A Qing Dynasty imperial celadon jade seal (£500,000-700,000) and a Southern Song Dynasty hares fur Tenmoku bowl (£300,000-400,000)
A series of auctions bringing together key pieces from the Song, Ming and Qing dynasties will take place at Sotheby’s in London on November 9. The single lot sale of ‘The Supreme Number One’, the first Chinese firearm with an imperial reign mark ever to appear at auction, will be preceded by a distinguished private collection of jades. A selection of imperial ceramics and gilt-bronze figures – including a rare tea bowl from the Song dynasty – are highlights of the range of material to be offered in the Important Chinese Art sale. Comprising some 340 lots with a total estimate in the region of £6.7 million, the series of three sales will take place during Asian Art in London, an annual ten-day celebration of the finest Asian art. During this time, Sotheby’s New Bond Street galleries will also host an exhibition presented by the Oriental Ceramic Society featuring some 200 examples of ceramics, mostly from China and Japan, and all drawn from members’ collections.
