, , , , , ,

Sotheby’s Hong Kong presenta la serie de subastas de obras de arte chinas más importante de la última década

Sotheby’s Hong Kong presenta la serie de subastas de obras de arte chinas más importante de la última década

Hong Kong

Convergencia de las mejores colecciones privadas de los mejores coleccionistas de arte chino del mundo
Dr. Wou Kiuan, Sr. Joseph Lau y Sir Joseph Hotung, y más

(De izquierda a derecha)

La colección privada de Joseph Lau
Un hermoso jarrón ‘Lotus Scroll’ azul y blanco, Meiping, dinastía Ming, período Yongle
Est: 25 a 35 millones de dólares de Hong Kong / 3,2 a 4,5 millones de dólares estadounidenses

La colección del Dr. Wou Kiuan
Un magnífico jarrón reticulado Yangcai ‘Trigrams’ con suelo de rubí,
Marca de sello y período de Qianlong
Est: HK$ 60 – 120 millones / US$ 7,6 – 15,3 millones

La colección personal del difunto Sir Joseph Hotung
Un cargador de ‘pez’ con púas azul y blanco moldeado único y muy importante, dinastía Yuan
Est: HK$ 30 – 50 millones / US$ 3,8 – 6,4 millones

Subasta: 8 – 9 de octubre de 2022

Este octubre, Sotheby’s Hong Kong presenta la serie de ventas de obras de arte chinas más importante con la convergencia de las mejores colecciones privadas de los coleccionistas de arte chinos más grandes del mundo, incluidos el Dr. Wou Kiuan, el Sr. Joseph Lau y Sir Joseph Hotung. El lote estrella de esta temporada es un magnífico jarrón reticulado de “trigramas” yangcai con suelo de rubí del período Qianlong (estimado: HK$ 60 – 120 millones / US$ 7,6 – 15,3 millones) de la colección Dr. Wou Kiuan Parte II, una colección cuidadosamente Venta curada que presenta seis obras maestras del siglo XVIII. La colección de Joseph Lau, que comprende 11 gemas imperiales, ocupa un lugar de honor entre las mejores jamás reunidas en el campo. En el corazón de la colección personal de Sir Joseph Hotung se encuentra una serie de obras maestras que trazan muchos de los picos de la larga historia de China, desde el Neolítico hasta la dinastía Qing. A la sólida lista de colecciones privadas de renombre de esta temporada se suma una selección de jades Ming y Qing de la colección de Victor Shaw y un grupo de obras de arte arcaicas de una importante colección japonesa.

Esta serie de ventas de otoño marca una oportunidad única en la vida para coleccionistas y entusiastas del arte chino. Muy rara vez verá una línea tan superlativa de las colecciones de arte chino más famosas del mundo. Estaremos ofreciendo obras maestras frescas para el mercado en casi todos y cada uno de los campos del arte chino y esta es posiblemente la serie de ventas más esperada que Sotheby’s haya presentado jamás.

NICOLAS CHOW, PRESIDENTE, ASIA Y PRESIDENTE, CHINESE WORKS OF ART

Estas ilustres colecciones privadas no solo muestran el gusto, la visión y la pasión impecables de los coleccionistas de arte chinos más influyentes de este siglo, sino que también ofrecen una ventana a la extraordinaria profundidad y amplitud de las formas de arte chinas.

XIBO WANG, JEFE DEL DEPARTAMENTO DE CERÁMICA Y OBRAS DE ARTE CHINAS

Un viaje a través de la historia de China: la colección del Dr. Wou Kiuan, parte II

Tras el éxito de la Parte I en Nueva York en marzo y el primer capítulo de Hong Kong que batió récords en abril, la venta cuidadosamente seleccionada presenta seis obras maestras del siglo XVIII que muestran el dominio técnico sin precedentes en los hornos imperiales de Jingdezhen, incluido un grupo de porcelanas esmaltadas anteriormente de las reliquias familiares de Fonthill que no han aparecido en el mercado en alrededor de medio siglo. Los aspectos más destacados incluyen un magnífico y posiblemente único jarrón reticulado de “trigramas” yangcai con fondo de rubí de Qianlong, corroborado por los archivos de la corte que se hizo en 1743 o inmediatamente después. El jarrón es un testimonio tangible de la culminación sin precedentes e incomparable del virtuosismo técnico en la producción de porcelana entre 1741 y 1743, impulsada por una reprimenda imperial del emperador Qianlong. (Ensayo del catálogo disponible a pedido)

UN MAGNÍFICO JARRON RETICULADO “TRIGRAMAS” YANGCAI CON SUELO DE RUBÍ,
MARCA DE SELLO Y PERÍODO DE QIANLONG
A. 31 CM
EST: HK$ 60 000 000 – 120 000 000 / US$ 7 644 000 – 15 287 000

Otro punto a destacar también dotado de la procedencia de Fonthill es un magnífico par de jarrones de “mariposa” yangcai magníficamente esmaltados sobre un fondo rosa brillante de una manera imbuida de influencias occidentales y cocidos a la perfección.

UN MAGNÍFICO PAR DE JARROS YANGCAI ‘BUTTERFLY’,
MARCAS DE SELLO Y PERÍODO DE QIANLONG
H 47 CM

EST: HK$ 40 000 000 – 60 000 000 / US$ 5 096 000 – 7 644 000
Gemas de Porcelana Imperial de la Colección Privada de Joseph Lau Parte II

El nombre Joseph Lau resuena entre los coleccionistas de todo el mundo y es uno que representa la excelencia. El arte chino se encuentra en la génesis de la aventura de Joseph Lau con el arte y es en el arte chino donde se fijó en su ojo exigente antes de expandir sus horizontes. Lau reunió una de las mejores colecciones de porcelana china de todos los tiempos, articulada en torno a obras maestras, cada una representativa de lo mejor de un determinado período y tipo, y seleccionadas cuidadosamente de las colecciones más prestigiosas.

Las ofertas de esta temporada incluyen una porcelana azul y blanca muy fina que data del período Yongle a principios del siglo XV, el pináculo de los artículos decorados con azul vidriado y un período muy celebrado por el patrocinio imperial en las artes.

UN FINO JARRON ‘LOTUS SCROLL’ AZUL Y BLANCO, MEIPING,
DINASTÍA MING, PERIODO YONGLE
31,4 cm
EST: HK$ 25 000 000 – 35 000 000 / US$ 3 185 000 – 4 459 000

Este meiping decorado con una voluta de loto es notablemente elegante en su maceta y representa el epítome de esa forma clásica. Se conocen ejemplos similares en los museos del palacio en Beijing y Taipei, así como en las colecciones reales de Oriente Medio de los sultanes otomanos que atestiguan su atractivo universal y su alto estatus.

UN FRASCO DE LUNA FINO Y DESTACADO DOUCAI Y FAMILLE-ROSE ‘SANDUO’,
MARCA DE SELLO Y PERÍODO DE QIANLONG
31,3 cm
EST: HK$ 20 000 000 – 30 000 000 / US$ 2 548 000 – 3 822 000

Este magnífico frasco circular brillantemente esmaltado con frutas representa una combinación particularmente ambiciosa e inusual de los esquemas doucai y fencai, que resalta la fruta madura. El presente ejemplo es superior en todos los aspectos, desde la calidad de la pintura, la riqueza del cobalto, la claridad del vidriado hasta su estado prístino.

Hotung: la colección personal del difunto Sir Joseph Hotung

El difunto Sir Joseph Hotung (1930-2021) fue respetado y reverenciado en el mundo del arte por su colección de jade y por su filantropía. Lo que es mucho menos conocido es su ojo discriminatorio por la calidad y el diseño, y la colección personal formada en su casa de Londres como telón de fondo de su vida, vista solo por unos pocos privilegiados. La serie de ventas dedicadas comienza en Hong Kong con un enfoque en las obras maestras chinas de su colección y se divide en ventas vespertinas y diurnas. Las obras que se ofrecen, que van desde jades neolíticos y bronces de las dinastías Shang-Han hasta muebles de la dinastía Ming y pinturas chinas modernas, cada una representa lo más buscado de su época y tipo. Los aspectos más destacados incluyen un cargador de ‘pez’ de púas azul y blanco moldeado único y muy importante de la dinastía Yuan y una importante y destacada quimera masculina de bronce, bixie, de la dinastía Han, esta última dotada de una prestigiosa procedencia e historia de ilustración que se remonta a tan a principios de la década de 1920 en París.

