Doyle New York will hold an auction of Asian Works of Art on Monday, March 19, 2012 at 10am. Scheduled during New York’s Asia Week, the sale will present almost 800 lots showcasing the arts of China, Japan and Southeast Asia from the Neolithic Period through the 20th century. Offerings include pottery and porcelain, jade, scholar’s objects, bronzes, screens, furniture and paintings.
Chinese Bronze Cannon and Caisson Estimate: $400,000 – 600,000
A RARE AND IMPORTANT CHINESE IMPERIAL CANNON
Certain to attract attention is an important bronze cannon commissioned by the Emperor Kangxi, with inscriptions in Chinese and Manchurian dating it to 1695, the 34th year of his reign (est. $400,000-600,000). Made in Jingshan Nei, now part of Beijing, the cannon is also inscribed with its given name, General Zhisheng, and comes with its partially-original rebuilt caisson. The cannon guarded Beijing’s Hata Gate and was captured during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900. It was one of three cannon brought from China in 1901 by Col. Webb C. Hayes, the son of President Rutherford B. Hayes, and it was until recently in the Western Reserve Historical Society Collection in Cleveland, Ohio. The other two cannon are currently in the collections of West Point Military Academy in West Point, New York, and the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont, Ohio.
THE HONORABLE JUDGE EDGAR BROMBERGER COLLECTION
A featured section of the sale will showcase the Honorable Judge Edgar Bromberger Collection. Comprising almost 270 lots, this extraordinary collection was assembled by Judge Edgar Bromberger (1889-1956), who served as the Chief Magistrate of New York City. The Bromberger Collection has descended in Judge Bromberger’s family since his death in 1956 and is entirely fresh to the market.
Highlighting the Collection is a rare Chinese rhinoceros horn libation cup dating to the 17th century, with intricate carvings depicting figures on a mountain path (est. $300,000-600,000). Also noteworthy is a Chinese blue and white glazed porcelain charger decorated in the Ming style, with the Qianlong Seal Mark and of the Period, diameter 16 inches (est. $250,000-350,000). Chinese porcelain also includes a 14th/15th century Ming Dynasty carved Longquan celadon glazed porcelain vase, height 21 1/4 inches (est. $20,000-30,000).
The Bromberger Collection is particularly rich in Chinese jade articles. Dating to the Ming Dynasty is a celadon jade figure of a recumbent lion grabbing a ball, length 6 7/8 inches (est. $80,000-120,000). Also featured are an 18th century white jade covered censer, height 4 1/2 inches (est. $60,000-80,000); an 18th century white jade mountain carving, height 5 1/2 inches (est. $50,000-70,000); and a 17th/18th century celadon jade libation cup carved with five baby dragons, height 3 inches, width 6 1/4 inches (est. $30,000-50,000). Among the other jade offerings are a 19th century green jade censer, height 6 3/4 inches (est. 30,000-50,000); an 18th century white jade finger citron covered pot, length3 1/2 inches (est. $20,000-30,000); and an 18th century black and white jade toggle carved as a cluster of shells, length 2 inches (est. $20,000-30,000).
The selection of snuff bottles in the Bromberger Collection includes an 18th century white jade snuff bottle carved as a persimmon (est. $15,000-20,000); an 18th/19th century jade snuff bottle with embellishment by the Isuda Family, Kyoto, Japan, 1900-1940 (est. $10,000-15,000); and an 18th/19th century snuff bottle of white jadeite with apple green and lavender inclusions (est. $8,000-12,000). A Chinese inside painted glass snuff bottle decorated with scenes of a mounted hunter spearing a deer is signed Ye Zhongsan and dated Renyin 1902 (est. $6,000-8,000).
THE LANGSDORF COLLECTION OF CHINESE MONOCHROME PORCELAIN
A special section of the sale will be devoted to the Langsdorf Collection. This remarkable collection comprises almost 200 lots of Chinese monochrome porcelain dating primarily to the 18th and 19th centuries. The collection was assembled by Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Langsdorf of St. Louis, Missouri, through forty years of acquisitions in Asia, London, Paris and across the United States. Benefactors of the St. Louis Art Museum, Mr. and Mrs. Langsdorf are also active in the Museum’s Asian Art programs.
Among the highlights of the Langdorf Collection are an 18th century celadon glazed porcelain vase of square shouldered shape, height 8 1/4 inches (est. $10,000-15,000); an 18th century copper red glazed porcelain meiping, height 8 1/2 inches (est. $8,000-12,000); and an 18th century robin’s-egg blue glazed porcelain vase of mallet shape, height 6 1/2 inches (est. $8,000-10,000). Also offered are an 18th century copper red glazed porcelain bottle vase, height 12 1/2 inches (est. $7,000-9,000) and an 18th century Guan type bottle vase, height 10 inches (est. $7,000-9,000).
PROPERTY FROM OTHER COLLECTIONS AND ESTATES
Property from other collections and estates is highlighted by a colorful 18th century Chinese famille rose glazed porcelain Buddhist stupa enshrining a figure of Buddha seated in dhyanasana on a lotus throne, height 17 3/4 inches (est. $150,000-200,000). A Song/Ming Dynasty polychrome painted stucco figure of Buddha depicts him seated in dhyanasana with hands held before him in a teaching pose, height 28 inches (est. $10,000-15,000). Also featured is a Chinese jadeite Guanyin, height 15 inches (est. $30,000-50,000).
Chinese ivory articles in the sale include an exquisite snuff bottle with the Jiaqing Mark and of the Period, carved with figures in a boat, the reverse with a mounted female and attendants (est. $50,000-70,000). A pair of 19th century Chinese ivory panels are carved in high relief with scenes of females in a pavilion garden, length 6 3/4 inches (est. $7,000-9,000).
Chinese paintings feature an ink on paper depiction of fishermenina landscape by Zhang Daqian, 20th century (est. $30,000-50,000). – www.doylenewyork.com