Realise the value?
FACT The value of Chinese porcelain, jade, paintings and works of art has reached unprecedented levels. In some cases, items are worth ten times more than they were five years ago.
What do I look for? Quality is important and the presence of a mark may indicate an Imperial origin. The history, or provenance, of an item is also of the utmost relevance. If you can trace an item in your family for a considerable period of time, this will almost certainly enhance the value.
What should I do? In addition to our in-house specialists we have access to scholars and world-class experts around the globe. If you would like an initial valuation and appraisal you can send a photograph, email an image, or simply telephone to discuss what you have. We will be delighted to help without obligation, or charge.
WHY NOT TEST YOURSELF? All of the items illustrated on the following pages have been sold recently by Duke’s. Most of them are illustrated to scale. Why not test yourself by estimating the value of each object., before you look at the price on the facing page?
Duke’s, Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester DT1 1QS T +44 (0)1305 265080 F +44 (0)1305 260101 W www.dukes-auctions.com E enquiries@dukes-auctions.com
SOLD FOR ÂŁ478,000
A PAIR OF CHINESE IMPERIAL VASES (FENCAI), in the Tibetan style (Benbaping) decorated in bright colours and underglaze blue with the Vajixiang, (eight Buddhist emblems), divided by lotus flowers amongst scrolling leafy tendrils above a band of lappets, the neck with bands of overlapping fluted petals and the cylindrical tops with flowerheads and stylised lotus branches beneath a jewelled ogee lip, the base of each with a seal mark of Qianlong in underglaze blue and of the period, 10� high (2). Provenance: Formerly in the collection of JG Lovell, Esq. (1882-1959) and thence by descent. This exceptional pair of vases may belong to a group of ritual wares that were specially commissioned by the Qing Court for placement on Buddhist altars, for ceremonial use in palaces and temples, either within the Forbidden Palace, or Bishushanzhuang in Chengde. The inspiration for the form comes from Tibetan metalwares that were made as containers for storage of sacred water and used during Buddhist ceremonies. This rare form of altar vase, known as a Benbaping, was made to contain sacred plants. A ruby ground example with the seal mark of Jiaqing, formerly in the collections of Lord Loch of Dyrlaw, Alfred Morrison (1821-1897) and Lord Margadale of Islay, Fonthill House, Wiltshire, was illustrated by S. Marchant & Son on the cover of their catalogue of Recent Acquisitions, 2009
SOLD FOR £746,875
A MAGNIFICENT CHINESE “LANTERN” VASE, probably made under the direction of Tang Ying with decoration in underglaze blue, copper red and passages of anhua, the neck with bands of blossoming prunus, flowers on a cellular ground and bamboo shoots over a continuous mountainous landscape shrouded in clouds and mist, with buildings, trees, waterfalls, a bridge and figures on a boat, the tallest peak with two “impressed” characters and the base with the seal mark of Qianlong and of the period, 18½” (47cm) high.
rovenance: Possibly Embley Park, Hampshire, the family P home of Florence Nightingale.
Private Collection, The Isle of Purbeck, Dorset.
This Vase has been in the vendor’s family for at least 50 years. The use of copper red and the masterly execution of the continuous landscape suggests that this outstanding vase was manufactured in the imperial kilns under the direction of Tang Ying during the early years of Qianlong’s reign. The painterly manner in which the landscape is rendered is reminiscent of the work of Wang Hui (1632-1717), who played a key role both in reinvigorating past traditions of landscape painting and in establishing the stylistic foundations for the Imperially sponsored art of the Qing court. Indeed, the decoration on this vase may be derived from his master work - the series of twelve monumental scrolls depicting the Kangxi Emperor’s Southern Inspection Tour of 1689.
