Ancient Treasures: Highlights from our March Asian Works of Art Sale
Our auction of Asian Works of Art returns on March 25 sale with six outstanding examples of Chinese secular and religious art history spanning two millennia. Continue reading to learn more about these ancient objects and their histories.
LOT 135 | A RARE BRONZE RITUAL FOOD VESSEL, FANGDING
LATE SHANG DYNASTY (12TH-11TH CENTURY B.C.) 商晚期 青铜饕餮纹方鼎
The rectangular body of this vessel rises atop four stout cylindrical legs and is surmounted by a pair of upright loop handles. Exaggerated flanges extend from its walls and demarcate taotie masks against a ground of thundering clouds. One interior wall features a cast inscription of two kneeling figures flanking a ritual vessel, all above a gui character. The vessel and its inscription are illustrated in Robert Bagley’s authoritative text on Chinese ritual bronzes, Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Robert W. Bagley, The Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, 1987, which will be included in this offering.
直壁槽型，雙立耳，四柱足，口唇折沿。頸飾夔紋，腹以雲雷紋填底飾大獸面紋。鼎身四隅和四面中部均起扉棱。內壁有簡式祭辭銘文“亞父癸”。器表發棕銹，間露綠銹，古意盎然。賽克勒上世紀中葉購得此鼎，收錄于白格利為其撰寫的青銅器圖錄第一輯，編號88。此書將隨鼎受予成功競拍的買家。
Provenance來源:
Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Including Property from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Christie’s New York, March 25-26, 2010, sale 2405/2297, lot 1003
紐約佳士得中國工藝精品專場，2010.3.25-26，1003號拍品
Literature著錄:
R.W. Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, The Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, 1987, pp. 472-5. no. 88
羅伯特·白格利《亞瑟·賽克勒藏青銅器》472-475頁88號
N. Barnard and Cheung Kwong-yue, Rubbings and Hand Copies of Bronze Inscriptions in Chinese, Japanese, European, American and Australasian Collections, Taipei, 1978, no. 1300 (inscriptions only)
巴納、張光裕主編《中日歐美澳紐所見所拓所摹金文彙編》1300號
LOT 136 | AN ARCHAIC COVERED WINE VESSEL, HE
EASTERN ZHOU DYNASTY, WARRING STATE PERIOD (475-221 B.C.)
东周 战国 青銅弦紋盉
The compressed globular body of this vessel is nestled between a trio of squat cabriole legs, surmounted by a short neck and wide mouth, and decorated by a raised ring encircling its otherwise smooth surface. A molded mythical beast emerges open-mouthed from the body to form a side spout. The handle, terminating in two tiger masks grasping at the vessel, is further joined to the fitted cover by a chain of loose rings.
短颈广肩，有盖有流，肩上有梁，梁的两端雕有銜環的獸首，盖的中间附有銅環三枚，作鏈扣与提梁相连。盉腹渾厚而橫扁，当中凸起一道弦纹，下作三蹄足；上出鳥形流，竖耳圆口，双翼出廓，紋飾一絲不苟，與梁上鬚眉凸目的獸首相扣。盉身青綠，佈滿翡翠色的鏽斑，無銹處則露出濃郁的古銅色，交錯如大千潑彩墨。提梁久經摩挲，包漿瑩潤，棱線隱起，沉秀如砂器。
Provenance來源:
Acquired from J.J. Lally & Co. Oriental Art, July 17, 2008
紐約藍理捷，2008.7.17
LOT 137 | AN ARCHAIC BRONZE RITUAL WINE VESSEL, TILIANGHU
EASTERN HAN DYNASTY (25-220)
东汉 青铜活环提梁壶
Alternating bands incised lozenges, feathers, lappets, and leaves skate the surface of this vessel’s pear-shaped body; with one side decorated with deer running across the mouth rim. The vessel covered by a fitted lid, equally decorated. A dense chain link runs the sides and connects to a dense arching handle.
侈口長頸，鼓腹溜肩，圈足外撇。肩部設輔首銜環一對，口沿出環一對，兩組環鈕間套有“8”字活鏈，配合最上方雙龍銜環式弧形提梁，使壺蓋與器身連成一體。一側蓋沿刻有回首奔跑的小鹿，子母口上下對準，小鹿身首合併，壺與蓋方能嚴絲合縫。通體布滿紋飾，略經整飭，除鏽施蠟，輕敷色料，華麗周致。
Provenance 来源:
Acquired from J.J. Lally & Co. Oriental Art, July 17th, 2008
紐約藍理捷，2008.7.17
Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Sotheby’s New York, September 18, 2007, sale N08342 lot 179
紐約蘇富比中國工藝精品專場，2007.9.18，179號拍品
Acquired by the previous owner in the early 1990s
前藏家購自90年代初期
On the Japanese art market in the early 1980s
80年代出現於日本藝術市場
Exhibited 展覽:
Hong Kong Museum of Art, 2001 – 2006
香港藝術館2001-2006
Min Chiu Society exhibition, 1999 – 2000
敏求精舍1999-2000
LOT 138 | A LARGE AND RARE BRONZE TRIPOD TUREEN AND LADLE
TANG DYNASTY (618-907)
唐 青銅三足鍑配勺
Three curving cabriole legs elevate the spherical body of this tureen: and the vessel’s roundness is further emphasized by incised concentric rings encircling its domed shoulders. The handle of the ladle bears a mark of three interlocking rings and is terminated by a lotus bud finial. Both fit inside a bespoke Japanese wood box.
斂口短頸，通體光素，肩部鏨有幾道弦紋，底部探出踡曲有致的三足，將渾圓的胎體輕輕托起。舀水的長匙鍛打出挺勁的弧度，匙面出尖如同蓮瓣，长柄在末端陡折，雕成垂蓮苞式樣。匙柄一端鏨有小小的品字形三圈纹样，當為區別用途的記號。
Provenance 來源:
Acquired from J.J. Lally & Co. Oriental Art, September 25, 2009
紐約藍理捷，2009.9.25
The Idemitsu Collection, Tokyo, Japan
東京出光美術館舊藏
LOT 143 | A PARCEL-GILT SILVER BOWL
TANG DYNASTY (618-906)
唐 銀鎏金髹漆鏨花鳥高足碗
The rounded sides of this silver bowl feature a relief of mandarin ducks and geese in flight amongst grasses and floral sprays, which has been hammered from the interior with repoussé technique. The body is lightly covered in a slight layer of black lacquer and adorned with gilt highlights, and rests in a fitted wooden box.
銀質鎏金，撇口弧腹，高圈足，內髹漆。器表以極細密的魚子紋為地，鏨有鴛鴦、鴻雁與卷草，口沿與足底以蓮瓣收邊。
LOT 620 | A CARVED LIMESTONE TORSO OF BUDDHA
NORTHERN QI DYNASTY (550-577)
北齊 石灰佛軀立像”
This torso of a Buddha is depicted standing, with a finely carved garment draped closely over the contours of its body.
石灰石質地，白淨無瑕，堅硬細密。身形挺拔，後背平順。頸上與肘下佚失，原應施與願印與無畏印。薄衣貼體，紋飾流暢有型，風格洗練清麗。
Property from the Collection of Jane Davis Doggett, Hobe Sound, Florida
佛羅里達州Hobe Sound市Jane Davis Doggett女士收藏
Provenance 來源:
Acquired from The Chinese Art Gallery, New York, New York, February 20, 2007
2007年2 月20日購自紐約The Chinese Art Gallery藝廊
Our Asian Works of Art sale is March 25. Browse the digital catalogue, view lots online and register to bid now.