Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Chinese (180)

This well and thinly carved classic chrysanthemum bowl is fashioned from highly transparent agate. Probably dating to the Qianlong period, it was perhaps intended for court use as a wine cup, judging from its high quality carving, and its small and delicate form. Tiny crevices to the interior and pale clouding are natural to the stone. It is in good condition with no chips or restorations. It is accompanied by a later, though still antique, hard wood stand.

Diameter: 2 ¼ in., Height: 1 1/8 in., Height with stand: 1 7/8 in.

This is a pair of glass bowls with saucers that are of a deep, even amethyst tone with high translucency. The pieces are molded, then turned, having highly polished interiors. The two bowls have well-carved pronounced footrings. The backs of the saucers retain the mold shapes, but with a glossy polish.

Bowls: Height: 2 ¼ in., Diameter: 4 ½ in.
Saucers: Diameter: 5 ¾ in.

Bubble-suffused yellow glass in good condition still attached to original paper backing that reads: “Kwan Yick, Canton China.” Some minute speckled inclusions.

Diameter: 3 3/8 in. ext., 2 ¾ in. int.

Rose-pink glass in good condition.

Diameter: 3 ½ in. ext., 2 ¾ in. int.

Bubble-suffused apple green glass made to imitate jadeite, good condition.

Diameter: 3 ½ in. ext., 2 ¾ in. int.

Deep, translucent cobalt glass in good condition.

Diameter: 2 7/8 in. ext., 2 ¼ in. int.

White glass made to imitate jade, good condition.

Diameter: 3 3/8 in. ext., 2 5/8 in. int.

Turquoise blue glass in good condition still attached to original paper backing that reads: “Kwan Yick, Canton China.”

Diameter: 3 3/8 in. ext., 2 ¾ in. int.

This semi-translucent turquoise cup has a flaring rim and a very slightly recessed base. It is unmarked and in very good condition. Acquired in Japan in 1975.

Height: 2 3/8 in., Width: 2 7/8 in.

Each bowl is set on a low, carved footring with a slightly recessed base. The rim gently flares and thin toward the edge. The interiors are fire-polished, and the exterior walls are hand-polished. Each is in good condition with some small bubbles visible.

Height: 1 5/8 in., Width: 4 7/8 in.

This brilliant turquoise dish is molded with a multi-lobed well and flat rim, the edge of which has been polished. The base is flat and carries an incised “China” mark at the center. It is in good condition.

Diameter: 12 in., Height: 1 ¾ in.

Skillfully painted on the interior with a scene of a mountainous landscape with waterfalls and scholars’ residences, loosely in the manner of the late Ming/early Ching artist, Wang Jian.

The transparent glass is slightly grayish in tone and the vase’s interior has been evenly ground to create a frosted background to the painting. The artist was probably a professional snuff bottle painter.

Interior painting is completely intact. Very small rim flaw, otherwise excellent condition.

Height: 9 ¼ in.

This vase is painted in green, yellow, turquoise and black enamel on a pale aubergine background, depicting various dignitary figures in a garden setting. The interior is fully glazed white, having some minor pitting and small iron specks in the glaze. The base is unglazed with areas of light orange re-oxidation from the firing, and the fine white paste is visible around the perimeter. There is a spurious Zhengde mark in black enamel on the shoulder. Overall, the condition is very good having only some general soiling from age and use. There are no repairs or restorations. Acquired from a private collection in the early 1990s.

Height: 14 1/2 in., Width: 8 ½ in.

Red and black lacquer applied over a bronze jar form with interior and base glazed with thick deep brilliant blue enamel. The bronze jars are first applied with red cinnabar lacquer which has been finely-carved with an undulating wave design. Overlying the red is a thick layer of well-carved black lacquer landscapes including rocky cliffs, trees, islands, dwellings and boats. On the neck is a deeply carved repeating floral design; a floral design also surrounds the tall foot. Framing the bottom of the landscape is a band of chrysanthemum petal carving encircling the lower body. The lids are carved with a floral arabesque surrounding a chrysanthemum carving and topped with a bud-shaped knop in carved solid black lacquer. The exposed areas of the bronze on the foot, mouth and lid rim are gilded. Jars are a mirror-image pair in very good condition with minor wear to the gilding on the foot and lid rim.

Height: 8 in.; Width: 5 ¼ in.

This wine cup is decorated in underglaze cobalt blue with three yin yang symbols on the exterior and also one on the interior base. It is raised on a low unglazed footring showing the white paste. The base is glazed and has a hastily painted mark. The overall condition is very good, without chips or repairs. It was recovered from a shipwreck site in Southeast Asia. The glaze has taken on a matte finish from submersion in the ocean.

Height: 1 7/8 in., Diameter: 3 ¼ in.

Painted in a rich cobalt blue under the glaze with rapid brush strokes in a zenga-like manner, depicting a scholar in his studio. The literatus leans against his table on top of which is placed a brush pot and incense burner. Part of his garden is visible in the background and a six-character poem is seen penned on the upper-left. The back is painted with four stylized designs, and the base has a hastily-drawn two-character seal mark within a double circle The footring is unglazed, revealing the hard white paste that is now somewhat obscured by old soiling. The dish is in very good condition, having no chips, cracks, or restorations.

Diameter: 7 3/8 in., Height: 1 ½ in.

The decoration of five fu dogs is painted in clear, rich tones of cobalt blue characteristic of the Kangxi period. The playful creatures are prancing among stylized ribbons, clouds and flames in a design that fills the entire interior base. The upward, slightly flaring sides are decorated and the thin rim is protected by a narrow bronze band that appears to have been applied shortly after the piece was made. The back of the dish is undecorated except for a four-character commendation mark in underglaze blue on the base. The footring is unglazed and there is a bit of fine kiln grit adhering. There is one divot or small depression in the center of the upper-right character which is where a small support was placed for firing often seen on pieces from this period. It is in very good condition overall, no chips or cracks. There is minor soiling from age and use.

Height: 1 ½ in.; Diameter: 7 in.

The decoration is executed entirely in overglaze blue enamel depicting various personal seal marks (chops). The enamel is thickly applied and well-painted. The border is encircled by a fretwork design in the same thick, blue enamel. The area immediately surrounding the enamel decorations exhibits a halo effect when carefully viewed at an angle to the light—a detail often noted on 18th century porcelains with this type of blue enamel. The rare design of seal marks relates to items made for scholars’ use and this dish was possibly intended to be a brush washer for use in an artist’s studio. The minyao mark, not written to imperial specifications, indicates this item was not produced by imperial command; however, the porcelain paste is consistent with 18th century Qianlong material. Good condition, no damages or repairs.

Height: 1 1/8 in.; Diameter: 6 1/8 in.