A cloisonne enamel incense burner, Qianlong period. Photo courtesy Artfact
The burner is a mixture of blue, gold and red color tone overall and is decorate with imperial design. 11 3/8 in. (31.3 cm) long, 5 5/16 in. (13.4 cm) wide, 7 15/16 (20.1 cm) tall. Estimated Price: $10,000 - $20,000
Wichita Auctioneers. Fine Asian Works Of Art. May 29, 2013, 10:00 AM EST. Email: info@wichitaauctioneers.com
A pair of jade inlaid wood wall plaques, Qing dynasty. Photo courtesy Artfact
Each black lacquer panel decorated with a central vase, censor, peach and four objects made of jade and other precious stones. Tips broken off one leaf on both pieces, age discolored. 36 in. (91.5 cm) long, 24 in. (61 cm) wide. Estimated Price: $8,000 - $10,000
Wichita Auctioneers. Fine Asian Works Of Art. May 29, 2013, 10:00 AM EST. Email: info@wichitaauctioneers.com
A bronze goose-form incense burner, Western Han dynasty. Photo courtesy Artfact
The figure is bronze brown color tone overall and is a carving of a goose. 6 11/16 (17 cm) long, 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm) tall. Estimated Price: $8,000 - $10,000
Wichita Auctioneers. Fine Asian Works Of Art. May 29, 2013, 10:00 AM EST. Email: info@wichitaauctioneers.com
Ensemble de dix bagues en argent. Chine, vers 1900. Photo AuctionArt - Rémy Le Fur & Associés
décoré de poissons, grenouilles, crustacés, phénix et caractère shui (eau). Hauteur: de 1.2 cm à 3 cm. Estimation : 600 / 800 €
AuctionArt - Rémy Le Fur & Associés. Vendredi 7 juin 2013. Drouot Richelieu - Salle 4 - 9, rue Drouot - 75009 Paris. Tel: +33 (0)1 40 06 06 08.
A Baroque iron mounted, engraved ivory inlaid ebony cabinet, Italy, 17th century. Photo Nagel Auktionen
Add., minor damages. Later stand. 142x98x46 cm. Estimate 12 500 €
Nagel Auktionen. Sale 696, June 6th. http://www.auction.de
Épingle à cheveux en bronze doré, Chine, XIXe siècle. Photo AuctionArt - Rémy Le Fur & Associés
incrusté en plumes de martin-pêcheur, ornée de perles, double-gourdes en verre et corail rouge; au milieu, décoré une déesse, la tête en ivoire teinté et doré et une boussole en bas.Longueur: 18 cm. Estimation : 600 / 800 €
AuctionArt - Rémy Le Fur & Associés. Vendredi 7 juin 2013. Drouot Richelieu - Salle 4 - 9, rue Drouot - 75009 Paris. Tel: +33 (0)1 40 06 06 08.
A splendid Baroque brass mountend pietra dura inlaid, marble decorated and ebonized cabinet, Florence, 2nd half 17th century. Photo Nagel Auktionen
Rest., add., signs of aging. 63x99x31 cm. Estimate 45 000 €
Nagel Auktionen. Sale 696, June 6th. http://www.auction.de
Ornement de coiffure, Chine, XIXe siècle. Photo AuctionArt - Rémy Le Fur & Associés
de forme rectangulaire à trois piques, en bronze doré incrusté de plumes de martin-pêcheur et orné d’un cabochon de pierre dure, plaque en néphrite blanc et perles en verre. Il est richement décoré de fleurs, insectes, pavillon et deux déesses. Longueur: 17.7 cm. Estimation : 500 / 600 €
AuctionArt - Rémy Le Fur & Associés. Vendredi 7 juin 2013. Drouot Richelieu - Salle 4 - 9, rue Drouot - 75009 Paris. Tel: +33 (0)1 40 06 06 08.
