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.
Hello all, first post here -although ive dealt with Mr. Combs through the ID ASSIST a number of times. Shout out to Peter, thanks for all you do! So my first post promises to be a doozy! I think it’s quite a rare type of object. I found it in a box of broken items at our local flea market, luckily wrapped in newspaper so it stayed protected. (I ALWAYS check the throw away piles!) I’ve had it for a few months on my shelf with a small Buddha on it. Didn’t really think much about it until I stumbled on a similar carved piece researching in my auction catalogs. Then started digging around on the internet and realized just how special this piece may be, and I mean incredibly rare. Others I’ve seen with similar flower and symbol carvings, but not with this type of shell piece work. It’s just incredible. Possibly a Buddhist related item? Is that a mandala on the shell side? It’s 6-1/2” L and 3/4” H. A couple really small dings, but id say overall in excellent untouched original condition. Love to here if somebody has seen another, or has any opinions on it. Aloha! ~SurfCollector
@Ken Ashburn,
Hi Ken,
Firstly welcome to this great forum!
Unfortunately I know nothing about these types of wares. It looks to have some age and is carved well. Nice find imo.
I do hope one of our members can enlighten us all.
Mark
Hello Ken,
Welcome what an interesting item. Is it flat? Could it be a cover or Lid ? The non mother of pearl side looks Japanese to my eye. The lacquer work is nicely carved and undercut gives a feeling of depth and shadow. Looks to have quality and some age. Sorry can't be of more help.
Michael
Definitely Chinese as I’ve located a few other examples in museum collections identified as such. Not any type of lid, shows no wear that would indicate that, worn sides, etc. . It is flat. One shell has a small hole, can see the wood core under magnification.
Hi,
What an exciting thing to find! I can also see why Michael thinks Japanese, there is something about it but I am not sure it is.
I also know little about these things,l'm afraid. I am also still using a small screen which doesn't help! However, may I respectfully say that I find the mother of pearl decoration lacks the exquisiteness of the very early Song / Yuan pieces. There doesn't seem to be a point or relevance to the design. To my mind, from the photos this could have been made anywhere between 1850 and 1950.
Partly, I say that because it is hard to find its purpose, if it doesn't have one, it must have been made because it was a fashionable or desirable display item, but lacking an expensive, detailed decoration in mother of pearl, was it made for the ordinary man or woman on the street ie at a time when even the less well off might want to have something for the sake of it? Could it simply be a decorative table screen?
I am more thinking out loud as this is such an intriguing object and fully expect to be proved wrong. But that is fine, it is good to learn.
Last thing, can you tell something about the age from the chipped areas? What I mean is, is there a correlation with certain depth of laquer before one gets to the wood and period of manufacture? Should layers be visible?
It would be interesting to know.
Julia
The reason I think from Japan is the pattern's in the center of the carved flowers. Taken from very old designs on Japanese textiles and bamboo woven thatch they have used on pottery, porcelain and lacquer. They have their roots in the Buddhist culture imported into Japan in the 9thc from Korea. But I have been wrong before and will no doubt be wrong again.
Michael.
The carving reminds me of that on the large Japanese bamboo brush pots I have, that I mentioned the other day.
And of course, the Japanese did do a lot of black .lacquered pieces.
Mahalo for the reply’s! Firstly I must disclose ive a bit more experience than most handling these wares. They are as common to find here in Hawaii as say your Pyrex or Correlle would be on the mainland! Every garage sale and thrift store has boat loads. They cant give it away. Mostly Japanese, which is almost always decorated with paint work or “dusted” with gold or silver. We see some Korean, which is also painted but also uses alot of shell inlay. Chinese is somewhat more uncommon, and we find that mostly CARVED. The older black lacquer pieces ive seen with similar carvings all documented as Chinese.
I think its more than a simple decorative object, leaning towards a Buddhist alter or shrine implement. Shows alot of wear around the mandala (an important Buddhist symbol). Like something was placed on and off the area many times. Its definitely a stand for something, as i stated i just placed a small bronze buddha on it when i added it to my shelf and thought it married well!
There is a similar piece in a local museum collection, identical in shape, size and similar carved decoration.
Hi Ken - and as with others above, welcome to this great forum ...
A nice item and interesting find which, from the images, seems to have some age ...
Not really my area but I have seen the different central flower patterns used as base ground designs on late 15th to 17th C Ming dynasty lacquers, but never within the blossoms themselves, which are always carved/depicted ‘naturally’ ...
Whether this is Japanese, as Michael has suggested and/or a rather later piece, as preposed by Julia, I lack the knowledge to say ...
I also would be inclined to ask Peter for his thoughts on this piece ...
Stuart
@surfcollector Do you have any pictures of the museum piece you referred to? It would be nice to compare them.
Hi Johnshoe yes ive attached an image in my last reply above. Now after looking at it again in the sun today, its got a unique rhinoceros horn tone color. Here are a few really interesting snippets i found online. Good information.
A couple more pics. Can really see the old finish checking from this angle. Really appreciate the time you folks out there take to look, and reply. I hope to do the same for others here when im able to. Im going to acquire a book or 2 on the subject and see what i can dig up as well.
One more.
Latest Post: Pair of Tall Chinese Ming Glazed Pottery Figures of Officials. $950.00 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.