UN ÚNICO Y MUY IMPORTANTE CARGADOR MOLDEADO CON PÚAS AZUL Y BLANCO ‘FISH’,
DINASTÍA YUAN
47,8 cm
EST: HK$ 30 000 000 – 50 000 000 / US$ 3 822 000 – 6 370 000

Este plato es único y se hizo con una atención al detalle que es excepcional incluso entre este raro grupo de platos moldeados en relieve de la dinastía Yuan. Su decoración en relieve no solo es extraordinariamente nítida y detallada, sino que el popular diseño del pez también se representa aquí de una manera muy individual que conoce pocas comparaciones cercanas. Es una obra maestra que combina los mejores y más raros estilos azul y blanco de Yuan.

UNA IMPORTANTE Y DESTACADA QUIMERA MASCULINA DE BRONCE, BIXIE,
DINASTÍA HAN
L. 27 CM, A. 18 CM
EST: HK$ 6,000,000 – 8,000,000 / US$ 764,500 – 1,019,000

Esta quimera de bronce de la dinastía Han, poderosamente representada con vitalidad y fuerza, es un tour de force de los bronces chinos en su apogeo. Además de la prestigiosa procedencia de Stoclet, la historia de publicación y exhibición de la escultura se remonta a la primera mitad del siglo XX, lo que la distingue de otros bronces arcaicos en manos privadas e incluso de los ejemplos de museo más importantes.

Importante arte chino que incluye jades de la colección Victor Shaw

La subasta de arte chino importante presenta una venta cuidadosamente seleccionada que incluye obras maestras que abarcan cinco milenios, desde el período neolítico hasta la dinastía Qing. Los aspectos más destacados incluyen un gabinete de espejo chenxiang del período Qianlong extremadamente raro y una rana de mármol de la dinastía Shang.

La caja ‘rara’, posiblemente encargada en el año 17 (1752), tiene un espejo flanqueado por dos agujeros circulares a través de los cuales el emperador Qianlong se habría asomado para ver cuadros pintados, uno de los cuales es su más conmovedor y enigmáticamente titulado doble retrato, ‘¿Uno o dos?’ El gabinete de caja poderosamente tallado no solo muestra la influencia del mecanismo occidental en la corte del siglo XVIII en China, sino que es posiblemente el único ejemplo conocido que empleó el emperador Qianlong para reflexionar sobre los matices entre el reflejo literal del yo y la identidad propia.

UN GABINETE ‘RAREE’ CON ESPEJO IMPERIAL CHENXIANGMU IMPORTANTE Y EXCELENTE TALLADO,
DINASTÍA QING, PERÍODO QIANLONG,
POSIBLEMENTE ENCARGADO EN EL AÑO 17 (1752)
75,5 POR 16 POR H. 66 CM
EST: HK$ 5,000,000 – 8,000,000 / US$ 637,000 – 1,019,000

La rana de mármol de la dinastía Shang pertenece a un grupo muy raro de tallas de mármol que marcan los albores de la escultura china. Tallada con tanta habilidad y de forma minimalista, la escultura realmente ha superado la prueba del tiempo en su estética atemporal. También de la misma importante colección japonesa que la rana de mármol hay un grupo de obras de arte arcaicas, que incluyen una empuñadura de espada con incrustaciones de oro y plata espléndidamente decoradas, que tampoco se ha visto en el mercado durante más de 30 años.

UNA EXCELENTE RANA RECESTIDA DE MÁRMOL TALLADO,
DINASTÍA SHANG
25,3 POR 15,4 POR H. 12,5 CM
EST: HK$ 3.000.000 – 4.000.000 / US$ 382.000 – 509.600
UNA EXCEPCIONAL Y ÚNICA EMPUÑADURA DE ESPADA DE BRONCE CON INcrustaciones DE ORO Y PLATA,
ZHOU ORIENTAL TARDÍO – DINASTÍA HAN OCCIDENTAL TEMPRANA
17,5 cm
EST: HK$ 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 / US$ 191,000 – 255,000

La venta también incluye un grupo cuidadosamente seleccionado de jades Ming – Qing de la colección de Victor Shaw (1935-2020), quien fue reconocido no solo por su ojo perspicaz sino también por sus actividades filantrópicas.

UN EXTRAORDINARIO JADE BLANCO ‘JARDÍN Y DAMA’ CALADO BOULDER,
DINASTÍA QING, PERIODO QIANLONG
H 10,8 CM
EST: HK$ 700.000 – 900.000 / US$ 89.000 – 115.000

UN GRUPO ARCHÍSTICO DE JADE BLANCO ‘PATO Y LOTO’,
DINASTÍA QING, SIGLO XVIII
13,8 cm
EST: HK$ 500.000 – 600.000 / US$ 63.700 – 76.500

FOTOGRAPHY & TEXT “Courtesy Sotheby’s”.

 

/by
, , , , , ,

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Presents the Most Significant Chinese Works of Art Sale Series to Take Place in the Last Decade

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Presents the Most Significant Chinese Works of Art Sale Series to Take Place in the Last Decade

Hong Kong
Convergence of the Finest Private Collections from the World’s Greatest Chinese Art Collectors
Dr Wou Kiuan, Mr Joseph Lau & Sir Joseph Hotung, and more

(Left to Right)

The Private Collection of Joseph Lau
A Fine Blue and White ‘Lotus Scroll’ Vase, Meiping, Ming Dynasty, Yongle Period
Est: HK$ 25 – 35 million / US$ 3.2 – 4.5 million

The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection
A Magnificent Ruby-Ground Yangcai ‘Trigrams’ Reticulated Vase,
Seal Mark and Period of Qianlong
Est: HK$ 60 – 120 million / US$ 7.6 – 15.3 million

The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung
A Unique and Highly Important Moulded Blue and White Barbed ‘Fish’ Charger, Yuan Dynasty
Est: HK$ 30 – 50 million / US$ 3.8 – 6.4 million

Auction: 8 – 9 October 2022

This October, Sotheby’s Hong Kong presents the most significant Chinese Works of Art sale series with the convergence of the finest private collections from the world’s greatest Chinese art collectors including Dr Wou Kiuan, Mr Joseph Lau and Sir Joseph Hotung. The star lot of this season is a Magnificent Ruby-Ground yangcai ‘Trigrams’ Reticulated Vase from the Qianlong period (Est: HK$ 60 – 120 million / US$ 7.6 – 15.3 million) from the Dr Wou Kiuan Collection Part II, a carefully curated sale presenting six masterpieces from the 18th century. The collection of Joseph Lau, comprising 11 imperial gems, occupies pride of place among the very finest ever assembled in the field. At the heart of Sir Joseph Hotung’s personal collection is an array of masterpieces which charts many of the peaks in China’s long history, from the Neolithic Period to the Qing dynasty. Adding to this season’s strong line-up of renowned private collections are a selection of Ming and Qing jades from the collection of Victor Shaw and a group of archaic artworks from an important Japanese collection.

This Autumn sale series marks a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts of Chinese art. Very rarely will you see such a superlative line-up from the world’s most celebrated Chinese art collections. We will be offering fresh to market masterpieces in almost each and every field of Chinese art and this is possibly the most anticipated sale series Sotheby’s has ever hosted.

NICOLAS CHOW, CHAIRMAN, ASIA AND CHAIRMAN, CHINESE WORKS OF ART

These illustrious private collections not only showcase the impeccable taste, vision and passion of this century’s most influential Chinese art collectors, but also offer a window to the extraordinary depth and breadth of Chinese art forms.

