COMPLIMENTARY COPY
Published Weekly By Joel Sater Publications www.antiquesandauctionnews.net
VOL. 43, NO. 8 FRIDAY MARCH 2, 2012
Orientalia And High End Chinese Antiques Continue To Command Strong Prices Aixinjueluo ing figure with pronounced feanjoying tremendous popu- Alashan larity these days are Duoluoteselen to Crown Prince tures and flowing robes, sold for Aixinjueluo Pujun many times its Orientalia during his visit to $5,000 to and high end C h i n e s e Left & Right: The top seller of the auction was an outstandobjects d’art. The ing pair of Huanghuali yoke back chairs from the Richard trend was conB. Hobart Collection. Bought in 1921 in Beijing by Janet E. firmed in James Hobart, the chairs have remained in the Hobart family ever D. Julia’s most recent sale, since. The Hobart Collection established the benchmark for February 2 to 4, in the Chinese antiquities market in the United States at two Fairfield, Maine. famous sales in 1969 and 1970 at Sotheby’s in New York. But items in all These important and stately chairs sold for $460,000 within categories seemed a presale estimate of $400,000 to $500,000. to have stars in this three-day Below: Seal event. believed to be Showcased from the late was an incredible 1700s features a array of treasures carved pair of foo covering the gamut dogs. Originally of American and given by Prince European paintAlashan ings, furniture, folk art, marine & nautical items, bronzes, silver, weathervanes, Oriental rugs, historical items, porcelain, and more. Topping the list was an outstanding pair of Huanghuali yoke back chairs from the Richard t h e B. Hobart $7,000 estipalace in Inner Collection. Bought in 1921 in mate to finish Mongolia, it descended Beijing by Janet E. Hobart, the up at $26,450. through the family until its chairs have remained in the From other colHobart family ever since. The arrival at Julia’s auction block. Aixinjueluo Hobart Collection established the After a fevered bidding battle well Duoluoteselen to lections came a benchmark for the Chinese antiq- beyond its $75,000 to $100,000 Crown Prince variety of fine uities market in the United States estimate, it ultimately sold for a Aixinjueluo Pujun Asian objects. at two famous sales in 1969 and phenomenal $322,000. during his visit to H i g h l i g h t s This auction contained not one, the palace in Inner included a cased 1970 at Sotheby’s in New York. These important and stately but two exceedingly rare carved Mongolia. Sold set of four elabchairs, with flowing lines, pagoda rhinoceros horn libation cups. An well beyond its orately carved crossbar tops, and stylized lotus 18th-century example found $75,000- $100,000 i v o r y flower carvings, were breathtak- recently in a private home, depict- estimate to sell for C h i n e s e ing. The pair sold for $460,000 ing a carved lotus flower in a tangle a phenomenal elders being tended to by within a presale estimate of of stems with smaller blossoms, $322,000. servants. cranes, and other creatures relief $400,000 to $500,000. Other highlights included a carved into the sides, sold for Wearing draped flowing robes and mounted to carved roseunique and exceptional selection $230,000 - within expectawood branch pedestal bases, of heirlooms and property belong- tions of $200,000 to the set sold for $8,050 ing to the great granddaughter of $300,000. A large against a presale estimate Prince Duan Aixinjueluo Zaiyi, and important examof $4,000 to $6,000. No and grandniece of The Last ple, formerly of the one expected a small 18thEmperor Puyi. Included was an Morris Altman Estate, century cameo cut exquisite royal carved ivory, from the Qianlong shadow agate abalone and rosewood screen that Period (1736pendant to perfeatured a highly elaborate carved 1796), Qing form as it scene known as “Birthday D y n a s t y , d i d . Gathering of the Immortals”. surprisingDepicting a Depicting a procession of individ- ly failed fisherman uals paying homage to a central to find a in a landfigure, and housed in an inlaid buyer. scape, framework, the piece sold a n d for $138,000 within its A selection of $100,000 to $150,000 esti- 1 9 t h - c e n t u r y Chinese snuff inscribed mate. with a Items made from rhi- bottles included a poem on noceros horns have become carved cinnabar the reverse, all the rage among the most heart shaped examthe bauble advanced of collectors. This ple depicting children ultimately sold auction contained a variety at play. It sold for for $17,250, of items carved from these $17,250 against a $300 to more than 86 coveted horns. An impor- $500 estimate. times the low end of tant seal, believed to be Also from the Royal Family its $200 to $300 estimate! from the late 1700s, engraved in the Ch’ien Lung style and high- collection was a fine stoneware fig- Nearly as dramatic was a lighted by a carved pair of foo ure of Li Tieh Kuei. The exception- selection of 19th-century dogs, was one such item. al and bold carving representing Chinese snuff bottles that a carved Originally given by Prince the immortal, depicting the impos- included
E
cinnabar heart shaped example depicting children at play. It, too, sold for $ 1 7 , 2 5 0 against a $300 to $500 estimate. A rock crystal example, painted on the interior with a canal scene leading to a walled city in the background, sold for $13,800, well exceeding its $200 to $ 3 0 0 e s t i mate. A lot of two snuff bottles with cameo decoration likew i s e exceeded a $200 to $300 estimate to sell for $5,750. Japanese objects also fared well, and diminut i v e Netsukes proved to be quite popular. A carved boxwood figure of a wild hound, inlaid with ivory eyes, ignored a $300 to $500 estimate to bring $6,900. A lot of two carved wood examples depicting a snail and famed poetess Ono No Komachi went out at $5,290 (estimate $200 to $300). Carved ivory examples included an exceptional and detailed basket vendor laden with his wares that sold for $1,955;
and one of a man carrying a foo dog that sold for $1,610. Each exceeded their clearly conservative $200 to $300 estimates. Day I started things off with over 400 paintings covering American and European artists. Illustration art included an impressive original artwork used for a 1921 Peters shotgun cartridge calendar by Phillip Russell Goodwin. Peters was later sold to the Remington Arms Company in 1934 and this very image was used again for a commemorative calendar by Remingtion in 1983. Picturing four men in their period hunting gear in a cozy hunting camp, it sold for $47,500 against an estimate of $50,000 to $75,000. A pair of action packed works by Gilbert Gaul depicting big game hunters likewise sold within its estimate for $17,250. An equally action packed scene attributed to Arthur Tait of an old west standoff between a frontiersman and a pack of Indians went out at $16,962, surpassing a $7,500 to $12,500 estimate. Several fine European and Continental works included Adolphe Perrot’s outstanding rendition of the monumental cemetery at Cathedral Square in Pisa, Italy. Portraying tremendous sense of perspective and detail of one of the country’s treasured landmarks, it sold for $40,250, exceeding its $5,000 to $10,000 estimate. Austrian artist Wenceslas Von Brozik’s interior scene of an aristocratic family in a lavish room watching the youngest of the group perform a show for the grandparents changed hands at the upper end of its $20,000 to 30,000 estimate for $27,600. And, an impressionistic oil on canvas springtime scene attributed to French artist Camille Pissarro with swirling colors leading to a white cottage went out at $19,550 against a pre-auction estimate of $10,000 to $15,000. Day II continued with a From the Royal Family collection came an exquisite royal carved ivory, abalone and rosewood screen that featured a highly elaborate carved scene known as “Birthday Gathering of the Immortals” depicting a procession of individuals paying homage to central figure. Housed in an inlaid framework, the piece sold for $138,000 within its $100,000 to $150,000 estimate.
variety of art of a nautical mindset as well as a selection of folk art. The latter category included over ten weathervanes such as an exceptional full body Goddess of Liberty copper figure in a dramatic pose that sold for $29,325 against a (Continued on page 2)