicted approaching the shore beneath an eight line poetic inscription. The shallow sides of the tray are detailed with fruiting branches on the interior and oval panels depicting flowering branches against a diaper ground on the exterior, box.

Note: The inscription may be translated:

Fishing in solitude at the far end of the stream,
On a leisurely boat ride into the wilderness with a flock of cranes for company,
In the sun, one begins the journey home,
While long shadows are cast ammong the distant dwellings.

Followed by the signature, 'Zepei'.

Christie's. Imperial Sale; Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall, 29 May 2013

Lot 2290. A fine pair of blue and white 'Dragon' dishes, Qianlong six-character seal marks and of the period (1736-1795); 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 240,000 - HKD 350,000. Price realised HKD 375,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

Each dish is painted to the interior well with an upright dragon rising in pursuit of a 'flaming pearl' amidst flames. The exterior of each is similarly decorated with a pair of dragons among clouds striding in pursuit of 'flaming pearls', box (2).

Christie's. Imperial Sale; Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall, 29 May 2013

Lot 2150. A rare pair of brocade 'Crane' rank badges, buzi, early Qing dynasty, 17th century; 16 in. (41 cm.) square. Estimate HKD 120,000 - HKD 180,000. Price realised HKD 237,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The badges were made for a first rank civil official. The bird is worked in white satin stitch alighting on a rock emerging from dark blue waves. The crane is surrounded byruyi-shaped clouds below the sun, all in shades of blue, green and brown, all reserved on a dense ground of couched gold threads, mounted and framed (2).

Note: The crane was thought to live for over 200 years and stored its accumulated wisdom in its red 'cap'. This is probably why the emblem of this bird was used for the emperor's closest advisors. 

Christie's. Imperial Sale; Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall, 29 May 2013

Lot 2151. A rare pair of gold and silver embroidered civil official's rank badges of egrets, buzi, early Qing dynasty, 18th century; 9 1/2 in. (24 cm.) square. Estimate HKD 50,000 - HKD 70,000. Price realised HKD 87,500. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

Made for a civil official of the sixth rank, each is similarly worked primarily in gold and silver wrapped thread on a blue gauze ground with the bird shown facing the sun as it alights on a rock. The birds are flanked by a pair of lingzhi picked out in iron-red silk floss, above a sea of rolling and swirling waves, and between rocky cliffs supporting pine, bamboo and floral sprigs embroidered in tones of green and brown, below swirling ruyi-shaped clouds each framed by a simple double line border, mounted and framed (2).

Note: The basket weave technique of couched gold thread used to represent the earth on these badges is of particular note, and is quite unusual.  

Christie's. Imperial Sale; Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall, 29 May 2013

Lot 2152. A very rare pair of embroidered gauze military official's rank badges of panthers, buzi, Qing dynasty, early 18th century; 16 in. (41 cm.) square. Estimate HKD 80,000 - HKD 120,000. Price realised HKD 275,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

Made for a sixth rank military official, each is finely embroidered in counted stitch on a dark blue gauze ground with a panther, biao standing between two upright rock formations surrounded by clouds, above a lishui stripe. The whole scene is set within a cloud border, in muted shades of ivory, beige, blue, pale green, pale gold and pale russet, surrounded by an outer border of couched gold keyfret, mounted and framed (2).

Provenance: Linda Wrigglesworth, London

Christie's. Imperial Sale; Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall, 29 May 2013

Lot 2296. A fine doucai'Lotus' bowl, Daoguang six-character seal mark and of the period (1821-1850); 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 100,000 - HKD 150,000. Price realised HKD 350,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The rounded sides of the bowl are delicately painted in underglaze blue and enamelled in the doucai technique with three double-lotus sprays issuing leafy tendrils. The interior is decorated with a medallion enclosing a single lotus stalk, the petals picked out in iron-red.

Christie's. Imperial Sale; Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall, 29 May 2013

Lot 2297. A fine doucai floral bowl, Daoguang six-character seal mark and of the period (1821-1850); 5 7/8 in. (15 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 150,000 - HKD 200,000. Price realised HKD 225,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The bowl is finely enamelled to the exterior with six stylised upright flower sprays encompassed by a flower scroll, below a band of trefoils on a yellow ground at the rim. The interior is decorated with a flower spray encircled by a band of florettes and petals within arching trefoils.

Note: A similar bowl from the Simon Kwan Collection, exhibited at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1983, is illustrated in Imperial Porcelain of the Late Qing, Catalogue, no. 28. 

Christie's. Imperial Sale; Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall, 29 May 2013

Lot 2299. A fine pair of famille rose'Daoist Immortals' bowls and covers, Jiaqing-Daoguang period (1796-1850); 4 3/8 in. (11.2 cm.) wide. Estimate HKD 100,000 - HKD 150,000. Price realised HKD 300,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The bowls are of ogee-form with fluted mouth rims. Each bowl is finely enamelled on the exterior to depict a gathering of the Daoist immortals Lan Caihe, Li Tieguai, Han Zhongli, Zhang Guolao and He Xiangu, all seated at leisure in a landscape scene. The domed covers have similar fluted mouth rims. Each is decorated depicting the remaining three immortals to complete the group of eight, with LüDongbin and Cao Guojiu in appreciation of Han Xiangzi playing the flute. The interiors and bases are enamelled turquoise. The maker's square seal marks are inscribed on the bases of the bowls and upper sides of the covers.

Note: John Reeves arrived in Canton as Assistant Inspector of Tea for the Honourable East India Company in 1812, working in Canton during the tea season and residing at Macao at other times. He served three tours in China, interspersed with periods of leave, between 1812 and 1831, rising to become Chief Inspector of Tea.

A related bowl and cover of this form dating to the early 19th century in the British Museum is illustrated by Soame Jenyns, Later Chinese Porcelain: The Ch'ing Dynasty (1644-1912), no. 1, pl. LXXIII. The British Museum bowl is marked, Ziezhu Zhuren, 'Made by the Master of Wind Music', indicating that it was a private commission as are the present examples. 

Christie's. Imperial Sale; Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall, 29 May 2013

Lot 2300. A fine coral-ground famille rose bowl, Daoguang six-character seal mark and of the period (1821-1850); 4 3/8 in. (11 cm.) diam. Estimate HKD 260,000 - HKD 350,000. Price realised HKD 350,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2013

The bowl is finely enamelled with three lemon-yellow ground cartouches, each enclosing a broad blossoming peony framed by foliate scrolls, connected by slender stems bearing four smaller blue flowerheads amidst further leafy foliage, all reserved on a bright coral-red ground, box.

Christie's. Imperial Sale; Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, HKCEC Grand Hall, 29 May 2013