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An Exceptional Elephant, a Striking Vase and More Sublime Chinese Art to Bid On Now
Our semi-annual Chinese Art Auction in New York is on 16 September. This week's Shortlist features five of our favorite lots you should save now.
S panning millennia, Chinese Art contains multitudes. Two hundred-year-old chairs that inspired modern designers, ceramic stools that are oft-copied, never equaled, exquisite jade figures hailing from before the common era—these pieces, and more, are as collectible as they are stunning to behold.
On 16 September, Sotheby's in New York will host our semi-annual Chinese Art sale featuring jades, porcelains, bronzes and furniture from distinguished collectors. This week's Shortlist selects five works (out of 230) you should be saving now.
'Dragon' Stool
This porcelain stool hails from the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty and is therefore approximately 500 years old. One side bears a twisting dragon, whilst horses and other whimsical beasts and figures dance around the edges. This is the type of piece that has become popular in interior design spaces, but the originals, like this one, are simply unrivaled in quality and detail.
'Huanghuali' Armchairs
Earlier this year, Sotheby's in New York sold an exceptionally rare 'huanghuali' folding chair for $2,048,000. These chairs, though not quite as rare, embody the same elegant craftsmanship from this period. Their elegantly curved top rails and arms create a commanding presence that seems to emanate through a room. And though they hail from the 17th century, they would look at home in a 21st century parlor just the same.
Jade Dragon
From neolithic townships to the imperial workshops, Chinese craftsmen have worked with jade for five millennia. The Wanger Collection, featured within the Chinese Art sale, was assembled from the international market at its very height in the 1980s and 1990s, and exemplifies the breadth and quality of the artform like few others. This jade 'dragon' plaque hails from around 770–256 BC and stands as a graceful emblem of the time.
Elephant Wine Vessel
Among the most important examples of Western Zhou bronzeware to ever come to market, this Elephant Zun (ritual wine vessel) strikes a balanced form from the captivating curve of its back to the grand trunk, accentuated by the complex swirling roundels of its shoulders. It was created 3000 years ago, one of the very few archaic bronze vessels fashioned after an animal (even fewer are elephants). This is a truly unusual opportunity to own something so astoundingly fine, unique and ancient.
'Langyao' Vase
Also known as sang-de-boeuf (‘ox-blood'), the copper-red langyao glaze on this shapely vase was developed under Lang Tingji (1663-1715), supervisor of the imperial kilns at Jingdezhen from 1705-1712. The hue has proven remarkably durable, surfacing consistently in the art and fashion worlds. Together with the bold, elongated shape, it makes for an eye-catching collector's item.
