Rare jade carvings from three private American collections provide the centerpiece for Bonhams June 24th auction of Fine Asian Works of Art to be held in San Francisco.
A white jade marriage bowl, 18th century, elegantly carved with lotus and lily flowers, set off by floral handles suspending single rings (est. $60,000-100,000); a richly-carved pair of white jade screens, rendered with mountain landscapes, reversed by auspicious characters, 19th century (est. $50,000-70,000); and a fine pale greenish white carving of a phoenix, 18th century (est. $30,000-50,000) represent three of 22 lots of exceptional jades from a Denver, Colorado collection to be offered in this 300-lot auction.
Following on the US$4.7 million success of the Harold Stack collection of jade carvings held by Bonhams in Hong Kong last November, Bonhams in San Francisco is delighted to offer 26 additional lots of jade from the Stack collection in this June sale. Highlights include a fine black and white jade libation cup, Ming dynasty, carved with lingzhi fungus and three small chilong (est. $30,000-50,000); a white jade covered double gourd vase, Qing dynasty, carved with monkeys and small gourds (est. $30,000-50,000); a finely carved nephrite covered box, 18th/19th century (est. $12,000-15,000); and other choice pieces to entice both new and seasoned collectors. A select group of Ming belt plaques from the collection of George H. Taber, Pittsburgh, Penn., previously on loan to the Carnegie Institute in the 1930s, complements this extraordinary group.
A rare blue glazed porcelain meiping, Yuan/Ming dynasty (est. $40,000-60,000) is one of the important ceramic highlights from the Estates of Betty and John Menke to be offered in this sale. Well-known to the international collecting community, they shared a passionate interest for Asian Art, collecting Chinese and Southeast Asian ceramics, and supporting major museums through generous gifts of art and time. A collection of Qing dynasty monochrome porcelains from a Baltimore estate provides some fine mark and period wares for the discerning collector. A collection of Republic period porcelains from the George Taber collection, exhibited at the Carnegie Institute, will be offered. A spectacular group of Tang dynasty sancai figures from a Florida collection completes the spectrum of fine Chinese ceramics to be sold.
Fine textiles, scholars’ objects and Chinese furniture will also be featured in this afternoon sale. A rare cinnabar lacquer scholar’s chest, 18th century, with dragon and phoenix decoration (est. $30,000-50,000) and a huanghuali side table, 17th/18th century (est. $40,000-60,000) should draw strong attention from the international audience. The sale will conclude with 50 lots of Chinese paintings, featuring works by Zhang Daqian, Wu Guanzhong, Fu Baoshi, Qi Baishi and others, as well as an important oil painting (circa 1950-1955) by the Belgian artist Adrien Jean Le Mayeur de Merpres (est. $100,000-150,000).
The sale’s illustrated catalog will be available online several weeks in advance of the auction at www.bonhams.com/auctions/20982/.