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.
Vase, Jiaqing Iron-Red Seal Mark and Period, which is painted with elegant and beautifullydressed
ladies performing music and dancing (est. $250/350,000). The Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art sale will also feature ceramics and works of art from the Estate of Eugene Y.C. Sung (19152005), which reflect one man’s lifelong commitment to Chinese art.
Many of the lots offered were acquired at Sotheby’s by Mr. Sung in the 1970s and 1980s, and some were formerly in esteemed early collections, including those of J.P. Morgan, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Bernat, Ferris Luboshez, Martin Hurst and Edward T. Chow. Among the highlights is a rare work from the Qing dynasty, an Incised Celadon-Glazed Dish, Yongzheng Mark and Period, formerly in the Edward T. Chow collection and subtly decorated with auspicious symbols (est. $30/50,000).
A Rare Limestone Head of Buddha from the Northern Wei / Eastern Wei dynasty in the early 6th Century will be offered in the sale (est. $80/120,000). The carving of
the head is characteristic of the style of the Gongxian caves near Luoyang in Henan province, which are important examples of late Northern Wei Buddhist sculpture and reflect the final stage of the sinification of Buddhist art as developed under the Northern Wei dynasty. Like other works from the Gongxian caves, the face is carved with a broad forehead, wedge-shaped nose with semi-circular eyebrows curving from the bridge, half-closed eyes and a faint benign smile, suggesting a serene gentle expression. Prior to 1956, the work belonged to the New York-based Asian art expert Mathias Komor. The sale will also comprise a selection of Chinese paintings lead by a Zheng Xie (16931765) ink and color on paper work depicting Orchids and Bamboo (est. $150/250,000). Executed on a large scale and indeed one of the largest works known by the artist, it is a classic example of 18th century scholar painting. Zheng
was renowned for his paintings of bamboo, orchids and rocks, and this painting demonstrates his mastery of expressive, calligraphic brushwork.
