Christie's Auction of Chinese Ceramics, Works of art and Textiles Took Place
A pair of finely enameled famille rose vases, made by Wang Xiao-tang, sold for £97,250(estimated: £16,000-20,000) which is the highest price of the auction. Each vase is painted with a fine depiction of Liuhai trailing a string of gold coins before a three-legged toad. Two iron red seals of the artist reading Wang Di, and Xiao Tang could be found on the body. In the base, there is an iron-red seal reading 'Mountain Lodge with red clouds', a studio mark of the artist.
Wang Xiao-tang(1885-1924) was one of the two most famous porcelain painters of Jingdezhen in the early years of the Republic. He specialized in figure painting and used pale refined colors becoming a pioneer in the field of porcelain painting in Jingdezhen. His figures depicted with meticulous brushwork and textile patterns carefully delineated.
An incised celadon vase of Kangxi period got the second place. Its final bid is £86,450(Estimated: £1,000-1,500). The vase is 22.4cm high. The body is in the form of ovoid, with twin tubular handles and a flaring foot. It is delicately decorated with bands of archaistic Taotie mask designs. The whole vase is covered in a pale transluscent green glaze. In the bottom, there is a blue six-character mark reading ‘made in Qing dynasty Kangxi period’.
A large carved rhino horn carving is one of the highlight of the auction. It was sold for £61,250(Estimated: £5,000-8,000). The horn is intricately carved as a deep lotus leaf cup. At the taper side, it is carved with long stem and leaves. Then the pattern turns into heavily blossoming magnolia and lotus flowers. The horn is in a creamy caramel tone. In China, it had a long history of using rhino horns, but not until Ming and Qing dynasty, it became the luxury of imperial family. For this item, It is no doubt a rare exquisite artwork.
In the part of Chinese calligraphy and painting, Feng Da-zhong’s “Tiger Family on a Spring Morning” achieved the highest price. It was sold for £32,450, estimating £4,000-6,000. This painting depicts the serene and harmonious scene of a tiger family. Four tigers are lying on the ground, including two cubs, cuddling up to each other. This artwork is inscribed and sighed by the artist with two seals on the left corner. Feng Da-zhong is a contemporary artist of tranditional Chinese painting. He is most famous of his tigers, which is considered the most representative tiger figure in China nowadays.
For the textile section, a lady’s Xiape or Court Waistcoat of 19 century achieved its final bid for £31,250(Estimated: £3,000-4,000). It is in black silk ground, embroidering with precious vases and flowers. The vase in Chinese is “Ping”, which is represented the meaning of peace and safety. The flowers are the sign of prosperous and auspicious. Inside, it was pink silk summer gauze.
Information
- ·Christie's Auction of Chinese Ceramics, Works of art and Textiles Took Place
- ·Oriental Art Sale at Sworders on May 17
- ·Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Sold at Sotheby's