XIBO WANG, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART

A Journey Through China’s History: The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection Part II

Following on from the success of Part I in New York in March and the record-breaking first Hong Kong chapter in April, the carefully curated sale presents six masterpieces from the 18th century showcasing the unparalleled technical mastery in the imperial kilns in Jingdezhen, including a group of enamelled porcelains formerly from the Fonthill heirlooms which have not surfaced the market in around half a century. Highlights include a Qianlong magnificent and possibly unique ruby-ground yangcai ‘trigrams’ reticulated vase, corroborated by the court archives to have been made either in 1743 or immediately thereafter. The vase is a tangible testament to the unprecedented and unparalleled culmination of technical virtuosity in porcelain production between 1741 and 1743, fuelled by an imperial reprimand from the Qianlong Emperor. (Catalogue essay available upon request)

A MAGNIFICENT RUBY-GROUND YANGCAI ‘TRIGRAMS’ RETICULATED VASE,
SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
H. 31 CM
EST: HK$ 60,000,000 – 120,000,000 / US$ 7,644,000 – 15,287,000

Another highlight also endowed with the Fonthill provenance is a magnificent pair of yangcai ‘butterfly’ vases superbly enamelled on a bright pink ground in a manner imbued with Western influences and fired to perfection.

A MAGNIFICENT PAIR OF YANGCAI ‘BUTTERFLY’ VASES,
SEAL MARKS AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
H. 47 CM
EST: HK$ 40,000,000 – 60,000,000 / US$ 5,096,000 – 7,644,000

Gems of Imperial Porcelain from the Private Collection of Joseph Lau Part II

The name Joseph Lau resonates with collectors around the globe and it is one that stands for excellence. Chinese art stands at the genesis of Joseph Lau’s adventure with art and it is on Chinese art that he cut his exacting eye before expanding his horizons. Lau assembled one of the finest collections of Chinese porcelain ever, articulated around masterpieces, each representative of the best of a certain period and type, and handpicked from the most prestigious collections.

This season’s offerings include a very fine blue and white porcelain dating from the Yongle period in the early 15th century, the pinnacle of underglaze-blue decorated wares and a period much celebrated for imperial patronage in the arts.

A FINE BLUE AND WHITE ‘LOTUS SCROLL’ VASE, MEIPING,
MING DYNASTY, YONGLE PERIOD
31.4 CM
EST: HK$ 25,000,000 – 35,000,000 / US$ 3,185,000 – 4,459,000

This meiping decorated with a lotus scroll is remarkably elegant in its potting and represents the epitome of that classic shape. Similar examples are known in the palace museums in Beijing and Taipei as well as in the Middle Eastern Royal collections of the Ottoman sultans which attest to their universal appeal and high status.

A FINE AND OUTSTANDING DOUCAI AND FAMILLE-ROSE ‘SANDUO’ MOONFLASK,
SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
31.3 CM
EST: HK$ 20,000,000 – 30,000,000 / US$ 2,548,000 – 3,822,000

This magnificent circular flask brilliantly enamelled with fruit represents a particularly ambitious and unusual combination of the doucai and fencai schemes, which brings out the ripe fruit. The present example is superior in all aspects, from the quality of the painting, richness of the cobalt, clarity of the glaze to its pristine condition.

Hotung: The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung

The late Sir Joseph Hotung (1930-2021) was respected and revered in the art world for his jade collection and for his philanthropy. What is much less known is his discriminating eye for the quality and design, and the personal collection formed at his house in London as a backdrop to his life – seen only by a privileged few. The series of dedicated sales begin in Hong Kong with a focus on the Chinese masterpieces in his collection and are divided into Evening and Day sales. The works on offer, ranging from Neolithic jades and bronzes from Shang – Han dynasties to Ming dynasty furniture and modern Chinese paintings, each represent the most sought-after of their period and type. Highlights include a unique and highly important moulded blue and white barbed ‘fish’ charger from the Yuan dynasty and an important and outstanding bronze male chimera, bixie, from the Han dynasty, the latter endowed with a prestigious provenance and illustration history tracing back to as early as the 1920s in Paris.

A UNIQUE AND HIGHLY IMPORTANT MOULDED BLUE AND WHITE BARBED ‘FISH’ CHARGER,
YUAN DYNASTY
47.8 CM
EST: HK$ 30,000,000 – 50,000,000 / US$ 3,822,000 – 6,370,000

This dish is unique and was done with an attention to detail that is exceptional even among this rare group of relief-moulded dishes of the Yuan dynasty. Not only is its relief decoration extraordinarily crisp and detailed, but the popular fish design is here also rendered in a highly individual manner that knows few close comparisons. It is a masterpiece that combines the best and rarest Yuan blue-and-white styles.

AN IMPORTANT AND OUTSTANDING BRONZE MALE CHIMERA, BIXIE,
HAN DYNASTY
L. 27 CM, H. 18 CM
EST: HK$ 6,000,000 – 8,000,000 / US$ 764,500 – 1,019,000

This Han dynasty bronze chimera, powerfully rendered with vitality and strength, is a tour de force of Chinese bronzes at their peak. In addition to the prestigious Stoclet provenance, the sculpture’s publication and exhibition history can be traced back to as early as the first half of the 20th century, setting it apart from other archaic bronzes in private hands and even the most important museum examples.

Important Chinese Art including Jades from the Victor Shaw Collection

The Important Chinese Art auction presents a tightly curated sale including masterworks spanning five millennia, from the Neolithic period through to the Qing dynasty. Highlights include an extremely rare Qianlong period chenxiang mirror ‘raree’ cabinet and a Shang dynasty marble frog.

The ‘raree’ box, possibly commissioned in the 17th year (1752), is set with a mirror flanked by two circular holes through which the Qianlong Emperor would have peeped through to view painted pictures, one of which being his most poignant and enigmatically titled double-portrait, ‘One or Two?’ The powerfully carved box cabinet not only showcases the influence of Western mechanism in 18th century court in China, but is possibly the only example known to be employed by the Qianlong Emperor to ponder on the nuances between the literal reflection of the self and self-identity.

AN IMPORTANT AND SUPERBLY CARVED IMPERIAL CHENXIANGMU MIRROR ‘RAREE’ CABINET,
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD,
POSSIBLY COMMISSIONED IN THE 17TH YEAR (1752)
75.5 BY 16 BY H. 66 CM
EST: HK$ 5,000,000 – 8,000,000 / US$ 637,000 – 1,019,000

The Shang dynasty marble frog belongs to a very rare group of marble carvings marking the dawn of Chinese sculpture. Ever so skilfully and minimalistically carved, the sculpture has truly stood the test of time in its timeless aesthetic. Also from the same important Japanese collection as the marble frog is a group of archaic artworks, including a splendidly decorated gold and silver inlaid sword-hilt, also not seen on the market for over 30 years.

AN OUTSTANDING CARVED MARBLE RECUMBENT FROG,
SHANG DYNASTY
25.3 BY 15.4 BY H. 12.5 CM
EST: HK$ 3,000,000 – 4,000,000 / US$ 382,000 – 509,600
AN EXCEPTIONAL AND RARE GOLD AND SILVER-INLAID BRONZE SWORD HILT,
LATE EASTERN ZHOU – EARLY WESTERN HAN DYNASTY
17.5 CM
EST: HK$ 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 / US$ 191,000 – 255,000

The sale also includes a carefully selected group of Ming – Qing jades from the collection of Victor Shaw (1935-2020), who was renowned not only for his discerning eye but also his philanthropic pursuits.

A RARE WHITE JADE ‘GARDEN AND LADY’ OPENWORK BOULDER,
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD
H. 10.8 CM
EST: HK$ 700,000 – 900,000 / US$ 89,000 – 115,000
A WHITE JADE ARCHAISTIC ‘DUCK AND LOTUS’ GROUP,
QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY
13.8 CM
EST: HK$ 500,000 – 600,000 / US$ 63,700 – 76,500FOTOGRAPHY & TEXT “Courtesy Sotheby’s”.

