For Immediate Release Thursday, 13 October 2011 Contact: Hannah Schmidt +44 (0) 207 389 2964 hschmidt@christies.com ASIAN ART WEEK AT CHRISTIE S LONDON IN NOVEMBER 2011 London Christie s Asian Art sales in New York this September realised $75.8 million, re-confirming the strength of international demand and Christie s continued position as market leaders across all Asian Art categories. This autumn, Christie s London Asian Art Week will run from 8-11 November 2011, featuring further significant works which exemplify excellent provenance, rarity and beauty, with many highlights offered from important private collections. The sales include: Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 8 November at King Street with a standalone sale of Important Rhinoceros Horn and Jade Carvings From A Distinguished European Collection also at King Street; Interiors focusing on Chinese Art on 9 November at South Kensington; Japanese Art & Design on 9 November at South Kensington and Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art and Textiles on 11 November at South Kensington. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art: 8 November at 10.30am & 2.30pm, Christie s King Street - Bid via Christie s LIVE TM Setting the tone for Christie s London Asian Art week this autumn, Christie s is proud to present the most valuable London sale of Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, to date, on Tuesday 8 November 2011. Illustrating the depth of Christie s experience and longstanding commitment to this rich and vibrant area of Asian Art, the auction is led by seven important private collections: Property from an Important Asian Collection; Property from a Distinguished Asian Collector; Important Rhinoceros Horn and Jade Carvings from a Distinguished European Collection; The Farrow Collection; A Magnificent Selection of Chinese Works of Art from the Sir Framjee Dinshaw Petit, 3rd Baronet & Lady Sylla Dinshaw Petit, Neé Tata Collection; The Burton Collection of Chinese Works of Art and Property from a South American Collection. Long established connections with institutions and owners of private collections in Europe and America have enabled Christie s to source exemplary works, many of which are offered at auction for the first time. For full information on the private collections please see the separate press release. Demand is strong for the finest, rarest and most beautiful works in this category and Christie s has tailored a sophisticated sale to the discerning tastes of international collectors. Spanning the Shang dynasty (12 th century B.C.) to the early 20 th century, this auction features over 400 lots: with an emphasis on rarity, imperial manufacture and fine condition and ranging from ceramics and paintings to carved jades and rhinoceros horns. Leading the sale is a magnificent rare blue and white cylindrical Yongzheng period vase, from a private Asian collector (estimate: 500,000-700,000), illustrated right. With estimates ranging from 1,000 to 500,000 the sale is expected to realise in excess of 15million. The various owner section encompasses a rich array of stellar works. Ceramic highlights include
a very rare large turquoise and white enamel-decorated Lantern vase, Qianlong, that was acquired at auction from The Leverhulme Collection, Thorton Manor in 2001 (estimate: 350,000-450,000); an exquisite pair of delicate moulded celadon glazed bowls, Yongzheng, which are the property of a Lady (estimate: 150,000-250,000) and a rare iron-red-decorated blue and white dragon circular box and cover, Jiaqing (1796-1820) (estimate: 50,000-80,000). Works of art include a very rare parcel-gilt silver bowl, liner and cover, Tang dynasty (618-907) (estimate: 400,000-600,000), which exemplifies the quality and rarity offered throughout the sale, illustrated left. A very rare form and with deep rounded sides displaying finely engraved and gilded arrangements of lotus flowers, this lot epitomises the sumptuous wares of the Tang dynasty. The breadth and depth of works ranges from a finely embroidered Imperial yellow-ground throne cushion cover, Qianlong period (1736-1795) ( estimate: 20,000-30,000) to pair of impressive large cloisonné and champlevé enamel lotus pond jardinières, Jiaqing period (1796-1820), which are offered from the property of a Gentleman having been acquired from an important Scottish country house (estimate: 100,000-150,000) and a large pair of zitan framed double-gourd