A large Baroque embossed silver and ebony mounted casket with Mythological scenes depicting Mars and Minerva among others, South Germany-North Italy, 17th century. Photo Nagel Auktionen
Signs of use and aging. 33x67x43 cm. Estimate 15 000 €
Nagel Auktionen. Sale 696, June 6th. http://www.auction.de
Deux paires de bracelets & Deux petites boites rondes en argent, Chine, vers 1900. Photo AuctionArt - Rémy Le Fur & Associés
en argent, décoré de fleurs de quatre saisons. Diamètre: 8 cm. Estimation : 400 / 600 €
Deux petites boites rondes en argent, décoré de lettrés, papillons, fleurs et oiseaux. Diamètre: 4.3 cm ; 4.7 cm. Estimation : 200 / 300 €
AuctionArt - Rémy Le Fur & Associés. Vendredi 7 juin 2013. Drouot Richelieu - Salle 4 - 9, rue Drouot - 75009 Paris. Tel: +33 (0)1 40 06 06 08.
A splendid Historism carved and engraved ivory mounted, ebonized cabinet, 19th century. Photo Nagel Auktionen
with the coat of arms of the Prince of Anhalt-Dessau and the Countess of Hessen-Kassel. Signs of aging. 54x47x26,5 cm. Estimate 15 000 €
Nagel Auktionen. Sale 696, June 6th. http://www.auction.de
Épingle à cheveux en bronze doré, Chine, XIXe siècle. Photo AuctionArt - Rémy Le Fur & Associés
incrusté en plumes de martin-pecheur et ornée d’un cabochon de pierre dure et perles, décoré en ajouré papillons, fleurs, phénix et une déesse. Longueur: 21.2 cm. Estimation : 350 / 400 €
AuctionArt - Rémy Le Fur & Associés. Vendredi 7 juin 2013. Drouot Richelieu - Salle 4 - 9, rue Drouot - 75009 Paris. Tel: +33 (0)1 40 06 06 08.
An impressive scagliola and wrought-iron console table, Italy, top 17th century, later stand. Photo Nagel Auktionen
Rest. Chipped. 76x109,5x57 cm. Estimate 8000 €
Nagel Auktionen. Sale 696, June 6th. http://www.auction.de
Platinum nugget, Kondyor Massif, Khabarovsk Krai, Far Eastern Federal District, Russian Federation. Photo Heritage Auctions
In the remote wilderness of Far Eastern Russia, inland from the Sea of Okhotsk, is a circular feature some six kilometers across that looks exactly like a meteorite impact crater: It isn't. Although the towering walls of the structure, some 2000 feet high, look very much like the crater rim of a volcano: They're not.
The structure, called the Kondyor Massif, represents the remains of an Dunite intrusion: a mass of magma with origins deep in the mantle, that carried valuable amounts of the rare metals: Platinum, Rhodium, Gold and others to the surface of the planet. Weathering allowed the rare metals to migrate downstream, forming placer deposits. Analysis of Zircon grains in the Dunite shows that the Platinum Group Elements (PGE's) formed deep in the mantle some 2.4-1.8 billion years ago. Much later, they were injected into the surface crust some 176 -143 million years ago.
Being rich in PGE's, the massif was responsible for approximately 4 tons of Platinum being produced in one year. Compared to the production of most Gold mines, this is nothing. Nuggets of Platinum the size of this one, are as rare as the proverbial hen's teeth.
Deceptively heavy for its size this rounded, silvery nugget weighs 7.368 ounces troy or 229.2 grams - over half a pound! It measures a 1.63 x 1 inch (4.22 x 2.55 cm). [Scale: 1 inch, with mark at 1 cm]. Estimated Price: $40,000 - $50,000
Heritage Auctions. 2013 June 2 Natural History Signature Auction Session 2. Phone: 800.872.6467 - Email: Bid@HA.com
Vase de forme carrée et étroit en porcelaine décorée en émaux polychromes, Époque Qianlong (1736-1795). Photo Piasa
d'un paysage lacustre et montagneux sur chaque face, les côtés ornés d'un poème de Qianlong reprenant des hommages au thé. Les bords émaillés or. Hauteur : 18 cm. Restauration au bord. Estimation : 5 000 / 6 000 €
Provenance : Antiquaire Reding - Bruxelles, le 21 février 1949
CHINA - QIANLONG Period , (1736-1795)? A rectangular tea-poem vase.