 

/by
, , , , , ,

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Presents the Most Significant Chinese Works of Art Sale Series to Take Place in the Last Decade

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Presents the Most Significant Chinese Works of Art Sale Series to Take Place in the Last Decade

Hong Kong
Convergence of the Finest Private Collections from the World’s Greatest Chinese Art Collectors
Dr Wou Kiuan, Mr Joseph Lau & Sir Joseph Hotung, and more

(Left to Right)

The Private Collection of Joseph Lau
A Fine Blue and White ‘Lotus Scroll’ Vase, Meiping, Ming Dynasty, Yongle Period
Est: HK$ 25 – 35 million / US$ 3.2 – 4.5 million

The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection
A Magnificent Ruby-Ground Yangcai ‘Trigrams’ Reticulated Vase,
Seal Mark and Period of Qianlong
Est: HK$ 60 – 120 million / US$ 7.6 – 15.3 million

The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung
A Unique and Highly Important Moulded Blue and White Barbed ‘Fish’ Charger, Yuan Dynasty
Est: HK$ 30 – 50 million / US$ 3.8 – 6.4 million

Auction: 8 – 9 October 2022

This October, Sotheby’s Hong Kong presents the most significant Chinese Works of Art sale series with the convergence of the finest private collections from the world’s greatest Chinese art collectors including Dr Wou Kiuan, Mr Joseph Lau and Sir Joseph Hotung. The star lot of this season is a Magnificent Ruby-Ground yangcai ‘Trigrams’ Reticulated Vase from the Qianlong period (Est: HK$ 60 – 120 million / US$ 7.6 – 15.3 million) from the Dr Wou Kiuan Collection Part II, a carefully curated sale presenting six masterpieces from the 18th century. The collection of Joseph Lau, comprising 11 imperial gems, occupies pride of place among the very finest ever assembled in the field. At the heart of Sir Joseph Hotung’s personal collection is an array of masterpieces which charts many of the peaks in China’s long history, from the Neolithic Period to the Qing dynasty. Adding to this season’s strong line-up of renowned private collections are a selection of Ming and Qing jades from the collection of Victor Shaw and a group of archaic artworks from an important Japanese collection.

This Autumn sale series marks a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts of Chinese art. Very rarely will you see such a superlative line-up from the world’s most celebrated Chinese art collections. We will be offering fresh to market masterpieces in almost each and every field of Chinese art and this is possibly the most anticipated sale series Sotheby’s has ever hosted.

NICOLAS CHOW, CHAIRMAN, ASIA AND CHAIRMAN, CHINESE WORKS OF ART

These illustrious private collections not only showcase the impeccable taste, vision and passion of this century’s most influential Chinese art collectors, but also offer a window to the extraordinary depth and breadth of Chinese art forms.

XIBO WANG, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART

A Journey Through China’s History: The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection Part II

Following on from the success of Part I in New York in March and the record-breaking first Hong Kong chapter in April, the carefully curated sale presents six masterpieces from the 18th century showcasing the unparalleled technical mastery in the imperial kilns in Jingdezhen, including a group of enamelled porcelains formerly from the Fonthill heirlooms which have not surfaced the market in around half a century. Highlights include a Qianlong magnificent and possibly unique ruby-ground yangcai ‘trigrams’ reticulated vase, corroborated by the court archives to have been made either in 1743 or immediately thereafter. The vase is a tangible testament to the unprecedented and unparalleled culmination of technical virtuosity in porcelain production between 1741 and 1743, fuelled by an imperial reprimand from the Qianlong Emperor. (Catalogue essay available upon request)

A MAGNIFICENT RUBY-GROUND YANGCAI ‘TRIGRAMS’ RETICULATED VASE,
SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
H. 31 CM
EST: HK$ 60,000,000 – 120,000,000 / US$ 7,644,000 – 15,287,000

Another highlight also endowed with the Fonthill provenance is a magnificent pair of yangcai ‘butterfly’ vases superbly enamelled on a bright pink ground in a manner imbued with Western influences and fired to perfection.

A MAGNIFICENT PAIR OF YANGCAI ‘BUTTERFLY’ VASES,
SEAL MARKS AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
H. 47 CM
EST: HK$ 40,000,000 – 60,000,000 / US$ 5,096,000 – 7,644,000

Gems of Imperial Porcelain from the Private Collection of Joseph Lau Part II

The name Joseph Lau resonates with collectors around the globe and it is one that stands for excellence. Chinese art stands at the genesis of Joseph Lau’s adventure with art and it is on Chinese art that he cut his exacting eye before expanding his horizons. Lau assembled one of the finest collections of Chinese porcelain ever, articulated around masterpieces, each representative of the best of a certain period and type, and handpicked from the most prestigious collections.

This season’s offerings include a very fine blue and white porcelain dating from the Yongle period in the early 15th century, the pinnacle of underglaze-blue decorated wares and a period much celebrated for imperial patronage in the arts.

A FINE BLUE AND WHITE ‘LOTUS SCROLL’ VASE, MEIPING,
MING DYNASTY, YONGLE PERIOD
31.4 CM
EST: HK$ 25,000,000 – 35,000,000 / US$ 3,185,000 – 4,459,000

This meiping decorated with a lotus scroll is remarkably elegant in its potting and represents the epitome of that classic shape. Similar examples are known in the palace museums in Beijing and Taipei as well as in the Middle Eastern Royal collections of the Ottoman sultans which attest to their universal appeal and high status.

A FINE AND OUTSTANDING DOUCAI AND FAMILLE-ROSE ‘SANDUO’ MOONFLASK,
SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
31.3 CM
EST: HK$ 20,000,000 – 30,000,000 / US$ 2,548,000 – 3,822,000

This magnificent circular flask brilliantly enamelled with fruit represents a particularly ambitious and unusual combination of the doucai and fencai schemes, which brings out the ripe fruit. The present example is superior in all aspects, from the quality of the painting, richness of the cobalt, clarity of the glaze to its pristine condition.

Hotung: The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung

The late Sir Joseph Hotung (1930-2021) was respected and revered in the art world for his jade collection and for his philanthropy. What is much less known is his discriminating eye for the quality and design, and the personal collection formed at his house in London as a backdrop to his life – seen only by a privileged few. The series of dedicated sales begin in Hong Kong with a focus on the Chinese masterpieces in his collection and are divided into Evening and Day sales. The works on offer, ranging from Neolithic jades and bronzes from Shang – Han dynasties to Ming dynasty furniture and modern Chinese paintings, each represent the most sought-after of their period and type. Highlights include a unique and highly important moulded blue and white barbed ‘fish’ charger from the Yuan dynasty and an important and outstanding bronze male chimera, bixie, from the Han dynasty, the latter endowed with a prestigious provenance and illustration history tracing back to as early as the 1920s in Paris.

A UNIQUE AND HIGHLY IMPORTANT MOULDED BLUE AND WHITE BARBED ‘FISH’ CHARGER,
YUAN DYNASTY
47.8 CM
EST: HK$ 30,000,000 – 50,000,000 / US$ 3,822,000 – 6,370,000

This dish is unique and was done with an attention to detail that is exceptional even among this rare group of relief-moulded dishes of the Yuan dynasty. Not only is its relief decoration extraordinarily crisp and detailed, but the popular fish design is here also rendered in a highly individual manner that knows few close comparisons. It is a masterpiece that combines the best and rarest Yuan blue-and-white styles.

AN IMPORTANT AND OUTSTANDING BRONZE MALE CHIMERA, BIXIE,
HAN DYNASTY
L. 27 CM, H. 18 CM
EST: HK$ 6,000,000 – 8,000,000 / US$ 764,500 – 1,019,000

This Han dynasty bronze chimera, powerfully rendered with vitality and strength, is a tour de force of Chinese bronzes at their peak. In addition to the prestigious Stoclet provenance, the sculpture’s publication and exhibition history can be traced back to as early as the first half of the 20th century, setting it apart from other archaic bronzes in private hands and even the most important museum examples.

