The Chinese and Asian Art Forum. For Fans, Collectors and Dealers.
Basic Rules For the BidAmount Asian Art Forum: Talk about whatever you want. You can even discuss and offer things that are for sale if they are authentic. Maximum image file size per post is 2 MB. Images of 700pxl x 700pxl are optimal if saved at a medium resolution. Be respectful of others and enjoy yourself. Click the YouTube link for a brief tutorial on using the forum. You can also EMBED Videos by cutting and pasting from You-Tube, Vimeo etc.
NOTE: To post an item or add a new post, click open the category title from the FORUM LIST, and CLICK the Blue ADD TOPIC button.
There is a large famille verte vase currently up for auction on eBay which on first glance struck me as rather lovely. See eBay link:
I was thinking of bidding on the vase. As you can see, the seller describes it as Qing period either 18th or 19th century. I would appreciate forum members' opinion on this vase. The concerns I have are as follows:
1. The vase is clearly trying to look like a Kangxi rouleau vase with three Gods (sanxing) and it partially succeeds but perhaps it is trying too hard?
2. The most alarming aspect of the vase, however, is the glazed area around the mouth. It looks extremely new. Most vases of this type, if 19th century (or even 18th century), would have some glaze impurities and production flaws (such as contraction spots, misfired areas, or kiln dust). Plus 100+ years of wear as a vase should, in my opinion, have resulted in a smoother, less glaringly shiny surface patina and perhaps some irregularities in the foot.
I like the vase, but wonder whether it is truly 18th or 19th century and would be grateful for the opinions of others here who have far more expertise than I do! Would you recommend bidding on this vase?
Errol
I agree the mouth looks suspiciously white and untouched , maybe that's just the photo (over-exposed) or maybe it's been repaired. The base and footrim look late C19th to me . Also the decoration style looks more formal and less fluid than on C18th examples, with fussier and more geometric border effects.
I don't think you see pinholes and other firing faults on the base of kangxi or qianlong vases of this size (?) and the footrim has that typical C19th colour , whereas Kangxi /qianlong footrim would be whiter and denser, I believe.
a quick search on 'famille verte vase' on ebay didn't show the vase , could you post the link ? thx
tam
Hello Tam:
Thanks for your comments. The link was in my original message but I'm repeating it here for you. eBay link
You seem to share my ambivalence about this vase. I rather like it, but it just does not seem to fit into any particular reign or period. It is, I think, the mixture of features from different reigns that makes the vase suspect although my first impression like yours was that it is a 19th century vase posing as a Kangxi item. I'd love to know what Alan and Peter think about it!
Errol
The faces of the three men, especially the eyes, don’t look Kangxi. In fact they look rather appalling. Might be Kangxi revival or even a good modern copy.
Birgit
Dear Errol,
Shinigami and Tam are correct, late 19th century. The pictures of the base/foot alone are enough for excluding it of being Kangxi without doubts.
The style of the painting too, you can be sure that it is not Kangxi.
I have already seen other examples with even better quality, especially regarding the foot. They are nice anyway.
Giovanni
Probably 20th century. Not sure if really shou Lou or not. Normally he appears with a deer from memory.
Personally I would not look at something like this given the substandard quality.
Mark
I wonder if the colour has been adjusted? I have a broken 19th c vase of this type (it came with a plate I wanted) and it isn't as white as this and the red on mine is different. Also the blue of the main characters robe looks slightly strange.
Is there a chance that this is a copy as Shinigami suggested? The faces (boy compared to man) look like they are different styles and lots of these 19th c vases use dots in the decoration, there don't appear to be any here. Here are some from Christies, with dots. ?
https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/a-pair-of-famille-verte-rouleau-vases-5611965-details.aspx
Of course, none of this is anything other my musings. But I do agree, not Kangxi.
Julia
I agree , Julia, the painting method is different on the Christies pair, compared to this vase, and the enamel colours are vastly different , this one looks washed out and very weak , but maybe that is poor photography here (or enhanced images by christies?).
Perhaps there were different styles of painting over time, and the Christies pair were mid- C19th , and this one is early C20th . I really don't know but I am leaning towards thinking this is C20th (early or late?). The faces here , I also think , lack expression and life.
tam
Dear Errol,
On balance, I think that this vase is late nineteenth century. Shall we say c. 1900 for the sake of argument? It is certainly not Kangxi, as others have also noted. Hence you can forget the '18th century' bit of its original description.
Of course, there have been a number of modern fake Kangxi famille verte pieces entering the market in the last year or two, and buyers need to be aware of them. Sometimes, inexperienced dealers can be taken in, and offer in all innocence items as Kangxi that are not, but which, for lack of sufficient acquaintance, those dealers believe to be authentic.
