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.
Hi Everyone,
Happy New Year to you all!
I recently purchased this cinnabar box (my first) and plan on giving it to a friend. When selecting it on Ebay I was drawn to the tree. When it first arrived my partner insisted that it must be moulded but upon researching it I found out it is hand carved (there are giveaway lines in the angled cuts from the layers). I think it dates from the 1880s (it is not marked "China" or "Made in China") and was a typical example of an export gift item.
One thing I don't understand is how they made the background linear decoration pattern. It's so small it's hard to believe that is carved as well. I am guessing it's a combination of carved relief with moulded appliqué.
Do you have a favorite Chinese cinnabar item? I'd love to learn more.
Regards,
Steve
Hi Steve,
I think your partner is correct. This box looks like resin.
If you take a earbud and dip it into nail polish then carefully swab a small area. If the bud turn a reddish colour then it's genuine. If not it's resin.
The reason I think it's resin is the evidence of pit holes.
Mark
Hi, Steve and Mark,
I am not seeing the pits. It is positively hand-carved and not molded--but well-defined layers in the lacquer are not obvious, unless that is what is showing up just above the head of the taller gentleman. Do they ever make a thick layer of resin or composite, and then hand-carve it?
I have a very similar piece, deeply carved, but also not showing very good layers in the lacquer. Here are some photos. I tried the swab test, and it did turn a reddish color. My piece is very dark--it was darkened with ink or some other stain after being carved. At a later date, repairs were made (see the blue circles and the bottom of the piece)--it is not is as good shape as Steve's. It is obvious it was carved--look at the closeup of the greek key pattern. It is also clear that whoever carved it used a small and incredibly sharp knife!
I think the similarities to Steve's piece are obvious, so I am also interested in the age of these boxes! The lack of well-defined layers in the lacquer these two boxes is a bit puzzling to me.
Charles
Hi Charles Bryan,
If the swab turns reddish colour then you can be certain it's a lacquer box.
The other example is difficult to determine by way of the pictures. Thats why I suggested the simple test. I saw what looks like pit marks. But I am not 100% sure.
I am not an expert nor a collector of cinnabar objects. I think yours is probably early 20th century.
It's a beautiful example.
Mark
Hi Mark,
Here is a photo that shows signs of blade marks. I can't see any bubbles - it was the first thing I looked for when I learned about the differences.
I have no nail polish in the house unfortunately.
-Steve
Hi Charles,
That's a nice one!
Mine is damaged and is missing a tile on the side.
It was interesting browsing for them on Ebay; some were obviously new and moulded, others were older and carved. Prices range from $200-$30.
I don't collect lacquer but I noticed this incense box sold for a higher price than an early yaozhou bowl in an auction I followed online. Probably a Ming example? I liked it but I got a piece potentially worth much more in the same sale for less. Also Ming by the way ...
Hi Steve,
That close-up really shows the layering in the lacquer! (you can see the layers crossing the slanted surfaces) I am certain that your box is lacquer now.
Avatar, what a spectacular little circular box. The really good lacquer is just amazing in it's beauty.
Hi Steve,
On viewing your additional image is still in my opinion inconclusive. Your image still blurs when expanded etc.
The only true way is the suggestion I posted earlier. It does not have to be nail polish remover. Acetone should work just as well.
There is a excellent post on lacquer posted yesterday.
Try it out and please let us know the results.
Mark
Hi Mark,
It's a clear picture on my computer screen. It was in focus when I took it. I had to reduce the size to post it here, of course, and I reduced it to 800 tall - should be detailed enough.
I will look at the earlier post and be on the lookout for the chemicals as you suggested. (ETA: What is the name of the post?)
Thank you,
Steve
Hi Steve,
I am using a Huawei mobile phone with small images etc. It's difficult at the best of times when viewing items etc.
The cost of nail polish remover is very low and probably available at a chemist and a wide variety of department stores etc. Perhaps a friend (female) or even a neighbor.
If it does turn out to be cinnabar please wash of the polish with soapy water.
Mark
Hi Mark,
This week I'm headed to the hardware store and I'll pick up some acetone & let you know.
I'm confident it's hand-carved but we'll see.
Regards,
-Steve
I tried the nail polish remover test and the q-tip barely turned color. In fact, it looks like it was just removing a little grey dirt. I tried it in many places. (see first photo)
Just to compare, Ganesha was willing to be tested as well. He's a new, obviously moulded plastic figure (see the lines on his bottom). The q-tip turned red with hardly any wiping at all. (see the second photo)
So in conclusion it looks like my box is some kind of fake but not like the contemporary ones? Also, the q-tip obviously turns color when tested on a fake.
Just for fun, I think I'll ask Peter. I'll let you know what he says.
-S
Latest Post: Large wooden vase Our newest member: Bivvo Degnaccio 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.