Ancient Chinese Pottery Comes to Beverly Hills Han and Tang Dynasty potters met patron's requests with figures that range from the erotic to the comic. An unusual collection is coming to auction at Beverly Hills' I.M. Chait Gallery on November
on Chinese porcelain, with a late Ming Dynasty porcelain Charger, Lot 207, leading the field. The Swatow-ware plate (made near the port of what is now Shantou) is of coral red and turquoise glazes. At the center of its design is a small bird surrounded by blossoms and flanked, at the border, with two writhing dragon. Probably originally intended for export to the South East Asian market, it carries a catalog high estimate of $15,000.
Lot 211 is another example of exceptional Chinese porcelain, this time in the form of a pair of 18th Century Qianlong Period, Doucai enameled plates. Each has coral-like elements connected by green scrolling and is bordered by stylized characters. It is marked Cai hua tang zhi (Made at the studio of cheerful painting.) The pair is expected to fetch $14,000 or higher.
From porcelains, the sale moves to a phenomenal collection of carved ivories.
The most outstanding of them is a superbly carved Japanese dragon Okimono group. Lot 213, the 8 ½-inch Okimono depicts two intertwined dragons. Highly animated and fully openwork, the detailing to scales, claws and manes is exceptional. Each dragon has inlaid eyes. The piece is signed with a seal and sits on a wooden stand. It is estimated at $25,000.
Among the Chinese ivories, a finely carved immortal, 36 inches tall, is the star lot. The scholarly figure, with elaborate headdress and beaded garlands, holds a tablet. Two tiered scrolls hang from his trappings. The heavy, stylized carving carries a catalog high estimate of $10,000.
Another example of fine Chinese carving is the Guanyin positioned at Lot 216. The elegant figure, which soars 40-inches from its Lucite stand, holds a staff pending a basket of roses. There is a large flowering branch in her other hand. At the base of her robes, a phoenix rises. The Guanyin is estimated at a high of $10,000.
The collection of Chinese carved ivories also includes an Emperor and Empress pair, a beauty, a delightful monkey group, oxen and a fowl family. Estimates range from $4000 upwards.
As usual, I.M. Chait’s November 15 Asian and International Fine Art auction includes an extensive collection of carved jades, Sino-Tibetan deities, Western jewelry and European paintings, all of which can be seen at www.chait.com.
For a full color catalog, please call 1-800-755-5020. I.M. Chait is located at 9330 Civic Center Drive, CA. The November 15 AIFA begns at 1300 hrs. It will be carried live and on www.artfact.com.
