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@chris71. From what I have seen it would have been a voyage of upwards of a year there and back, that’s a long time for your adventuress ancestor, those merchantmen although large for the time would get rather small if you were on board for a long voyage. Lars Thorp of BBC Antique Road Show(the best version) has a several episode documentary on YouTube about the adventure of getting China back to the west. If I recall correctly, the sailers were not allowed on shore or had very limited shore rights in Canton.
Ron
Chris and Ron, you've both brought up something that's been on my mind a lot lately - especially as I dive deeper into the history of export from China. Everytime I become too obsessed with these images of ships, I have to stop and remind myself that the beauty we are able to hold and handle is due to the immense human effort/lives expended in the China trade or as a result of the China trade. I can't collect this without acknowledging the dark, ugly sides of this dynamic, and realize that these pieces are excessively romanticized, but for me, also act as a tether to the past.
Thank you for sharing that docuseries, too. It is one I've watched and rewatched a couple times. His trek following the movement of porcelain, from its production to its use is pretty interesting. The discussion on the massive pollution from the thousands of kilns affecting the lives of those in Jingdezhen was especially enlightening.
The story of Canton also. Luckily it is very well documented since merchants wanted these trade paintings to bring back and show their loved ones the exotic world they've been to - I've promoted this before, but I will here again:
That book is available here: https://johnsandoe.com/product/the-hongs-of-canton-western-merchants-in-south-china-1700-1900/
@johnshoe That painting looks like its a nice high-quality rendering - I like it of course, as you knew I would. I've always wondered what the different Chinese ships were and wished I had a resource on what the purpose of the many different ships in Canton were. Thanks for posting this, it made me look much harder. This looks like it might be a "flower boat", or floating brothel. I didn't know this was a thing!
https://visualizingcultures.mit.edu/rise_fall_canton_02/cw_essay04.html
@bartholin Here's another one that I think is at a little higher level of quality.
@bartholin They all came from different sources. The flower boat you like came with two others I haven't shown you yet, so they are a trio that came together, probably originally part of a dozen, and are of fantastic quality.
Thanks for showing them, John! These trade pith painting sets are charming and I think yours especially so. I'm surprised you've found so many, I haven't seen any when I go out hunting. It might be interesting to get someone to translate the banner on the last flower boat you showed.
You're right that such a round-trip took about one year. But that was just the time on board. Usually you stayed in Asia several weeks or month before returning home. So overall, in most cases they were away for far more than a year.
I also enjoyed the documentation with Lars Tharp. You really get the idea of how hard it was for the people in china. And I also worship my porcelain pieces differently considering the long travel they made.
Chris
Hi John,
thanks for posting the link to that book again. But it doesn't seem to work anymore.
@chris71 Apologies, try this one: https://www.abebooks.com/9781870803014/Hongs-Canton-Western-Merchants-South-1870803019/plp
Alternatively, ISBN is 9781870803014
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.