Oriental Art Auctions Chinese-Islamic Art Oct. 17th Netherlands | News

Oriental Art Auctions Chinese-Islamic Art 

Japanese Art

The first segment of the sale comprises the Japanese offerings.  Including a small attractive selection of ceramics and bronzes, followed by numerous scrolls, netsukes and sword fittings. Including some very good early Tsubas as well as some fine old carved netsukes with very nice surfaces. 

One lot that struck me as particularly attractive was a good large Nagamochi (trunk).  The cover and sides decorated in gold and silver hiramaki-e with imperial crests, the brass mounts incised with geometric patterns, foliage and flowerheads. Most of these come onto the market are in pretty poor condition, this example looks quite good. The worked brass hardware is of very fine quality. 

Islamic Art

The next segment of the sale presents a wide selection of MiddIe Eastern works.  Including a handsome grouping of good early ceramics, that appear to be in surprisingly good condition overall. We've all been to auctions with Islamic pottery which are all old but have more repairs than the Brooklyn Bridge. This grouping seems not only to be of very good quality but require few apologies with regards to condition. 

My favorite piece of pottery in the sale is a large Syrian 13th C.  black and turquoise glazed geometric patterned bowl from Raqqa. Having only a modest rim chip is quite exceptional in these, the colors and glaze is extremely well done.  Measuring nearly 14 inches in diameter makes this a really desirable example. 

Among the other items of note (in my humble opinion)  are a pair of early 19th C. miniature drawing depicting "Mecca and Medina". They were clearly done by the same hand and finding a pair of drawings of Islam's two most famous landmarks is highly desirable. 

Chinese Art

Wanli bowl with duck landscape

Finishing the sale are Chinese ceramics and far eastern bronzes. Consisting of over 270 lots with an emphasis on ceramics of the 17th and 18th C. There are a few earlier and later pieces, but the meat of this offering is clearly on pieces made between 1600 and 1750. Including a few (not many) very handsome Famille Verte examples and dozens of blue and white pieces. Some  of them do have condition issues  but are estimated accordingly.

 If you're a Wanli collector, check out the nearly 14-inch bowl Lot 485. It's a lovely example with the classic charger exterior but has an absolutely charming interior of ducks bordered by butterflies and flowers. All done in a deep pleasing cobalt blue. 

Among my personal favorites in the sale is a little square "Ge" type brush washer Lot 416. It appears to date to the 18th C., and has a lovely shape and "feeling" with a good double black and gold line crackle. All thickly coated over a deep brownish black body. It could be older than it's dated in the catalog. 

Other monochromes include is a series of turquoise glazed pieces from the 18th to 19th C. , especially attractive is a nice size moon flask with demon mask handles. There is also a fine looking Guangzu mark and appears period Teadust glazed bottle vase with a very reasonable estimate. 

GE Type Brush Washer

Also be sure to check out the bronzes being offered, a good selection mostly dating from the late 1500's to mid 18th C.. If you're a fan of Yixing, they are selling a handsome large pair of mold relief jars with lids done very similarly to the work to see on Blanc-de-chine vases and jars. The color is really quite excellent. 

So that's about it, if you have time check out their site and if you're in the Netherlands stop by the Oriental Art Auctions Chinese-Islamic Art sale.