Stories & Videos

Treasures of Asian Art

Launch Slideshow

The Paris Asian Art Sale is led by an exciting group of Buddhist art and centres on a magnificent 15th century gilt-bronze group of Yamantaka Vajrabhairava and Vajravetali. Hidden in a French private collection, this important ensemble was last seen on the French art market in 1955. Click ahead to view highlights.

Asian Art
12 December 2017 | 10:30am CET | Paris

Treasures of Asian Art

  • An impressive large gilt-bronze group of Yamantaka Vajrabhairava and Vajravetali, Ming Dynasty, mid-15th century, attached to a separate lotus pedestal, Qing Dynasty; together with a magnificent imperial hardstone-inlaid gilt-bronze throne, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period.
    Estimate: €150,000–250,000.
    Yamantaka Vajrabhairava is the fearsome manifestation of the bodhisattva Manjushri, the Buddhist lord of transcendent wisdom. Clasping his consort Vetali with his principal arms the buffalo-headed deity bellows with open mouth and fangs bared, proclaiming triumph over ignorance and suffering. At some point the statue of Vajrabhairava was separated from its contemporaneous fifteenth century pedestal, but is now united with a Qing period lotus stand of correct iconography where the deity tramples birds, animals, and Hindu deities. The ensemble has been combined since at least 1955 when it was sold in Paris at Hôtel Drouot and illustrated in the catalogue, sale no. 8, 26th/27th May 1955, lot 237.



     



    Asian Art
    12 December 2017 | 10:30am CET | Paris

    View Lot View Auction
    Share
  • A rare large boldly painted blue and white 'dragon' jar, Jiajing mark and period.
    Estimate: €40,000–60,000.
    This jar is noteworthy for the boldness and strength of its design: two strong curving dragons with lumpy brows and bulbous eyes; haloed by sharply fringed lashes; with thick tresses sweeping back beneath the necks into high coiffures; all painted in a dark cobalt blue. Both the particular shade of blue and the quirky style of dragon identify this particular jar as part of a small group of Jiajing or Wanli-marked jars of similar size and design.



     



    Asian Art
    12 December 2017 | 10:30am CET | Paris

    View Lot View Auction
    Share
  • A rare Imperial parcel-gilt and embellished silver bowl, six-character Jiaqing seal mark and period.
    Estimate: €100,000–150,000.
    This exceptionally rare parcel-gilt and embellished silver bowl is illustrated on the catalogue cover of this Asian art sale. The sides are cast with a gilt band of the Eight Immortals symbols alternating with the Eight Buddhist Symbols and decorated with four turquoise-inlaid Tibetan characters, while the inside is very finely incised with two five-clawed dragons flanking a double Vajra. The base is set with an imperial Jiaqing mark.



     



    Asian Art
    12 December 2017 | 10:30am CET | Paris

    View Lot View Auction
    Share
  • An important Imperial thangka of a Vajrāmrita Mandala, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period, ca. 1740-1763, distemper on cloth, framed and under glass, inscribed in gold Uchen script.
    Estimate: €40,000–60,000.
    The rare samaya-mandala, in which symbols represent divine presence, is painted in the Qianlong court style and mounted in the blue and gold patterned silk brocade typical of imperial works. Tibetan inscriptions in gold along the upper and lower edges of the painting identify the subject as the twenty-one deity Vajramrita Mandala, and record that the mandala was painted according to iconometric detail prescribed by the imperial preceptor Changkya Rolpai Dorje (1717-1786) and commissioned by prince Yintao (1686-1763), the twelfth son of the Kangxi Emperor (1654-1722) and brother of the Yongzheng Emperor (1678-1735).



     



    Asian Art
    12 December 2017 | 10:30am CET | Paris

    View Lot View Auction
    Share
  • Matteo Ripa (1682-1746), 'Thirty-Six Views of the Mountain Estate to Escape the Summer Heat', 1711-1714, complete set of 36 engravings bound in a Western-style album with yellow silk covers.
    Estimate: €120,000–150,000.
    The present copy comprises the complete set of Matteo Ripa‘s thirty-six engravings. Each image in the album is backed, folded in the middle, attached to a spine and bound as a book in the Western style. Both covers are covered with a faded yellow silk textile that is Chinese in origin and imperial in connotation.



     



    Asian Art
    12 December 2017 | 10:30am CET | Paris

    View Lot View Auction
    Share
  • Qi Baishi (1864-1957), Plum blossoms, ink and colour on paper, framed and under glass, signed BAISHI WENG, with an inscription, and with one seal of the artist.
    Estimate: €30,000–40,000.
    In 1955, the father of the present owner of this painting travelled to China with a delegation of Italian artists and intellectuals. While in Beijing, they visited the home of Qi Baishi whose work was greatly admired by some of the Italian artists in this group. It is on the occasion of this visit to Qi Baishi’s home that this painting was acquired directly from the artist.



     



    Asian Art
    12 December 2017 | 10:30am CET | Paris

    View Lot View Auction
    Share
  • Lin Fengmian (1900-1991), Flying geese, ink and colour on paper, framed and under glass, signed LIN FENGMIAN, and with one seal of the artist.
    Estimate: €50,000–70,000.
    This painting was acquired by the father of the present owner in Hong Kong in the 1950s.



     



    Asian Art
    12 December 2017 | 10:30am CET | Paris

    View Lot View Auction
    Share
  • An exceptional fine Famille Verte charger, Qing Dynasty, Kangxi period.
    Estimate: €30,000–50,000.
    There are several known dishes of this exceptionally large size, finely painted in Famille Verte colours with variations of banquet scenes. Two comparable dishes of the same size and quality were sold at Sotheby's London on 19th June 2002, (lots 127 and 128), the latter was formerly in the Ionides Collection, London. Another dish belonging to this group was sold at Christie's London on 13th November 2001, (lot 224).



     



    Asian Art
    12 December 2017 | 10:30am CET | Paris

    View Lot View Auction
    Share
/
Close