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. Â
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.Â
Dear friends, know nothing about soapstone bought this one as a learning object. There are black / red patches on it. Definitely carved, but no mark, there is a hole in one of wells. What can you tell me anything about the this rock? Age? Value? Etc. appreciated all your input. Thanks.
Hi Yin,
Your carving is soapstone. It's a modern interpretation and has little value in my opinion. But it's a good study piece.
Carefully exame the way the monkeys are hastily carved. Look at the foliage/other base. It's not fluid. It's stiffly carved.
MarkÂ
@imperialfinegems Thanks Mark. I didn't pay much and can sell it as modern piece after I've done with it.Â
Black patches are bother me, is that nature? red/yellowish area seems melt into the stone, that would be ok right? Agreed with carving is not smooth. The carvings on the pots should be deeper and clearer, right? there is a chip and a hole on the right well, are they effect the value of the soapstone (so I can avoid it next time)? Does marks are important on the soapstone? I will have more question on the way, glad to have you here!!! Thanks again.
Hi Yin,
Yes brown or blackish is common. Chips are acceptable but cracks are not. Visual scratches especially on the base are common and expected, because the stone is very soft. You will sometimes find artists signature/other but rarely a reign mark.
Be careful though because it's a soft stone and easy to carve fakers have recently been using 3D modeling to produce/copy known works.Â
MarkÂ
@imperialfinegems I am pretty sure mine is a modern piece, why does this say Republic, can you help me to point out the differences. Thank you.
Hi Yin,
The one from rubylane antiques is not republican period. It's much later. It's on great condition because it's new!
When buying soapstone it's imperative that you keep a careful eye on the details. As soapstone is a very soft material it's very easy to carve.
The one from rubylane is very typical of tourist ware. Often sold as vintage or older. Notice the lack of any definitive details. It's been quickly carved.
Here are a few examples of late Qing, early republic period carving. You will instantly see what I am writing about here.
But.... Be careful as I have seen some spectacular carvings made by 3D printer. Very difficult to tell the difference from images.
Does this help answer your question?
Mark
Mark, does soapstone break easily? I have a piece that looks to have fractured at some time. I didn't think it would break easily but I suppose someone could have thrown it in rage - or maybe it is some kind of resin but it looks and feels like stone.Â
Would it be a sign of quality and age if the back side of the brush pot was also carved? As in a good netsuke where all sides are carved with the same care? Excuse the stupid question, I see lots of soapstone brush pots on Ebay but know nothing about them.Â
Birgit
@julia Like Luther throwing the inkpot at the devil (stain still visible today)😄
Birgit
@julia and @shinigami,
As soapstone is very soft stone (you can scratch it with your nail) it can easily be damaged by simply dropping it or even knocking it over.
The better ones are carved on both sides. The details are extraordinary.
Most of the ones on eBay are not old but newer tourist type ware. They actually all look the same.
As the name suggests, when you touch/feel said carvings they feel like holding/touching a bar of soap.
If one was ever going to buy soapstone carvings then only buy those that are actually old without damage if possible. A small crack is acceptable (to a point) but a full break is not.Â
Pay attention to the details. Especially the facial features, hands, robes both back and front.Â
Later (crudely) carved tourist type carvings are worth nothing and should be avoided at all cost!
Telling the difference between old and new can be daunting at first but once you have seen a few genuine ones the difference is obvious.Â
Its a lot easier than jade.Â
MarkÂ
Thanks Mark. I will post up a few photos, hope Yin doesn't mind. There is a monkey so it is kind of on topic. I liked it and got it very cheaply - probably due to the damage if it is indeed soapstone.
Hope it is ok to do this, Yin? If not maybe Mark would remove it for me, please?
 Who knows, if it is soapstone and not made recently, it may be useful.Â
It was the way the horses face was done that made me wonder about resin. I don't think it is, though: it is cold and all the resin I have handled feels warmer than this. It is about 4 inches/10 cms long.
Birgit, as you can see, it is carved on both sides but then maybe a shape like this would be?
Â
If I may just join in - I actually think the Yin Hall's soapstone figure is early 20th ct. There are quite a few of these figures available online stated to be early 20th.
I remember someone commented on a similar figure at the asianart.com-forum that the were mass-produced in that period and exported to the West where they would fit nicely in to people Art Deco interiors popular that time.
I often see them in antique stores windows here locally. They are not really valuable imo.
Â
@imperialfinegems Thank you Mark, most helpful. I will save your answer in my knowledge folder.Â
Birgit
Latest Post: Stone Buddha Our newest member: Karen Schneider 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.Â
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.Â
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.