London, 4 May 2012
London-based auction house Bonhams will be holding a sale of Chinese fine arts on 17 May. The event, which is to mark the year of the dragon (the luckiest sign of the Chinese zodiac) will feature numerous representations of the mythical creature among its 402 lots. There are four particularly eye-catching pieces among them.
- Lot 58, an imperial seal in green jade, stamp “San Xi Tang”, Qianlong period (1736-1795), estimated between £1 M and £1.5 M;
- Lot 323, a pair of tripod cups used in the libation ritual (offering a drink to the gods), carrying the seal of the Qianlong era, with each piece showing a pair of dragons, one of which is holding a pearl, gilt edge, all richly decorated, estimated between £250,000 and £350,000;
- Lot 19, a pair of long necked vases in pale green jade engraved, with engraved dragon decoration, Qing dynasty, apparently from the imperial court, estimated between £120,000 and £180,000;
- Lot 185, enamelled box in three colours (red, green, yellow), 28.5 cm in diameter, depicting a dragon holding a pearl in its claws, Qianlong Period, estimated between £70,000 and £90,000. As well as these, the sale will also feature several decorative works of art and furniture:
- Lot 54, sculpture in jade, representing a mountain peak in the background and four wise men and a disciple carrying a sculpted inscription to Prince Gong around a river in the foreground, estimated between £400,000 and £600,000;
- Lot 101, a 62 cm statuette in grey marble, probably depicting Ananda (an early disciple of Buddha), accompanied by a 1926 catalogue from the archives of the Guimet museum and a catalogue from 1955, estimated between £250,000 and £350,000;
- Lot 40, a marriage bowl in pale green jade on four short legs, with two handles, an exterior engraved with a flower and mushroom pattern, 18th century, estimated between £120,000 and £180,000;
- Lot 156, a low table in huali (a tree from south-eastern China), low squared feet, finely engraved, 17th century, estimated between £100,000 and £150,000. The sale will also be featuring 24 lots (186 to 209) dedicated to ivory (table ware, boxes, statuettes, screens) and 18 others (210 to 227) in rhinoceros, with statuettes and libation cups, the finest of which have been estimated to sell for £150,000.