Important Chinese Art including Jades from the Victor Shaw Collection

The Important Chinese Art auction presents a tightly curated sale including masterworks spanning five millennia, from the Neolithic period through to the Qing dynasty. Highlights include an extremely rare Qianlong period chenxiang mirror ‘raree’ cabinet and a Shang dynasty marble frog.

The ‘raree’ box, possibly commissioned in the 17th year (1752), is set with a mirror flanked by two circular holes through which the Qianlong Emperor would have peeped through to view painted pictures, one of which being his most poignant and enigmatically titled double-portrait, ‘One or Two?’ The powerfully carved box cabinet not only showcases the influence of Western mechanism in 18th century court in China, but is possibly the only example known to be employed by the Qianlong Emperor to ponder on the nuances between the literal reflection of the self and self-identity.

AN IMPORTANT AND SUPERBLY CARVED IMPERIAL CHENXIANGMU MIRROR ‘RAREE’ CABINET,
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD,
POSSIBLY COMMISSIONED IN THE 17TH YEAR (1752)
75.5 BY 16 BY H. 66 CM
EST: HK$ 5,000,000 – 8,000,000 / US$ 637,000 – 1,019,000

The Shang dynasty marble frog belongs to a very rare group of marble carvings marking the dawn of Chinese sculpture. Ever so skilfully and minimalistically carved, the sculpture has truly stood the test of time in its timeless aesthetic. Also from the same important Japanese collection as the marble frog is a group of archaic artworks, including a splendidly decorated gold and silver inlaid sword-hilt, also not seen on the market for over 30 years.

AN OUTSTANDING CARVED MARBLE RECUMBENT FROG,
SHANG DYNASTY
25.3 BY 15.4 BY H. 12.5 CM
EST: HK$ 3,000,000 – 4,000,000 / US$ 382,000 – 509,600
AN EXCEPTIONAL AND RARE GOLD AND SILVER-INLAID BRONZE SWORD HILT,
LATE EASTERN ZHOU – EARLY WESTERN HAN DYNASTY
17.5 CM
EST: HK$ 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 / US$ 191,000 – 255,000

The sale also includes a carefully selected group of Ming – Qing jades from the collection of Victor Shaw (1935-2020), who was renowned not only for his discerning eye but also his philanthropic pursuits.

A RARE WHITE JADE ‘GARDEN AND LADY’ OPENWORK BOULDER,
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD
H. 10.8 CM
EST: HK$ 700,000 – 900,000 / US$ 89,000 – 115,000
A WHITE JADE ARCHAISTIC ‘DUCK AND LOTUS’ GROUP,
QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY
13.8 CM
EST: HK$ 500,000 – 600,000 / US$ 63,700 – 76,500FOTOGRAPHY & TEXT “Courtesy Sotheby’s”.

 

/by
, , , , , , ,

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Presents the Most Significant Chinese Works of Art Sale Series to Take Place in the Last Decade

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Presents the Most Significant Chinese Works of Art Sale Series to Take Place in the Last Decade

Hong Kong
Convergence of the Finest Private Collections from the World’s Greatest Chinese Art Collectors
Dr Wou Kiuan, Mr Joseph Lau & Sir Joseph Hotung, and more

(Left to Right)

The Private Collection of Joseph Lau
A Fine Blue and White ‘Lotus Scroll’ Vase, Meiping, Ming Dynasty, Yongle Period
Est: HK$ 25 – 35 million / US$ 3.2 – 4.5 million

The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection
A Magnificent Ruby-Ground Yangcai ‘Trigrams’ Reticulated Vase,
Seal Mark and Period of Qianlong
Est: HK$ 60 – 120 million / US$ 7.6 – 15.3 million

The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung
A Unique and Highly Important Moulded Blue and White Barbed ‘Fish’ Charger, Yuan Dynasty
Est: HK$ 30 – 50 million / US$ 3.8 – 6.4 million

Auction: 8 – 9 October 2022

This October, Sotheby’s Hong Kong presents the most significant Chinese Works of Art sale series with the convergence of the finest private collections from the world’s greatest Chinese art collectors including Dr Wou Kiuan, Mr Joseph Lau and Sir Joseph Hotung. The star lot of this season is a Magnificent Ruby-Ground yangcai ‘Trigrams’ Reticulated Vase from the Qianlong period (Est: HK$ 60 – 120 million / US$ 7.6 – 15.3 million) from the Dr Wou Kiuan Collection Part II, a carefully curated sale presenting six masterpieces from the 18th century. The collection of Joseph Lau, comprising 11 imperial gems, occupies pride of place among the very finest ever assembled in the field. At the heart of Sir Joseph Hotung’s personal collection is an array of masterpieces which charts many of the peaks in China’s long history, from the Neolithic Period to the Qing dynasty. Adding to this season’s strong line-up of renowned private collections are a selection of Ming and Qing jades from the collection of Victor Shaw and a group of archaic artworks from an important Japanese collection.

This Autumn sale series marks a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts of Chinese art. Very rarely will you see such a superlative line-up from the world’s most celebrated Chinese art collections. We will be offering fresh to market masterpieces in almost each and every field of Chinese art and this is possibly the most anticipated sale series Sotheby’s has ever hosted.

NICOLAS CHOW, CHAIRMAN, ASIA AND CHAIRMAN, CHINESE WORKS OF ART

These illustrious private collections not only showcase the impeccable taste, vision and passion of this century’s most influential Chinese art collectors, but also offer a window to the extraordinary depth and breadth of Chinese art forms.

XIBO WANG, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART

A Journey Through China’s History: The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection Part II

Following on from the success of Part I in New York in March and the record-breaking first Hong Kong chapter in April, the carefully curated sale presents six masterpieces from the 18th century showcasing the unparalleled technical mastery in the imperial kilns in Jingdezhen, including a group of enamelled porcelains formerly from the Fonthill heirlooms which have not surfaced the market in around half a century. Highlights include a Qianlong magnificent and possibly unique ruby-ground yangcai ‘trigrams’ reticulated vase, corroborated by the court archives to have been made either in 1743 or immediately thereafter. The vase is a tangible testament to the unprecedented and unparalleled culmination of technical virtuosity in porcelain production between 1741 and 1743, fuelled by an imperial reprimand from the Qianlong Emperor. (Catalogue essay available upon request)

A MAGNIFICENT RUBY-GROUND YANGCAI ‘TRIGRAMS’ RETICULATED VASE,
SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
H. 31 CM
EST: HK$ 60,000,000 – 120,000,000 / US$ 7,644,000 – 15,287,000

Another highlight also endowed with the Fonthill provenance is a magnificent pair of yangcai ‘butterfly’ vases superbly enamelled on a bright pink ground in a manner imbued with Western influences and fired to perfection.

A MAGNIFICENT PAIR OF YANGCAI ‘BUTTERFLY’ VASES,
SEAL MARKS AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
H. 47 CM
EST: HK$ 40,000,000 – 60,000,000 / US$ 5,096,000 – 7,644,000

Gems of Imperial Porcelain from the Private Collection of Joseph Lau Part II

The name Joseph Lau resonates with collectors around the globe and it is one that stands for excellence. Chinese art stands at the genesis of Joseph Lau’s adventure with art and it is on Chinese art that he cut his exacting eye before expanding his horizons. Lau assembled one of the finest collections of Chinese porcelain ever, articulated around masterpieces, each representative of the best of a certain period and type, and handpicked from the most prestigious collections.

This season’s offerings include a very fine blue and white porcelain dating from the Yongle period in the early 15th century, the pinnacle of underglaze-blue decorated wares and a period much celebrated for imperial patronage in the arts.

A FINE BLUE AND WHITE ‘LOTUS SCROLL’ VASE, MEIPING,
MING DYNASTY, YONGLE PERIOD
31.4 CM
EST: HK$ 25,000,000 – 35,000,000 / US$ 3,185,000 – 4,459,000

This meiping decorated with a lotus scroll is remarkably elegant in its potting and represents the epitome of that classic shape. Similar examples are known in the palace museums in Beijing and Taipei as well as in the Middle Eastern Royal collections of the Ottoman sultans which attest to their universal appeal and high status.