SOLD FOR £74,090
A FINE CHINESE RHINOCEROS HORN LIBATION CUP, carved as a magnolia flower, with leafy and flowering branch work to the exterior, the horn varying in tone from caramel to dark lustrous brown around the base, 17th/18th century, 5” wide x 2¾” high. Provenance: A Somerset Manor House
SOLD FOR £478,000
A MAGNIFICENT CHINESE “YELLOW” JADE PENDANT carved as an archaistic dragon with finely carved and incised detail, the stone of even yellow tone with a lustrous polish, Qianlong, 5” x 4.75”
Provenance: The Summer Palace.
Captain James Gunter of the Kings Dragoon Guards, who was in command of “G” Troop in China in 1860 and thence by descent.
SHOWN ACTUAL SIZE
SOLD FOR £513,850
AN EXCEPTIONAL CHINESE “WHITE” JADE CUP AND SAUCER, the cup with scroll handles surmounted by recumbent stags and the body finely carved with a band of pendant tassels around the rim, the saucer in the form of a lotus with a raised central section carved with a “shou” emblem and the rim with a key pattern border, the stone of pure and even tone and with a lustrous polish, Qianlong. The saucer 5.25” wide and the cup 4.5” across the handles (2).
Provenance: The Summer Palace.
Captain James Gunter of the Kings Dragoon Guards, who was in command of “G” Troop in China in 1860 and thence by descent. This exquisite cup and saucer may be compared to a similar example in the Qing Court Collection illustrated as plate 106 in “The Complete Collection of Treasures at The Palace Museum”, Jadeware (III), published in Hong Kong in 1995. The stag symbolises longevity and is said to be the only animal capable of finding the sacred “Fungus of Immortality”. In Chinese art the deer is depicted with court officials and it is said that this signifies a wish for fame, recognition and a long successful career.
SHOWN ACTUAL SIZE
SOLD FOR £155,350
A FINE GEORGE III GOLD, ENAMEL AND DIAMOND-SET WATCH made for the Chinese market, signed “William Anthony, London, no. 1751”, the exterior of the case set with a central rose-cut diamond within a border of diamondset leaves with diamonds between, on a damascened blue enamel ground and enclosed by subsidiary enamelled border picked out in duck egg blue, red and white, the outer border set with two bands of seed pearls and the suspension loop with conforming decoration, the white enamel dial with a sweep seconds hand and Roman numerals in black with Arabic numerals 15, 30, 45 and 60 at the quarters, enclosed by a double border of seed pearls, London 1796, 95mm, together with a key enamelled with a young girl with a bird in a basket on one side and a kneeling boy on the other, in a fitted case.
Provenance: The Summer Palace 1860.
The interior of the watch with an inscription indicating that it was acquired by Captain James Gunter of the Kings Dragoon Guards in October 1860 William Anthony (1765-1844) worked in Red Lion Street, St. John’s Square, Clerkenwell, and specialised in watches for the Chinese market. This example is particularly magnificent and on a large scale. It was almost certainly given as tribute to the Emperor Qianlong by the English Royal Family during the reign of King George III, but it post-dates the Macartney Embassy to Beijing of 1793 by three years. The Emperor Qianlong was well known for his passion for European works of art and his particular fondness for watches, which he considered amongst his most cherished possessions.
SHOWN ACTUAL SIZE
SOLD FOR £53,775
A CHINESE “LEMON-YELLOW” BOWL, the finely potted body covered in a yellow glaze of even lemon tone, the interior white, the base with an underglaze blue six character Yongzheng mark enclosed by a double circle and of the period, 4.75” dia.
Provenance: Private Collection, Wiltshire.
The quality of the potting and the brilliance of the yellow glaze probably indicates that this bowl was made in the Palace kilns for Imperial appreciation.
SHOWN ACTUAL SIZE
SOLD FOR £59,750
A CHINESE “DOUCAI” BOWL decorated with circular panels of scaly five-clawed dragons surrounded by cloud scrolls with colourful cruciform cloud scroll panels between, the base with an underglaze blue six character Kangxi mark enclosed by a double circle and of the period, 5.75” dia. Provenance: The Laird of Invercauld, Ballater, Aberdeenshire, Scotland and thence by descent.