embellished lacquer panels, Qianlong period (1736-1795) which have passed by descent from the 19 th century Scottish merchant Daniel Beale (1759-18 42) (estimate: 60,000-8 0,000). A very beautiful fine large Buddhist painting, dating to the early 18 th century, provides a rare opportunity for collectors (estimate: 300,000-500,000), detail illustrated right. The property of a European Gentleman, this superbly executed painting, in ink and colour on silk, is part of the tradition of well documented Water and Land paintings, which hold great religious importance in Chinese Buddhism. Commissioned by the Imperial Prince Zhuang, it was acquired by an Italian collector in the early 20 th century and has subsequently passed by descent. The Jades include a superb example of a marriage bowl. It is deep and finely carved in pale celadon with lotus blooms and the Eight Buddhist Emblems, Qianlong period (1736-1795) (estimate: 200,000-300,000); a shallow square box and cover in white jade and of the same period (estimate: 30,000-50,000) and a charming small two-colour jade model of a rabbit (estimate: 15,000-25,000), which is most pertinent as 2011 is the year of the rabbit, illustrated left. Building on the quality of the important private collection of Rhinoceros Horn featured, the auction presents rare 17 th century libation cups, exemplified by one decorated with a scene from one of China s most famous literary works Xixiang Ji (The Romance of the Western Chamber), showing two of the leading female characters (estimate: 200,000-300,000) and a squirrels and grapes cup from the property of a European Lady, which passed by descent from Mr Wilfred Fliesher, Editor-in-Chief of the Japan Advertiser in Tokyo in the 1920s (estimate: 100,000-150,000).
Interiors: 8 and 9 November at 10.30am & 2pm, Christie s South Kensington Bid via Christie s LIVE TM Christie s South Kensington will again feature an Interiors sale, dedicated primarily to Chinese Art, which has become a highly successful regular feature of Christie s Asian Art Week in London. The auction on Wednesday 9 November will offer a wide variety of styles and media, including A Private European Collection of Ivories and several old private collections of ceramics, works of art and jade. Featuring with over 490 works, with estimates starting at just 500, the sale is expected to realise in excess of 600,000. Highlights on offer, illustrated above left to right, include a Chinese famille rose ovoid jar (estimate: 1,000-1,500); a pair of gilt-lacquer decorated spinach-green jade panels offered from a Private UK collection (estimate: 2,000-3,000); three Chinese ivory carvings (estimate: 700-1,100); two Chinese bronze censers (estimate: 1,200-1,500) and also a beautiful embroidered coverlet from China (estimate: 1,000-2,000), illustrated right. Japanese Art & Design: 9 November at 10.30am & 2.30pm, Christie s South Kensington Bid via Christie s LIVE TM The sale of Japanese Art and Design, on 9 November, features over 450 lots dating to the 1 st /2 nd century AD through to the 1950 s, with estimates starting ranging from 800 up to 50,000. The auction is orientated towards the dynamics of Japanese design with many pieces exemplifying the simplicity and elegance of Japanese art in a wide array of media including stoneware, lacquer, ceramics and bronze. The section of arts of the Samurai with important swords and dramatic armours is led by a very impressive red suit of armour [Tosei Gusoku] from the Momoyama-Edo period (16 th -17 th century) (estimate: 35,000-40,000) illustrated left and and a sword by Ichimonji - a Naginata-Naoshi Katana formerly in the collection of the Emperor Meiji, Kamakura period (circa 1250) illustrated right (estimate: 30,000-40,000). It also includes three private collections: Swords from the Collection of Dr. Fimio, a private collection from Ireland, and Tsuba from The Collection of The Late Herbert Graham Cannon. The sale is expected to realise in the region of 800,000. The ceramics are led by an attractive Nabeshima dish, Edo period (late 17 th /early 18 th century), decorated in iron-red, green, blue and yellow enamels on underglaze blue with hydrangea (estimate:
