antiquesandartireland.com

An outstanding Southern Song ‘Guan’ Vase from a Japanese Collection (Expected to fetch in excess of HK$60 million / US$7.7 million)

An outstanding southern Song ‘Guan’ Vase from a Japanese collection – unseen on the market for four decades – will lead Sotheby’s Chinese works of art spring sales in Hong Kong on April 7.  A total of six sales will offer more than 250 lots with a total estimate of around US$76 million. They will include two theme sales respectively dedicated to the Yongzheng and Qianlong emperors of the Qing dynasty, two of the greatest art patrons and collectors in Chinese history. 

Nicolas Chow, Sotheby’s Asia Deputy Chairman and International Head of Chinese Works of Art, said, “We are privileged to offer this season some of the most outstanding Chinese works of art to come to the market in recent history.  The Southern Song Guan vase, a masterpiece of ceramic art, and the jade seal that the Yongzheng Emperor used to impress on his own calligraphy are worthy of the finest public or private collections.”

This native American outfit sold for 320,000 at hammer.

A native American outfit sold for a hammer price of 320,000 at Fonsie Mealy’s auction in Castlecomer today. It had been estimated at 4,000-6,000.  But this outfit – comprising hide poncho war shirt, matching leggings, headdress and purse – was in unusually good condition and had an interesting provenance.

It is held by family tradition to have come to Ireland through the family of Reymond Hervey de Montmorency (1835-1902), a major general in the British Army who married Rachel Mary Lumley Godolphin Michel, daughter of Field Marshall Sir John Michel at Montreal in Canada in 1866.

There was spirited bidding from two opposing US bidders in the room and an American bidder on the telephone. The telephone bidder eventually prevailed.  Mealy’s think that the outfit may eventually end up on public display in a museum, but no further details are as yet available.

The auction was a huge success and brought in around 750,000.

(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for February 17, 2015).

This small bowl on stand sold for 3,000 at hammer over an estimate of 200-300.

An unusual 19th century Chinese hardwood table spice carriage sold for 41,000 at hammer.

An unusual 19th century Chinese hardwood table spice carriage has just sold for a hammer price of 41,000 over an estimate of 700-1,000 at Fonsie Mealy. The upper tray has five shaped canisters with a carved gallery and frieze over two deep containers.  It is profusely decorated with jade, ivory, malachite and other semi precious stones and on four large carved pierced and brass inlaid wheels.

A delicate jade translucent bowl, just three inches in diameter, sold for ten times its top estimate at Fonsie Mealy’s auction in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny today. It made 3,000 at hammer over a top estimate of 200-300.

A small early 19th century carved table screen estimated at 1,200-1,800 sold for 26,000.  The sale is attracting lively bidding in the room, on the telephone, with commission bids and on the internet.

A set of early George II forks, property of Dean Jonathan Swift sold for a hammer price of 3,800 over a top estimate of 3,000.  (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for February 20, 2015).