SOTHEBY’S TO OFFER TWO SALES OF CHINESE WORKS OF ART SOTHEBY’S TO OFFER TWO SALES OF CHINESE WORKS OF ART ON SEPTEMBER 16 Fine Chinese Furniture, Works of Art and Carpets from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections.
News-Antique.com - Aug 20,2009 - New York, New York – Sotheby’s series of Asian art auctions in New York will begin on September 16 with two sales. The sale Fine Chinese Furniture, Works of Art and Carpets from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections will be offered at 10am, and it will be immediately followed
by the sale of Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. Works from the two sales will be on exhibition at Sotheby’s New York galleries from September 11 through 15. Fine Chinese Furniture, Works of Art and Carpets from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections Leading off the series of sales is a fine group of approximately 40 lots of Chinese Furniture from the Collections of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler.
Mostly of huanghuali wood and dating to the 17th and 18th centuries – late Ming and early Qing dynasties – among the highlights is a Rare and Important Pair of Huanghuali Compound Cabinets and Two-Drawer Stands, 17th century (est. $120/180,000). Three-part cabinets of this size and quality were reserved only for the wealthiest and most prominent families, and their rarity is enhanced by the fact that very few sets have survived together into modern times.
Each component features matching aprons and feet, details that are extremely rare for compound furniture of this type. The extensive selection of furniture in the Sackler furniture group also includes a Rare Huanghuali Daybed, 17th century, (est. $80/120,000); and a Pair of Huanghuali Yokeback Armchairs, 17th century, (est. $60/80,000). In addition to furniture, the Sackler sale also includes a small group of Chinese archaic bronze vessels and other works of art. Dr. Sackler’s collections also include 50 rugs and carpets of predominantly Chinese and East Turkestan origin, with a few tribal weavings such as the faces of storage bags woven by nomads who roamed the Southern Caucasus area. Most of the Chinese carpets originated in the Western Chinese province of Ningxia, a major rug producing center since the 15th century. The pieces range in size from small seat mats and backs measuring 2ft. by 2ft. to larger carpets such as the dapple-fielded Ningxia Audience Carpet, 10’2” x 9’2” (est.
$15/20,000) and a handsome early 19th century square Ningxia carpet, 14’9” x 14’6” (est. $25/35,000). There are also carpets of unusual dimensions including the Ningxia banner carpet that measures 27’ x 4’5” (pictured, est. $8/12,000) and a very long, narrow Ningxia runner, 16’9” x 2’2” (est. $7/10,000).
Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
Featured in the sale of Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art is an Important Pale Celadon Jade Brushpot (Bitong) dating to the 18th century and made at the height of jade carving during the Qing dynasty (est.
$300/400,000). The work was acquired by Heber R. Bishop (1840-1902), a banker, entrepreneur and philanthropist, who formed one of the most important early collections of Chinese jades during the second half of the 19th Century, the majority of which was gifted to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The present brushpot however remained in the Bishop family