A FINE AND OUTSTANDING DOUCAI AND FAMILLE-ROSE ‘SANDUO’ MOONFLASK,
SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
31.3 CM
EST: HK$ 20,000,000 – 30,000,000 / US$ 2,548,000 – 3,822,000

This magnificent circular flask brilliantly enamelled with fruit represents a particularly ambitious and unusual combination of the doucai and fencai schemes, which brings out the ripe fruit. The present example is superior in all aspects, from the quality of the painting, richness of the cobalt, clarity of the glaze to its pristine condition.

Hotung: The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung

The late Sir Joseph Hotung (1930-2021) was respected and revered in the art world for his jade collection and for his philanthropy. What is much less known is his discriminating eye for the quality and design, and the personal collection formed at his house in London as a backdrop to his life – seen only by a privileged few. The series of dedicated sales begin in Hong Kong with a focus on the Chinese masterpieces in his collection and are divided into Evening and Day sales. The works on offer, ranging from Neolithic jades and bronzes from Shang – Han dynasties to Ming dynasty furniture and modern Chinese paintings, each represent the most sought-after of their period and type. Highlights include a unique and highly important moulded blue and white barbed ‘fish’ charger from the Yuan dynasty and an important and outstanding bronze male chimera, bixie, from the Han dynasty, the latter endowed with a prestigious provenance and illustration history tracing back to as early as the 1920s in Paris.

A UNIQUE AND HIGHLY IMPORTANT MOULDED BLUE AND WHITE BARBED ‘FISH’ CHARGER,
YUAN DYNASTY
47.8 CM
EST: HK$ 30,000,000 – 50,000,000 / US$ 3,822,000 – 6,370,000

This dish is unique and was done with an attention to detail that is exceptional even among this rare group of relief-moulded dishes of the Yuan dynasty. Not only is its relief decoration extraordinarily crisp and detailed, but the popular fish design is here also rendered in a highly individual manner that knows few close comparisons. It is a masterpiece that combines the best and rarest Yuan blue-and-white styles.

AN IMPORTANT AND OUTSTANDING BRONZE MALE CHIMERA, BIXIE,
HAN DYNASTY
L. 27 CM, H. 18 CM
EST: HK$ 6,000,000 – 8,000,000 / US$ 764,500 – 1,019,000

This Han dynasty bronze chimera, powerfully rendered with vitality and strength, is a tour de force of Chinese bronzes at their peak. In addition to the prestigious Stoclet provenance, the sculpture’s publication and exhibition history can be traced back to as early as the first half of the 20th century, setting it apart from other archaic bronzes in private hands and even the most important museum examples.

Important Chinese Art including Jades from the Victor Shaw Collection

The Important Chinese Art auction presents a tightly curated sale including masterworks spanning five millennia, from the Neolithic period through to the Qing dynasty. Highlights include an extremely rare Qianlong period chenxiang mirror ‘raree’ cabinet and a Shang dynasty marble frog.

The ‘raree’ box, possibly commissioned in the 17th year (1752), is set with a mirror flanked by two circular holes through which the Qianlong Emperor would have peeped through to view painted pictures, one of which being his most poignant and enigmatically titled double-portrait, ‘One or Two?’ The powerfully carved box cabinet not only showcases the influence of Western mechanism in 18th century court in China, but is possibly the only example known to be employed by the Qianlong Emperor to ponder on the nuances between the literal reflection of the self and self-identity.

AN IMPORTANT AND SUPERBLY CARVED IMPERIAL CHENXIANGMU MIRROR ‘RAREE’ CABINET,
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD,
POSSIBLY COMMISSIONED IN THE 17TH YEAR (1752)
75.5 BY 16 BY H. 66 CM
EST: HK$ 5,000,000 – 8,000,000 / US$ 637,000 – 1,019,000

The Shang dynasty marble frog belongs to a very rare group of marble carvings marking the dawn of Chinese sculpture. Ever so skilfully and minimalistically carved, the sculpture has truly stood the test of time in its timeless aesthetic. Also from the same important Japanese collection as the marble frog is a group of archaic artworks, including a splendidly decorated gold and silver inlaid sword-hilt, also not seen on the market for over 30 years.

AN OUTSTANDING CARVED MARBLE RECUMBENT FROG,
SHANG DYNASTY
25.3 BY 15.4 BY H. 12.5 CM
EST: HK$ 3,000,000 – 4,000,000 / US$ 382,000 – 509,600
AN EXCEPTIONAL AND RARE GOLD AND SILVER-INLAID BRONZE SWORD HILT,
LATE EASTERN ZHOU – EARLY WESTERN HAN DYNASTY
17.5 CM
EST: HK$ 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 / US$ 191,000 – 255,000

The sale also includes a carefully selected group of Ming – Qing jades from the collection of Victor Shaw (1935-2020), who was renowned not only for his discerning eye but also his philanthropic pursuits.

A RARE WHITE JADE ‘GARDEN AND LADY’ OPENWORK BOULDER,
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD
H. 10.8 CM
EST: HK$ 700,000 – 900,000 / US$ 89,000 – 115,000
A WHITE JADE ARCHAISTIC ‘DUCK AND LOTUS’ GROUP,
QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY
13.8 CM
EST: HK$ 500,000 – 600,000 / US$ 63,700 – 76,500FOTOGRAPHY & TEXT “Courtesy Sotheby’s”.

 

/by
, , , , , , ,

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Presents the Most Significant Chinese Works of Art Sale Series to Take Place in the Last Decade

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Presents the Most Significant Chinese Works of Art Sale Series to Take Place in the Last Decade

Hong Kong
Convergence of the Finest Private Collections from the World’s Greatest Chinese Art Collectors
Dr Wou Kiuan, Mr Joseph Lau & Sir Joseph Hotung, and more

(Left to Right)

The Private Collection of Joseph Lau
A Fine Blue and White ‘Lotus Scroll’ Vase, Meiping, Ming Dynasty, Yongle Period
Est: HK$ 25 – 35 million / US$ 3.2 – 4.5 million

The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection
A Magnificent Ruby-Ground Yangcai ‘Trigrams’ Reticulated Vase,
Seal Mark and Period of Qianlong
Est: HK$ 60 – 120 million / US$ 7.6 – 15.3 million

The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung
A Unique and Highly Important Moulded Blue and White Barbed ‘Fish’ Charger, Yuan Dynasty
Est: HK$ 30 – 50 million / US$ 3.8 – 6.4 million

Auction: 8 – 9 October 2022

This October, Sotheby’s Hong Kong presents the most significant Chinese Works of Art sale series with the convergence of the finest private collections from the world’s greatest Chinese art collectors including Dr Wou Kiuan, Mr Joseph Lau and Sir Joseph Hotung. The star lot of this season is a Magnificent Ruby-Ground yangcai ‘Trigrams’ Reticulated Vase from the Qianlong period (Est: HK$ 60 – 120 million / US$ 7.6 – 15.3 million) from the Dr Wou Kiuan Collection Part II, a carefully curated sale presenting six masterpieces from the 18th century. The collection of Joseph Lau, comprising 11 imperial gems, occupies pride of place among the very finest ever assembled in the field. At the heart of Sir Joseph Hotung’s personal collection is an array of masterpieces which charts many of the peaks in China’s long history, from the Neolithic Period to the Qing dynasty. Adding to this season’s strong line-up of renowned private collections are a selection of Ming and Qing jades from the collection of Victor Shaw and a group of archaic artworks from an important Japanese collection.

This Autumn sale series marks a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts of Chinese art. Very rarely will you see such a superlative line-up from the world’s most celebrated Chinese art collections. We will be offering fresh to market masterpieces in almost each and every field of Chinese art and this is possibly the most anticipated sale series Sotheby’s has ever hosted.

NICOLAS CHOW, CHAIRMAN, ASIA AND CHAIRMAN, CHINESE WORKS OF ART

These illustrious private collections not only showcase the impeccable taste, vision and passion of this century’s most influential Chinese art collectors, but also offer a window to the extraordinary depth and breadth of Chinese art forms.

