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  • Exceptional 18th Century Chinese Vases at Christie’s

    18th century Daoist vases at Christie’s. (Click on image to enlarge). Copyright Christie’s Images.  UPDATE: THE SELLING PRICE FOR THESE WAS

    £7,993,250

    THIS set of four 18th century Chinese porcelain vases, mounted in the early 19th century with French ormolu, feature at Christie’s on July 7. Over four feet tall they were acquired by either the 3rd Duchess of Buccleuch or her grandson, the 5th Duke.  The only known parallels in form, scale, magnificence and style are the vases acquired around the same time by the Prince Regent, later George IV, now at Buckingham Palace, London. The ‘Daoist vases’ are an example of the Chinese taste for auspicious imagery. The presence of numerous bats in flight conveys happiness and prosperity – bats being a homophone in Chinese for a word meaning ‘happiness’, whilst the Eight Buddhist and Daoist Emblems, which take a central importance on these vases, are believed to bring blessings and harmony. The vases are expected to realise between £600,000 and £1 million.

    They form part of the Exceptional Sale.  This comprises just 52 works and is expected to realise £18 million.
    UPDATE:  THE SALE REALISED £28,781,000.  The four vases were bought by US casino owner Steve Wynn for his Macau Resort Hotel.
    This silver chandelier is a masterpiece of Palladian design. (Click on image to enlarge). Copyright, Christie’s Images.  UPDATE: THIS MADE

    £5,753,250

    The Givenchy Royal Hanover Chandelier is a masterpiece of 18th century Palladian design.  The  German silver eight-light chandelier was conceived by the celebrated architect and designer William Kent for King George II of Great Britain as Elector of Hanover (r.1727-1760). Kent’s inspired design was realised by the Hanover court goldsmith Balthasar Friedrich Behrens and was delivered to the Hanover palace on September 13, 1736. It later graced Windsor Castle and was most recently sold from the collection of the renowned designer Hubert de Givenchy in Christie’s Monaco in 1994. The estimate is £2.6 million to £3.6 million.

    Robert Copley, international head of furniture and decorative art at Christie’s said:  “For The Exceptional Sale 2011 we have extended the parameters to include pieces from all of the decorative arts which will give the market the opportunity to bid for some of the rarest and finest works of art to come to auction, many of which are offered for the first time.”

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