30,000-40,000) illustrated right. A similar example is held in the collection of the Toguri Museum of Art, Tokyo. Smaller lots range from an Edo period (18 th century) fine Raku stoneware teabowl [Chawan], which is decorated with a pinkish-orange glaze (estimate: 3,000-4,000), to a remarkable Yayoi slightly burnished stoneware vase (1 st -2 nd century AD) (estimate: 4,000-6,000) which is offered from an American collection. This style of pottery was introduced from Korea and its earliest manifestations in Japan occurred in northern Kyushu, later spreading to eastern Japan and as far as Sendai. Among the sculptures are two Buddhist examples in wood: one of Jizo Boasatsu, Kamakura period (14 th century) (estimate: 30,000-40,000) and the other carved as a deity, by the monk Enku (1632-1695), dating to the Edo period (17 th century) (estimate: 6,000-8,000). Enku was born in Mino Province and wandered all over Japan, he is known to have carved up to 120,000 wooden sculptures in his lifetime, each one unique. Other notable works include a Negoro Temple lacquer basin, from the property of an American collector, Momoyama-early Edo period (16 th -17 th century) illustrated left (estimate: 4,000-6,000); and from the 20 th century, a bronze flower vase by Kasai Taizo (b.1915) (estimate: 3,000-4,000); and a captivating modern painting entitled Dusk no.8.9 by Yutaka Ohashi, executed in 1959 (estimate: 800-1,000). Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art and Textiles: 11 November at 10am & 2pm, Christie s South Kensington - Bid via Christie s LIVE TM Christie s South Kensington sale of Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art and Textiles on 11 November 2011 will present over 500 lots dating pre-dominantly to the 17 th century all the way through to 20 th century, with estimates ranging from 1,000 to 40,000. This is the most valuable sale to date for the category at South Kensington; it is expected to realise in excess of 2 million. The auction features a rich array of private collections. There are a number of private English, European and Asian collections of Jade, as well as a single large naturalistically carved jadeite horse from the 20 th century offered from The Von Oertzen Collection of Chinese and Indian Jades (estimate: 15,000-25,000), illustrated left. From private Asian collections, the sale also offers snuff bottles and 20 th century ceramics. Elsewhere, private European collections showcase scholars objects, cloisonné-enamel, gilt-bronze vessels, fine porcelains, textiles, carvings and paintings. Porcelain highlights range from an ovoid famille rose jar, Yongzheng/ early Qianlong (1723-95) depicting the auspicious five boys motif from a private English Collection, illustrated top right (estimate: 7,000-10,000) and a large 18 th century white glazed carved dish, which is finely carved in relief with blossoming lotus, surrounded by flowering peonies and scrolling foliage (estimate: 10,000-12,000), to a later, 19 th century, famille rose figure of Amitayus, the Buddha of Infinite Life, seated on a lotus base, with rich gilding covering the body (estimate: 8,0 00-12,000), illustrated right.
Among the beautiful textiles offered is a stunning three-fold embroidered silk and deeply carved hardwood screen, from Canton in the early 19 th century. Embroidered in ivory silks and gilt metal threads, against a midnight blue silk ground, the screen illustrates a peacock, pheasant, crane and other exotic birds and butterflies bathing and amidst bamboo and flowering blossom branches (estimate: 10,000-12,000), detail illustrated left. The stellar array of robes featured is exemplified by a late 19 th century imperial consort's orange summer formal court robe (chi'fu) embroidered in counted stitch with nine gilt dragons (estimate: 10,000-15,000). About Christie s # # # Images available on request Visit Christie s Web site at www.christies.com Christie s, the world's leading art business had global auction and private sales in the first half of 2011 that totaled 2.0 billion/$3.2 billion. In 2010 it achieved global auction and private sales of 3.3 billion/$5.0 billion. Christie s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie s offers over 450 sales annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie s has 53 offices in 32 countries and 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Zurich, Dubai and Hong Kong. More recently, Christie s has led the market with expanded initiatives in emerging and new markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai. *Estimates do not include buyer s premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer s premium and do not reflect costs, financing fees or application of buyer s or seller s credits.