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A pair of magnificent cloisonné enamel caparisoned elephants from the Qianlong period (1736-1795), courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2012. (Click on image to enlarge).

Nearly 400 lots of Chinese ceramics and works of art will come under the hammer at Christie’s, Hong Kong on May 30.  Highlights include cloisonné enamels, important ceramics, jades and textiles, archaic bronzes and a large group of Ming huanghuali furniture.  The Mandel Collection of cloisonné enamel works from mostly Qing dynasty (1644-1911) and the Qianlong period (1736-1795) was assembled by American collectors Dr. Sam and Annette Mandel. A pair of unusually large caparisoned elephants from the Qianlong period (1736-1795), estimated at US$518,000-777,000, is reputed to have been in the collections of Sir Winston Churchill, Aristotle Onassis and Maria Callas.

The Yongzheng (1723-1735) and Qianlong periods (1736-1795) were reigns when Imperial interest in the arts pushed technical innovation and creative design to new heights.  A rare Yongzheng doucai meiping (doucai is a technique of dovetailing colours, meiping is a plum vase with narrow base, wide body and narrow neck) is estimated at US$1,000,000-1,300,000.  It was acquired from Yamanaka & Company, Inc. in 1943 in New York. A rare carved celadon-glazed vase with a Qianlong six-character seal mark has an estimate of US$3,213,000-4,500,000. There is a pair of huanghuali yoke-back armchairs from Ming dynasty (16th/17th century).  They are estimated at US$380,000-650,000.  Made nearly 500 years ago this pair would have been reserved for the most important guests or members of the household.  They are upright.  Lower ranking members sat on stools.

A large doucai meiping, Yongzheng period courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2012. (Click to enlarge).

A rare carved celadon-glazed vase with a Qianlong six-character seal mark, courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2012. (Click to enlarge).

A pair of Ming Dynasty huanghuali yoke-back armchairs, courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2012. (Click to enlarge).

DICKENS, Charles. The Personal History of David Copperfield. London: Bradbury & Evans, 1850 courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2012. (Click on image to enlarge).

The letter accompanying the book, courtesy Christie's Images 2012. (Click to enlarge).

Charles Dickens’s personal copy of David Copperfield will come up at Christie’s in London on June 13.  Dickens (1812-1870) penned the novel in 1850, and it is known to have been his favourite.  It is inscribed to Brookes of Sheffield and was sent to the knife and tool manufacturer in May of 1851.  Dickens had included a character in David Copperfield with the similar name of ‘Brooks of Sheffield’; in a letter dated 25 April 1851 Dickens wrote to the manufacturer telling them that the introduction of the name into the book was pure coincidence. Having received a gift of a case of cutlery from Brooks of Sheffield, Dickens presented them with his own copy of the book to counteract the common superstition that if a knife is given as a gift, the relationship of the giver and recipient will be severed.

The book is accompanied by an autographed letter from Dickens presenting the copy to Messrs Brookes in which he apologises for the delay in their receiving the gift. Over the past 35 years only two presentation copies of David Copperfield have been seen at auction; in comparison with a copy of the book which has simply been signed by the author, presentation copies are more valuable as the author has gone to the trouble and expense of giving the book to someone.  It is expected to make between £30,000-50,000.

Benjamin Franklin's 2nd edition sells for 29,000 in Dublin.

Benjamin Franklin’s New Experiments and Observations on Electricity sold for 29,000 at Mealy’s rare book sale in Dublin on April 24.  The three part book by one of the founding fathers of the US had been estimated at 3,500-5,000. It was from the library at Barne Park in Co. Tipperary and was part of the Ricardi Moore collection sold at the Berkeley Court Hotel in Dublin.

Benjamin Franklin made his observations at Philadelphia.  A major figure in the history of physics his many inventions included the lightning rod, bifocals and the Franklin stove. He formed the first public library in America and the first fire department in Pennsylvania.

The 1754 second edition parts I and 2, and possibly first edition part 3, was inscribed inside the front cover: ‘ex. Libris ricardi Moore pd. for this Vol. 4-4paid, besides Binding.’  At the same auction A History of Air by Robert Boyle, father of modern chemistry, sold for 6,500. The collection of 880 lots was 75 per cent sold.

See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for April 23, April 21 and April 13.

A jadeite bead necklace of unrivalled quality, courtesy Christie's Images Ltd. (Click on image to enlarge).

A pigeon blood Burma ruby and diamond ring courtesy Christie's Images Ltd. (Click on image to enlarge).

A JAR oval shaped diamond ring courtesy Christie's Images Ltd. (Click on image to enlarge).

A dramatic and one-of-a-kind diamond ring from JAR, one of the most sought-after contemporary jewellers in the world, is a highlight at Christie’s sale of Magnificent Jewels in Hong Kong on May 29. Set with three striking diamonds of exceptional quality – an oval-shaped diamond D colour, internally flawless diamond of 10.67 carats at its centre, flanked by two D colour, internally flawless diamonds of 6.07 and 6.04 carats – it marks the exquisite design for which JAR is known (US$ 2,500,000-3,500,000).

Over 300 diamond, gems and jadeite jewels valued at over $76 million US will come under the hammer. There is a superb 6.04 carat Burmese ruby and diamond ring by Etcetera (US$2,500,000-3,800,000).  The no heat cushion-shaped stone possesses the most desirable ‘pigeon’s blood red’ colour and an extraordinary degree of transparency.  A jadeite bead necklace of unrivalled quality is estimated at 0(US$3,200,000-4,500,000). Evenly and strongly saturated, each of the  jadeite beads featured in this necklace exhibits the optimal combination of colour, translucency and texture. The glass-like translucency bolsters the rarity of these pure beads.

Last year was a milestone year at Christie’s jewellery department. Global sales rech $600.1 million US, up 41 per cent on 2010. Hong Kong is ranked alongside New York and Geneva as one of the most important centre in the world for the sale of magnificent jewellery according to Vickie Sek, director of the Jewellery and Jadeite department at Christie’s, Asia.

(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for March 30).

A match ticket to the Bloody Sunday game in 1920 .UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,400

An historic match ticket to the fateful Bloody Sunday game between Tipperary and Dublin at Croke Park comes up at Mealy’s  rare books sale in Dublin on April 25.  The ticket, which is worn, is a survivor of one of the most significant events to take place during the Irish War of Independence.   On November 21, 1920 British Forces opened fire on an unarmed crowd attending a GAA football match killing 14 civilians.  Earlier that day the IRA mounted an operation to assassinate a team of undercover British agents in Dublin.  Later that evening three Republican prisoners detained in Dublin Castle were killed.  In total 31 people were killed in Dublin on that day.  Mealy’s estimate the ticket at 1,500-2,000. UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR 1,400.

The venue for the 350 lot sale, which is entitled Ireland’s Struggle, is the Berkeley Court Hotel in Dublin.  It will feature historical documents, broadsides, pamphlets, newspapers, postcards, militaria, photographs and books.

(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for April 13)