Lots 707, 705, 704 and 706, Edo Period armor
Lot 707 is a black-lacquered dark blue-laced gomai-do gusoku from the Edo Period. It has an estimate of $25,000 to $30,000. It sold for $30,000.
Lot 704 is a brown-lacquered iroiro odoshi nuinobe nimai-do gusoku. It has an estimate of $15,000 to $20,000. It sold for $16,250.
Lot 706 is a black-lacquered dark blue-laced shishi uchidachi gomai-do gusoku. It has an estimate of $15,000 to $20,000. It sold for $18,750.
Lot 689, Lacquer palaquin, Edo Period, 19th Century, 46 by 33 by 51 inches
The
entrance to the auction house for the exhibition was highlighted by Lot
689 an exquisite lacquer palanquin from the Edo Period, 19th Century.
It measures 46 by 33 by 51 inches and its interior is as
lavish
and colorful as its exterior. The catalogue noted that there
is a
similar one in the Tokyo National Museum. The lot has an
estimate
of $40,000 to $60,000. It
sold for $40,000.
Lot 633, "A Portuguese Ship Comes to Trade," six-panel screen, 61 by 137 1/2 inches, late 16th-17th Century
Detail of Lot 633
Lot 633, "A Portuguese Ship Comes to Trade," is a late 16th-early 17th Century six-panel screen that measures 61 1/4 by 137 1/2 inches. It has been widely published.
The catalogue entry provides the following commentary:
"Portuguses traders reached Japan in 1543, and by 1573 they had selected the Bay of Nagasaki as the ideal natural harbor for the center of their commerce. The Portugense nau, or carrack, was known to the Japanese as the kurofune (black ship) or nanban ban, ship of the Nanban, or Southern Barbarians so called becuase these foreigners arrived from the south. (The term originated in China, where all foreigners were regarded as barbarians.)...Nearly one hundred Nanban screens are now recorded, and Japanese scholars have determined that the subject ranked second in popularity only to screens depiting Scenes in and Around the Capital."
The lot has an estimate of $700,000 to $900,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 638, "A Portuguese ship comes to trade, pair of six-screeens, ink, color, gold and gold leaf on paper 17th Century, 54 3/4 by 135 1/2 inches each
Detail of Lot 638
Lot 638 is a 17th Century pair of six-panel screens entitled "A Portuguese Ship Comes to Trade.' Each screen measures 54 3/4 by 135 1/2 inches. The screens are a new discovery and have never been published and closely follow a set at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The lot has an estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 637, "Kabuki Theater," anonymous, 17th Century, six-panel screen, 41 3/4 by 103 3/4 inches
Lot 637 is an anonymous, six-panel screen from the 17th Century titled "Kabuki Theater." It measures 41 3/4 by 103 3/4 inches. It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 572, "Ichimonji, Lot 573, "Bosusho," and Lot 574, "Onore (I, Myself)," all by Tawara Yusaku, hanging scrolls, 24 5/8 by 23 5/8, 21 1/2 by 15 1/8 and 35 7/8 by 11 3/8 inches, respectively
Lots 572, 573 and 574 are calligraphy hanging scrolls by Tawara Yusaku (1932-2004). Lot 574, "Onore (I, myself)," is the most largest and most impressive. It had an estimate of $5,000 to $7,000. It sold for $5,000. The others failed to sell.
Lot 759, large inlaid iron dish, Meiji Period (late 19th Century), signed Nihon Koku Kyoto Ju Komai Sei, 15 3/4 inches in diameter
Lot 759 is an impressive inlaid iron dishvfrom the Meiji Period (late 19th Century). It is 15 3/4 inches in diameter and is signed Nihon Koku. It has an estimate of $70,000 to $90,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 538, "Blue Morning Glory," by Kitagawa Sosetsu, framed and glazed hanging school, ink, color and gold on paper, 41 1/2 by 15 3/4 inches
Lot 538 is a beautiful hanging scroll entitled "Blue Morning Glory" by Kitagawa Sosetsu (active mid-17th Century). It measures 41 1/2 by 15 3/4 inches. It has an estimate of $5,000 to $7,000. It failed to sell.
Korean Art
Lot 842, Two video installations, Chochungdo (Insects and plants) of Shin Saimdang, 2007, 13 3/4 by 11 inches each
Perhaps the most charming lot in the auction is Lot 842, two small video installations by Lee Leenam (b. 1969), entitled "Chochungdo (insects and plants) of Shin Saimdang." They were created in 2007 and their animation is quite poetic. Each measures 13 3/4 by 11 inches. The lot has an estimate of $10,000 to $15,000. It sold for $10,625.
Lot 840, left, and Lot 841, right, ceramic plates by Yoon Gwangio
Lot 840 is an attractive, white ceramic plate by Yoon Gwangio (b. 1946) that measures 22 by 11 3/8 inches. It has an estimate of $1,500 to $2,000. It sold for $1,250
Lot 841 is a black ceramic plate by Gwangio that measures 17 7/8 by 9 7/8 inches. It has an estimate of $1,500 to $2,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 851, "Island Sketches," by Kim Whanki," oil on canvas, 31 1/2 by 39 1/4 inches
Lot 851, "Island Sketches," is an oil on canvas by Kim Whanki (1913-1974). It measures 31 1/2 by 39 1/4 inches. It has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It sold for $863,750.
Lot 818, blue and white jar with tigers, Joseon Dynasty (19th Century), 12 inches high
Lot 818 is a nice blue and white jar with tigers from the Joseon Dynasty (19th Century). It is 12 inches high. It has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000. It sold for $939,750!
Lot 825, blue and white brush holder, Joseon Dynasty (late 18th-19th Century), 4 3/8 inches high
Lot 825, a blue and white brush holder from the Joseon Dynasty (late 18th-19th Century) is the back-cover illustration of the catalogue. It is 4 3/8 inches high. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $180,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 540, "Early Spring," fan mounted on hanging scroll, by Sakai Hoitsu, 5 3/4 by 28 7/8 inches
One of the loveliest and almost abstract fans in the auction is Lot 540, "Early Spring," by Sakai Hoitsu (1761-1828). It measures 5 3/4 by 28 7/8 inches. It has an estimate of $5,000 to $7,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 838, untitled, by Nam Kwan, oil on canvas, 19 11/16 by 23 5/8 inches
Lot 838 is a good untitled abstraction oil on canvas by Nam Kwan (1911-1990). It measures 19 11/16 by 23 5/8 inches. It has an estimate of $15,000 to $18,000. It failed to sell.
See The City Review article on the Spring 2012 Japanese Art auction at Christie's New York
See The City Review article on the Fall 2011 Japanese Art auction at Christie's New York
See The City Review article on the Fall 2010 Japanese Art auction at Christie's New York