Piasa. Lundi 10 juin 2013. Drouot Richelieu - Salle 4 - 9, rue Drouot - 75009 Paris -http://www.piasa.fr/
A superb end piece of the Fukang pallasite, Fukang, Xinjiang Uygur Province, China. Photo Heritage Auctions
Meteorites that originate from the core-mantle boundary of a small planet or asteroid destroyed during, or shortly after, the formation of our solar system are called pallasites. Thus, pallasites were formed at the very beginning of our solar system, and radioactive fission-track dating confirms ages of 4.1 to 4.4 billion years for a large sampling of known pallasites.
Pallasites are made up of a combination of silvery nickel-iron core metal and dense silicates - usually olivine, often in its gorgeous crystalline gem form called Peridot. Peridot is a highly sought-after gemstone that was prized by the ancient Egyptians who used it extensively in their royal jewelry. Peridot can range in color from emerald green to orange to dark smoky jet. This combination of beautiful gemmy crystals of olivine, contrasted by the silvery nickel-iron matrix metal, make pallasites the most beautiful of all meteorites, and Fukang is considered to be the very best of the pallasites.
Fukang is further distinguished by the fact that it possesses the largest crystals of olivine found in any of the more well-known pallasites, such as Esquel or Imilac.
Collected in 2003, only two specimens were recovered, and these have been painstakingly sliced and polished often requiring 40 hours of work per slice with very hi-tech wire saws to create these beautiful examples of interstellar art. This superb end piece exhibits the original dark red oxide fusion crust on one side with the olivine crystals visible as glassy areas interspersed across the original surface of the meteorite. The three cut and polished faces display the very large and beautiful transparent olivine crystals ranging in hue from emerald green to yellow-green.
This Fukang is an exceptional, matchless display meteorite. It measures 5.75 x 4.5 inches (146.05 x 114.3 mm) and weighs 8.41 pounds (3,821 grams). [Scale: 1 inch, with mark at 1 cm]. Estimated Price: $40,000 - $50,000
Heritage Auctions. 2013 June 2 Natural History Signature Auction Session 2. Phone: 800.872.6467 - Email: Bid@HA.com
Etui à cigarettes en argent à décor de dragon. Ancien travail d'Extrême Orient (Vietnam). Photo Maître Lydie BRIOULT et BRIOULT ENCHERES SARL
125 gr brut. Estimation 200 € - 300 €
Incomparable Rutilated Quartz "Egg", Madagascar. Photo Heritage Auctions
This magnificent Rutilated Quartz egg from Madagascar is a beauty to behold. With glassly clarity, the egg has a copper to gold hue emanating from the rutilated fibers inside the egg - they are complexly intertwined yet elegantly spaced. Featuring one large and several small areas of moss-like inclusions, the vibrant diorama suspended inside this specimen comes to life as though while frozen in place.
Measuring an impressive 6 inches (15.24 cm) high and 4 inches (10.16 cm) wide at its broadest, this egg is definitely a collection specimen. It is finely polished to glassy perfection and very well proportioned. It comes with a lit base that brings out all of the highlights hidden in the interior. In very fine condition. [Scale: 1 inch, with mark at 1 cm]. Estimated Price: $25,000 - $35,000
Heritage Auctions. 2013 June 2 Natural History Signature Auction Session 2. Phone: 800.872.6467 - Email: Bid@HA.com
Pierre VINCENT (Ecole FRANCAISE du XVIIIème siècle) "Nature morte aux lièvres". Photo SCP D. LE COËNT-de BEAULIEU et V. de M..
Huile sur toile signée et datée en bas à droite "Petrus Vincent pinxit 1790". (Restaurations anciennes) 61 x 81,5 cm. Estimation 800 € - 1 200 €
Demantoid Garnet - 4.21 ct, Russia. Photo Heritage Auctions
There's something about the Russian version of this exotic Garnet that sets it apart from all other localities. The Russian material contains enough Chromium in its structure to give it a clean green with no hints of the blue or brown tones common to other source material. The Diamond like optical properties are the origin of the name: Demantoid = "Diamond-like" in Greek. As is typical for Russian material there are "horse-tail" type inclusions, but not enough to dim the fiery reflections from within this round brilliant style stone.
Overall measurements are 9.6 mm in diameter and it weighs 4.21 carats. [Scale: 1 inch, with mark at 1 cm]. Estimated Price: $20,000 - $30,000
Heritage Auctions. 2013 June 2 Natural History Signature Auction Session 2. Phone: 800.872.6467 - Email: Bid@HA.com