XIBO WANG, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART

A Journey Through China’s History: The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection Part II

Following on from the success of Part I in New York in March and the record-breaking first Hong Kong chapter in April, the carefully curated sale presents six masterpieces from the 18th century showcasing the unparalleled technical mastery in the imperial kilns in Jingdezhen, including a group of enamelled porcelains formerly from the Fonthill heirlooms which have not surfaced the market in around half a century. Highlights include a Qianlong magnificent and possibly unique ruby-ground yangcai ‘trigrams’ reticulated vase, corroborated by the court archives to have been made either in 1743 or immediately thereafter. The vase is a tangible testament to the unprecedented and unparalleled culmination of technical virtuosity in porcelain production between 1741 and 1743, fuelled by an imperial reprimand from the Qianlong Emperor. (Catalogue essay available upon request)

A MAGNIFICENT RUBY-GROUND YANGCAI ‘TRIGRAMS’ RETICULATED VASE,
SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
H. 31 CM
EST: HK$ 60,000,000 – 120,000,000 / US$ 7,644,000 – 15,287,000

Another highlight also endowed with the Fonthill provenance is a magnificent pair of yangcai ‘butterfly’ vases superbly enamelled on a bright pink ground in a manner imbued with Western influences and fired to perfection.

A MAGNIFICENT PAIR OF YANGCAI ‘BUTTERFLY’ VASES,
SEAL MARKS AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
H. 47 CM
EST: HK$ 40,000,000 – 60,000,000 / US$ 5,096,000 – 7,644,000

Gems of Imperial Porcelain from the Private Collection of Joseph Lau Part II

The name Joseph Lau resonates with collectors around the globe and it is one that stands for excellence. Chinese art stands at the genesis of Joseph Lau’s adventure with art and it is on Chinese art that he cut his exacting eye before expanding his horizons. Lau assembled one of the finest collections of Chinese porcelain ever, articulated around masterpieces, each representative of the best of a certain period and type, and handpicked from the most prestigious collections.

This season’s offerings include a very fine blue and white porcelain dating from the Yongle period in the early 15th century, the pinnacle of underglaze-blue decorated wares and a period much celebrated for imperial patronage in the arts.

A FINE BLUE AND WHITE ‘LOTUS SCROLL’ VASE, MEIPING,
MING DYNASTY, YONGLE PERIOD
31.4 CM
EST: HK$ 25,000,000 – 35,000,000 / US$ 3,185,000 – 4,459,000

This meiping decorated with a lotus scroll is remarkably elegant in its potting and represents the epitome of that classic shape. Similar examples are known in the palace museums in Beijing and Taipei as well as in the Middle Eastern Royal collections of the Ottoman sultans which attest to their universal appeal and high status.

A FINE AND OUTSTANDING DOUCAI AND FAMILLE-ROSE ‘SANDUO’ MOONFLASK,
SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
31.3 CM
EST: HK$ 20,000,000 – 30,000,000 / US$ 2,548,000 – 3,822,000

This magnificent circular flask brilliantly enamelled with fruit represents a particularly ambitious and unusual combination of the doucai and fencai schemes, which brings out the ripe fruit. The present example is superior in all aspects, from the quality of the painting, richness of the cobalt, clarity of the glaze to its pristine condition.

Hotung: The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung

The late Sir Joseph Hotung (1930-2021) was respected and revered in the art world for his jade collection and for his philanthropy. What is much less known is his discriminating eye for the quality and design, and the personal collection formed at his house in London as a backdrop to his life – seen only by a privileged few. The series of dedicated sales begin in Hong Kong with a focus on the Chinese masterpieces in his collection and are divided into Evening and Day sales. The works on offer, ranging from Neolithic jades and bronzes from Shang – Han dynasties to Ming dynasty furniture and modern Chinese paintings, each represent the most sought-after of their period and type. Highlights include a unique and highly important moulded blue and white barbed ‘fish’ charger from the Yuan dynasty and an important and outstanding bronze male chimera, bixie, from the Han dynasty, the latter endowed with a prestigious provenance and illustration history tracing back to as early as the 1920s in Paris.

A UNIQUE AND HIGHLY IMPORTANT MOULDED BLUE AND WHITE BARBED ‘FISH’ CHARGER,
YUAN DYNASTY
47.8 CM
EST: HK$ 30,000,000 – 50,000,000 / US$ 3,822,000 – 6,370,000

This dish is unique and was done with an attention to detail that is exceptional even among this rare group of relief-moulded dishes of the Yuan dynasty. Not only is its relief decoration extraordinarily crisp and detailed, but the popular fish design is here also rendered in a highly individual manner that knows few close comparisons. It is a masterpiece that combines the best and rarest Yuan blue-and-white styles.

AN IMPORTANT AND OUTSTANDING BRONZE MALE CHIMERA, BIXIE,
HAN DYNASTY
L. 27 CM, H. 18 CM
EST: HK$ 6,000,000 – 8,000,000 / US$ 764,500 – 1,019,000

This Han dynasty bronze chimera, powerfully rendered with vitality and strength, is a tour de force of Chinese bronzes at their peak. In addition to the prestigious Stoclet provenance, the sculpture’s publication and exhibition history can be traced back to as early as the first half of the 20th century, setting it apart from other archaic bronzes in private hands and even the most important museum examples.

Important Chinese Art including Jades from the Victor Shaw Collection

The Important Chinese Art auction presents a tightly curated sale including masterworks spanning five millennia, from the Neolithic period through to the Qing dynasty. Highlights include an extremely rare Qianlong period chenxiang mirror ‘raree’ cabinet and a Shang dynasty marble frog.

The ‘raree’ box, possibly commissioned in the 17th year (1752), is set with a mirror flanked by two circular holes through which the Qianlong Emperor would have peeped through to view painted pictures, one of which being his most poignant and enigmatically titled double-portrait, ‘One or Two?’ The powerfully carved box cabinet not only showcases the influence of Western mechanism in 18th century court in China, but is possibly the only example known to be employed by the Qianlong Emperor to ponder on the nuances between the literal reflection of the self and self-identity.

AN IMPORTANT AND SUPERBLY CARVED IMPERIAL CHENXIANGMU MIRROR ‘RAREE’ CABINET,
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD,
POSSIBLY COMMISSIONED IN THE 17TH YEAR (1752)
75.5 BY 16 BY H. 66 CM
EST: HK$ 5,000,000 – 8,000,000 / US$ 637,000 – 1,019,000

The Shang dynasty marble frog belongs to a very rare group of marble carvings marking the dawn of Chinese sculpture. Ever so skilfully and minimalistically carved, the sculpture has truly stood the test of time in its timeless aesthetic. Also from the same important Japanese collection as the marble frog is a group of archaic artworks, including a splendidly decorated gold and silver inlaid sword-hilt, also not seen on the market for over 30 years.

AN OUTSTANDING CARVED MARBLE RECUMBENT FROG,
SHANG DYNASTY
25.3 BY 15.4 BY H. 12.5 CM
EST: HK$ 3,000,000 – 4,000,000 / US$ 382,000 – 509,600
AN EXCEPTIONAL AND RARE GOLD AND SILVER-INLAID BRONZE SWORD HILT,
LATE EASTERN ZHOU – EARLY WESTERN HAN DYNASTY
17.5 CM
EST: HK$ 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 / US$ 191,000 – 255,000

The sale also includes a carefully selected group of Ming – Qing jades from the collection of Victor Shaw (1935-2020), who was renowned not only for his discerning eye but also his philanthropic pursuits.

A RARE WHITE JADE ‘GARDEN AND LADY’ OPENWORK BOULDER,
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD
H. 10.8 CM
EST: HK$ 700,000 – 900,000 / US$ 89,000 – 115,000
A WHITE JADE ARCHAISTIC ‘DUCK AND LOTUS’ GROUP,
QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY
13.8 CM
EST: HK$ 500,000 – 600,000 / US$ 63,700 – 76,500FOTOGRAPHY & TEXT “Courtesy Sotheby’s”.