Best wishes,
Alan
Modern.
Of course, there have been a number of modern fake Kangxi famille verte pieces entering the market in the last year or two, and buyers need to be aware of them.
100%
Dear Alan, Julia and others:
I'm very grateful for your responses. The latter show the value of a forum such as this and Peter should get a lot of credit for setting it up. We all know that the world of Chinese art is very perilous. One can easily spend a great deal of money on items that are virtually worthless especially with collectors like myself who lack the expertise that is really essential for true collectors.
Regarding this particular vase, I think we can reach the following consensus, but please let me know if you disagree:
1. The vase is definitely not 18th century or Kangxi;
2. It is possibly a 20th century vase maybe Guangxu as Alan suggests;
3. It is possibly a contemporary copy as suggested by the shiny white patina and the immaculate rim and lack of some of the usual imperfections that age brings with it. As Alan points out this is not, if true, a negative reflection on the probity of the seller because with increased world-wide demand better and better copies of antique porcelains are being produced in China and even good sellers can fall into these traps;
4. Most of you find the vase "ugly" and I agree that it has a washed-out appearance.
The bottom line though is that thanks to you all I will not even think of bidding on this vase. However, it has been a teaching moment for me and this whole process is exceedingly useful even if only from an educational point of view.
Regards,
Errol
For those who remember this discussion, the vase sold at auction for about $1,625. So someone clearly thought it was a Guangxu vase as did some of the participants in this thread. I doubt the vase was worth that much, but everyone is entitled to his/her personal taste and opinion!
Errol
Hi All:
Some of you might remember this vase. SEE LINK It sold at an eBay auction about four months ago for about $1,625.
It is now back on auction on eBay described as a famille verte 18th to 19th century vase. The buyer presumably did not pay. Peter highlighted it in his weekly video last Friday and thought it was a good quality 19th century vase. I think many here thought it might be a modern replica in this thread because partly of the immaculate nature of the rim and the interior of the neck. Anyway it is now up to about $3,000 in bids about nine hours prior to the end of the auction. I bet we will see it back again. That is too high a price for a vase of doubtful age and period.
Regards,
Errol
Latest Post: square bowl & lid with peach on top not sure what it is . Our newest member: James Close Recent Posts Unread Posts
Thanks for visiting "The BidAmount Asian Art Forum | Chinese Art"
If you sell on eBay, or have a shop feel free to post images and descriptions and links.
Check back often for discussion about the latest news in the Chinese art and antique world. Also find out about the latest Asian art auctions at Sotheby's, Christie's, Bonhams and Tajans.
Auction results for: fine porcelain, ceramics, bronze, jade, textiles and scholar's objects. As well as Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and other Asian cultures.
Thank you,
Peter Combs
Topics and categories on The BidAmount Asian Art Forum | Chinese Art
Kangxi vases, Kangxi dishes and chargers, Kangxi ritual pieces, Kangxi scholar's objects, Qianlong famille rose, Qianlong enamels, Qianlong period paintings, Qianlong Emporer's court, Fine porcelain of the Yongzheng period. Chinese imperial art, Ming porcelain including Jiajing, Wanli, Xuande, Chenghua as well as Ming jades and bronzes.
Join the BidAmount Chinese and Asian art discussion board and forum today
The BidAmount Asian Art Forum | Chinese Art
A free Asian art discussion board and Asian art message board for dealers and collectors of art and antiques from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and the rest of Asia. Linked to all of the BidAmount Asian art reference areas, with videos from plcombs Asian Art and Bidamount on YouTube. Sign up also for the weekly BidAmount newsletter and catalogs of active eBay listing of Chinese porcelain, bronze, jades, robes, and paintings.
The art of calligraphy - and for the ancient Chinese it certainly was an art - aimed to demonstrate superior control and skill using brush and ink. Calligraphy established itself as one of the major Chinese art forms during the Han dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE), and for two millennia after, all educated men were expected to be proficient at it.
The Museum’s collections of Asian art span nearly five millennia and encompass the cultures of China, the Himalayas, India, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. In 2007, the Museum launched an initiative to create dedicated galleries for the collection, beginning with a gallery for the arts of Korea ...
Chinese art is full of symbolism, in that artists typically seek to depict some aspect of a totality of which they are intuitively aware.
China Online Museum is the finest online museum of Chinese art. It features Chinese calligraphy, painting, ceramics, bronzes, carving, and other artworks.
Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art. Overview Upcoming auctions Contacts Auction results ... Christie’s sales of Chinese ceramics and works of art showcase centuries of Chinese history. Held throughout the year in London, New York, Paris and Hong Kong, they attract a wide audience of collectors and connoisseurs vying for pieces as diverse as ...
