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Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art

Sotheby's New York

Part 1

10:30 A.M., September 17, 2013 Lots 12-185

10 AM, September 18, 2013, Lots 186-370

Tang horses

Lot 45, "Pair of Magnificent Sancai-glazed Pottery Horses," Tang Dynasty, 26 3/4 and 27 inches high, respectively






By Carter B. Horsley

The September 19, 2013 auction of Fine Classical Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy was 84 percent sold with 223 lots selling for $31,319,375.

Lot 45, a pair of "magnificent Sancai-glazed  pottery horses" from the Tang Dynasty, has an "estimate on request."  The lot sold for $4,197,000.

The roan horse is 26 3/4 inches high and the black horse is  27 inches high.  

The catalogue entry noted that it is rare for identically sculpted horses to have different colored coats, groomed manes and saddle blankets.  There is another pair in the Kyoto National Museum.

Horse and foreign groom

Lot 48, Large painting Gray Pottery Figure of a Horse and Foreign Groom, Tang Dynasty, horse 31 1/4 inches high, groom 27 inches high
Lot 48 is a large painted gray pottery figure of a horse and foreign groom from the Tang Dynasty.  The horse is 31 1/4 inches high and the groom 27 inches high.  The lot has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000.  It sold for $43,750.

Jade waterdropper

Lot 121, "Gray Jade Bixie-form Water Dropper," Ming Dynasty or earlier, 5 1/4 inches long

Lot 121 is a super gray jade Bixie-form water dropper from the Ming Dynasty or earlier.  It is 5 1/4 inches long and was exhibited in 1975 in the show "Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages" in London. A similar piece is in the Qing Court Collection in Beijing and another was sold at  Christie's New York, March 21, 2013.  The lot has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000.  It sold for $100,000.


Bronze wine vessl Late Shang

Lot 17, Wine Vessel, bronze, Late Shang Dynasty, 12th-11th Century B.C., 7 3/8 inches high

Lot 17 is a fine Late Shang Dynasty, 12th-11th Century B.C., bronze wine vessel.  It is 7 3/8 inches high and is property of Alex and Elizabeth Leyt who acquired it from Alfred Salimony, the curator of the Cologne Museum of the Far East from 1920 to 1933 and later an advsior to C. T. Loo.  It has an estimate of $300,000 to $500,000.  It sold for $1,925,000.
Early Eastern Zhou water vessel (Yi)

Lot 25, bronze water vessel (Yi), Early Eastern Zhou Dynasty B.C., 12 inches long

Another property of Alex and Elizabeth Leyt is Lot 25 is a nice bronze water vessel (yi) from the Early Eastern Zhou Dynasty, 8th Century B.C.  It is 12 inches long.  It has an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000.  It sold for $62,500.

Li Ding tripod vessel

Lot 18, ritual tripod vessel (li ding), Late Shang/Early Western Zhou Dynasty, 12th-11th Century B.C., 8 1/8 inches high

A third work from the Lewyt collection is Lot 18, a bronze ritual tripod vessel (li ding) from the Late Shang/Early Western Zhou Dynasty, 12th-11th Century B.C.  It is 8 1/8 inches high and was once with Professor Alfred Salmony.  It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000.  It sold for $605,000.

Coral ground famille rose bowl

Lot 350, Coral-ground famille rose floral bowl, Yongzheng Mark and Period 5 1/8 inches in diameter

Lot 350 is a coral-ground famille-rose floral bowl with a Yongzheng mark and period.  It is 5 1/8 inches in diameter  It has anestimate of $400,000 to $600,000.  It sold for $905,000.

Four frames each with two stones

Lot 195, four "Dreamstone" inlaid Burlwood panels, Qing Dynasty, 19th Century, each 55 inches high

Lot 195 is a handsome set of four "Dreamstone" inlaid burlwood panels from the Qing Dynasty, 19th Century.  Each is 55 inches high and is signed either Shixian or Ruan Yuan.  The lot has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000.  It failed to sell.

Catalogue cover vase

Lot 358, Celadon-ground famille-rose vase, Qianlong seal, mark and period, 18 5/8 inches high

Lot 358 is a very rare celadon-ground famille-rose vase with a Qianlong seal, mark and period.  It is 18 5/8 inches high and was the catalogue's cover illustration.  The lot has an estimate of $500,000 to $800,000.  It failed to sell.

Chinese screen

Lot 252, black-ground coromandel 12-panel "West Lake" screen, Qing Dynasty, 18th Century, each panel 113 by 20 inches

Lot 252 is a large and "unusual" black-ground coromandel "West Lake" screen from the Qing Dynasty, 18th Century.  Each panel measures 113 by 20 inches  It has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000.  It sold for $50,000.

Jade bird finial

Lot 31, Archaistic jade bird pole finial with bronze fitting, Song Dynasty, 6 5/8 inches

Lot 31 is a fine Archaistic jade bird pole finial with bronze fitting from the Song Dynasty.  It is 6 5/8 inches high and once was in the collection of Nelson A. Rockefeller.  It has an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000.  It sold for $106,250.
Silver and gilt cylindrical vessel

Lot 29, Silver and gilt decorated bronze cylindrical tripod vessel  and cover (zun), Early Western Han Dynasty, 2nd-1st Century B.C., 8 1/4 inches high

Lot 29 is an attractive silver and gilt decorated bronze cylindrical tripod vessel and cover (zun) from the Early Western Han Dynasty, 2nd-1st Century B.C.  The body is raised on three crouching bear-form feet  and  the cover has three long-tailed birds.  A similar work is in the Staatlichen Museen in Berlin  The lot has an estimate of $10,000 to $15,000.  It sold for $40,000.
Bear support

Lot 28, gilt bronze bear support, Han Dynasty, 2 5/8  inches high

Lot 28 is a gilt bronze bear support for a zun from the Han Dynasty, like Lot 29.  It is 2 5/8 inches high.  It has an estimate of $15,000 to $20,000.  It sold for  $23,750.




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