SHOWN ACTUAL SIZE
SOLD FOR £382,400
AN IMPORTANT CHINESE HARDWOOD CARVING OF A LOHAN SEATED ON A LION with a foreign attendant, the bald headed deity wearing loose robes and holding a string of prayer beads in one hand, seated on a lotus cushion on the back of a lion with a long mane, curled ears and plume-like tail finely incised with fur markings, the back draped with an ornate fringed saddle blanket carved in high relief with formal lotus scrolls and with elaborate trappings hung with palmettes and medallions and with three bells around the neck, the foreign attendant holding the collar of the lion with one hand, his other hand resting on the sash of his long robes, with a scarf tied around his neck and wearing boots, with a curly beard and hair held by a thin fillet, the shaped base carved with cloud scrolls, the underside incised and inlaid in black with an Imperial poem with a cyclical date corresponding to 1761, Qianlong mark and of the period, 102mm high
The inscription refers to the figure on the back of the lion as the immortal Prince of Shih Fa, a benevolent deity without peer; the deity and the carving together are described with lavish praise and the answer to every question and every need is promised through the invocation of the deity’s endless wisdom through this fine small image which, although it is much smaller than the figures of guardians and bodhisattvas, usually seen in temples, is said to have power which is just as great. The final line may be translated: “Qianlong xin si” (a cyclical date corresponding to 1761) yu tsan, “with Imperial praise”, followed by an Imperial Seal in red. Provenance: Melplash Court, Dorset.
SHOWN ACTUAL SIZE
SOLD FOR ÂŁ215,100
A CHINESE YELLOW JADE BUDDHISTIC LION crouching with head turned across back and with knobbly spine and finely carved details, with dark russet inclusions to the extremities, Qing , 90mm, on a hardwood stand.
A Yuan or early Ming date has been proposed.
Provenance: Melplash Court, Dorset.
SHOWN ACTUAL SIZE
SOLD FOR £102,770
AN IMPORTANT PAIR OF CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE CANDLESTICKS with baluster stems and dished drip pans decorated with lotus, stylised fungi, foliage and fan-shaped fluting, the edge of the drip pan with crashing wave scrolls and the slightly domed base with a continuous band of conjoined scrolls to the outer edge, the base of one with a label inscribed “Yongzheng”, but probably early Qianlong 21cm high (2)
A smaller, but comparable candlestick, is in the collection of the National Palace Museum Taipei illustrated in “Masterworks of Chinese Porcelain in the National Palace Museum Supplement”, published April 1973. The overall form of this candlestick, which retains its’ metal “pricket”, is extremely similar to the present examples. In addition, Soame Jenyns illustrates a mark and period candlestick from the collection of S.C. Coles as plate XCIV 2 in the standard reference “Later Chinese Porcelain”, published 1951. Whilst the majority of Imperial pieces were marked, some ritual objects were not and it seems likely that the present candlesticks may belong to this rarefied group. Provenance: Melplash Court, Dorset.
FREE MARKET APPRAISAL? If you have a single item, or a collection, and you are considering selling please consult our specialist team at Duke’s. For further information please contact:
Guy Schwinge E guy.schwinge@dukes-auctions.com or Andrew Marlborough E andrew.marlborough@dukes-auctions.com T 01305 265080
What if I don’t want to sell? Obviously not everyone wants to sell their prized possessions, but if you have Oriental works of art it is essential that you review your insurance cover. Imagine discovering the vase that has just smashed was actually worth £250,000 and not the £8,000 it was insured for ten years ago. One of our specialists will be delighted to visit you in the privacy of your own home to discuss the best way forward. Initial visits are free of charge and without obligation.
Duke’s, Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester DT1 1QS T +44 (0)1305 265080 F +44 (0)1305 260101 W www.dukes-auctions.com E enquiries@dukes-auctions.com