Explore Asian Art Week. Contact the Specialist Department. Chinese Paintings ... Senior Specialist, Head of Sale. [email protected]. Tel:+1 212 641 5760. Bid in-person or online for the upcoming auction:Fine Chinese Paintings on 10 September 2019 at New York. Bid in-person or online for the upcoming auction:Fine Chinese Paintings on 10 ...
Discover an abundance of must-see art from all corners of a vast continent at Christie’s NY Asian Art Week. From contemporary classical and Chinese paintings to works with exemplary provenance from the Art Institute of Chicago, our Rockefeller Paza galleries will be full of ancient treasures and contemporary masterworks in a salute to the vibrant arts of Asia.
Sold to benefit The Art Institute of Chicago’s Asian Art Acquisition Fund, the sale features 84 lots with a focus on Ming and Qing porcelains, and offers a rare insight into the taste for collecting Chinese ceramics and works of art in the Midwest from the end of the 19th century through the 1980s. Highlights include two Wanli wucai garlic-head vases, a Qianlong mark and period, blue and ...
Specialist, Chinese Paintings, Christie's London Dr Malcolm McNeill is a Specialist in Chinese Paintings at Christie’s, based in London. He previously worked as an assistant curator of the Chinese collections and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, as a researcher at the British Museum, and as a translator and tour guide at the National Palace Museum in Taipei.
The Christie's Education 2020 Conference: The Chinese Art Market 18 Jun 2019 Christie’s Education is delighted to announce our first international academic conference in Asia which will take place in Hong Kong from 26-27 November 2020 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and will run in parallel with Christie’s Hong Kong Autumn Auctions.
The summer Chinese Art sale in Hong Kong will feature works of art from several private collections, including Qing porcelains and textile from the collection of the legendary Chinese art dealer A. W. Bahr (1877–1959), fine gilt bronze Buddhist sculptures from an old Hong Kong collection, an East Asian collection of Qing dynasty wine cups and jades, and a Japanese collection of Song ceramics ...
Sotheby's Chinese Works of Art Department holds two auctions each year in London, New York, Hong Kong and Paris.
Chinese Art - View Auction details, bid, buy and collect the various artworks at Sothebys Art Auction House.
With more than 340 Chinese works of art dating from the Neolithic to the Republic periods, highlights of this sale include a selection of Qing Imperial monochromes from the collection of Arnold and Blema Steinberg, early ceramics from the Art Institute of Chicago and Chinese porcelain and works of art from the collection of Henry Arnhold.
Results: Sotheby's Asia Week achieved $52.4 million in six strong auctions, exceeding pre-sale estimates. With 76.5% of lots sold and 60.3% of lots surpassing high estimates, the Asian art sales at Sotheby's indicate continued collector interest in the finest works of art from China, India and and the Himalayas.
Today's sale of Important Chinese Art will proceed as planned with sessions at 10 AM and 2 PM EDT. Sotheby's will be monitoring the weather conditions throughout the day and will be available to coordinate alternative bidding options should conditions make it difficult for clients to attend the auction in person.
Bonhams Chinese Art department is renowned for offering the finest works of art representing the richness and breadth of China's artistic heritage, particularly Imperial porcelain, white and spinach green jades, cloisonné and Buddhist art. Specialised international auctions are held globally, including London, Hong Kong and San Francisco.
Bonhams : Chinese Works of Art We use cookies to remember choices you make on functionality and personal features to enhance your experience to our site. By continuing to use our site you consent to the use of cookies. Please refer to our privacy and cookie policies for more information.
Bonhams Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers: auctioneers of art, pictures, collectables and motor cars. We use cookies to remember choices you make on functionality and personal features to enhance your experience to our site. By continuing to use our site you consent to the use of cookies. ... Chinese Art (US) General enquiries
Bonhams : Fine Chinese Art We use cookies to remember choices you make on functionality and personal features to enhance your experience to our site. By continuing to use our site you consent to the use of cookies. Please refer to our privacy and cookie policies for more information.
Bonhams Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers: auctioneers of art, pictures, collectables and motor cars Bonhams : Asian Art We use cookies to remember choices you make on functionality and personal features to enhance your experience to our site.
Bonhams are international auctioneers of fine Chinese and Japanese art. We specialise in rare Imperial and Export Chinese ceramics and works of art, as well as Japanese ceramics, fine and decorative works of art from the Neolithic Period to the 20th century. View on map
Bonhams Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers: auctioneers of art, pictures, collectables and motor cars. We use cookies to remember choices you make on functionality and personal features to enhance your experience to our site. By continuing to use our site you consent to the use of cookies. ... Asian Art Bonhams. Work. 22 Queen St.