 

/by
, , , , , ,

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Presents the Most Significant Chinese Works of Art Sale Series to Take Place in the Last Decade

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Presents the Most Significant Chinese Works of Art Sale Series to Take Place in the Last Decade

Hong Kong
Convergence of the Finest Private Collections from the World’s Greatest Chinese Art Collectors
Dr Wou Kiuan, Mr Joseph Lau & Sir Joseph Hotung, and more

(Left to Right)

The Private Collection of Joseph Lau
A Fine Blue and White ‘Lotus Scroll’ Vase, Meiping, Ming Dynasty, Yongle Period
Est: HK$ 25 – 35 million / US$ 3.2 – 4.5 million

The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection
A Magnificent Ruby-Ground Yangcai ‘Trigrams’ Reticulated Vase,
Seal Mark and Period of Qianlong
Est: HK$ 60 – 120 million / US$ 7.6 – 15.3 million

The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung
A Unique and Highly Important Moulded Blue and White Barbed ‘Fish’ Charger, Yuan Dynasty
Est: HK$ 30 – 50 million / US$ 3.8 – 6.4 million

Auction: 8 – 9 October 2022

This October, Sotheby’s Hong Kong presents the most significant Chinese Works of Art sale series with the convergence of the finest private collections from the world’s greatest Chinese art collectors including Dr Wou Kiuan, Mr Joseph Lau and Sir Joseph Hotung. The star lot of this season is a Magnificent Ruby-Ground yangcai ‘Trigrams’ Reticulated Vase from the Qianlong period (Est: HK$ 60 – 120 million / US$ 7.6 – 15.3 million) from the Dr Wou Kiuan Collection Part II, a carefully curated sale presenting six masterpieces from the 18th century. The collection of Joseph Lau, comprising 11 imperial gems, occupies pride of place among the very finest ever assembled in the field. At the heart of Sir Joseph Hotung’s personal collection is an array of masterpieces which charts many of the peaks in China’s long history, from the Neolithic Period to the Qing dynasty. Adding to this season’s strong line-up of renowned private collections are a selection of Ming and Qing jades from the collection of Victor Shaw and a group of archaic artworks from an important Japanese collection.

This Autumn sale series marks a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts of Chinese art. Very rarely will you see such a superlative line-up from the world’s most celebrated Chinese art collections. We will be offering fresh to market masterpieces in almost each and every field of Chinese art and this is possibly the most anticipated sale series Sotheby’s has ever hosted.

NICOLAS CHOW, CHAIRMAN, ASIA AND CHAIRMAN, CHINESE WORKS OF ART

These illustrious private collections not only showcase the impeccable taste, vision and passion of this century’s most influential Chinese art collectors, but also offer a window to the extraordinary depth and breadth of Chinese art forms.

XIBO WANG, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART

A Journey Through China’s History: The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection Part II

Following on from the success of Part I in New York in March and the record-breaking first Hong Kong chapter in April, the carefully curated sale presents six masterpieces from the 18th century showcasing the unparalleled technical mastery in the imperial kilns in Jingdezhen, including a group of enamelled porcelains formerly from the Fonthill heirlooms which have not surfaced the market in around half a century. Highlights include a Qianlong magnificent and possibly unique ruby-ground yangcai ‘trigrams’ reticulated vase, corroborated by the court archives to have been made either in 1743 or immediately thereafter. The vase is a tangible testament to the unprecedented and unparalleled culmination of technical virtuosity in porcelain production between 1741 and 1743, fuelled by an imperial reprimand from the Qianlong Emperor. (Catalogue essay available upon request)

A MAGNIFICENT RUBY-GROUND YANGCAI ‘TRIGRAMS’ RETICULATED VASE,
SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
H. 31 CM
EST: HK$ 60,000,000 – 120,000,000 / US$ 7,644,000 – 15,287,000

Another highlight also endowed with the Fonthill provenance is a magnificent pair of yangcai ‘butterfly’ vases superbly enamelled on a bright pink ground in a manner imbued with Western influences and fired to perfection.

A MAGNIFICENT PAIR OF YANGCAI ‘BUTTERFLY’ VASES,
SEAL MARKS AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
H. 47 CM
EST: HK$ 40,000,000 – 60,000,000 / US$ 5,096,000 – 7,644,000

Gems of Imperial Porcelain from the Private Collection of Joseph Lau Part II

The name Joseph Lau resonates with collectors around the globe and it is one that stands for excellence. Chinese art stands at the genesis of Joseph Lau’s adventure with art and it is on Chinese art that he cut his exacting eye before expanding his horizons. Lau assembled one of the finest collections of Chinese porcelain ever, articulated around masterpieces, each representative of the best of a certain period and type, and handpicked from the most prestigious collections.

This season’s offerings include a very fine blue and white porcelain dating from the Yongle period in the early 15th century, the pinnacle of underglaze-blue decorated wares and a period much celebrated for imperial patronage in the arts.

A FINE BLUE AND WHITE ‘LOTUS SCROLL’ VASE, MEIPING,
MING DYNASTY, YONGLE PERIOD
31.4 CM
EST: HK$ 25,000,000 – 35,000,000 / US$ 3,185,000 – 4,459,000

This meiping decorated with a lotus scroll is remarkably elegant in its potting and represents the epitome of that classic shape. Similar examples are known in the palace museums in Beijing and Taipei as well as in the Middle Eastern Royal collections of the Ottoman sultans which attest to their universal appeal and high status.

A FINE AND OUTSTANDING DOUCAI AND FAMILLE-ROSE ‘SANDUO’ MOONFLASK,
SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
31.3 CM
EST: HK$ 20,000,000 – 30,000,000 / US$ 2,548,000 – 3,822,000

This magnificent circular flask brilliantly enamelled with fruit represents a particularly ambitious and unusual combination of the doucai and fencai schemes, which brings out the ripe fruit. The present example is superior in all aspects, from the quality of the painting, richness of the cobalt, clarity of the glaze to its pristine condition.

Hotung: The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung

The late Sir Joseph Hotung (1930-2021) was respected and revered in the art world for his jade collection and for his philanthropy. What is much less known is his discriminating eye for the quality and design, and the personal collection formed at his house in London as a backdrop to his life – seen only by a privileged few. The series of dedicated sales begin in Hong Kong with a focus on the Chinese masterpieces in his collection and are divided into Evening and Day sales. The works on offer, ranging from Neolithic jades and bronzes from Shang – Han dynasties to Ming dynasty furniture and modern Chinese paintings, each represent the most sought-after of their period and type. Highlights include a unique and highly important moulded blue and white barbed ‘fish’ charger from the Yuan dynasty and an important and outstanding bronze male chimera, bixie, from the Han dynasty, the latter endowed with a prestigious provenance and illustration history tracing back to as early as the 1920s in Paris.

A UNIQUE AND HIGHLY IMPORTANT MOULDED BLUE AND WHITE BARBED ‘FISH’ CHARGER,
YUAN DYNASTY
47.8 CM
EST: HK$ 30,000,000 – 50,000,000 / US$ 3,822,000 – 6,370,000

This dish is unique and was done with an attention to detail that is exceptional even among this rare group of relief-moulded dishes of the Yuan dynasty. Not only is its relief decoration extraordinarily crisp and detailed, but the popular fish design is here also rendered in a highly individual manner that knows few close comparisons. It is a masterpiece that combines the best and rarest Yuan blue-and-white styles.

AN IMPORTANT AND OUTSTANDING BRONZE MALE CHIMERA, BIXIE,
HAN DYNASTY
L. 27 CM, H. 18 CM
EST: HK$ 6,000,000 – 8,000,000 / US$ 764,500 – 1,019,000

This Han dynasty bronze chimera, powerfully rendered with vitality and strength, is a tour de force of Chinese bronzes at their peak. In addition to the prestigious Stoclet provenance, the sculpture’s publication and exhibition history can be traced back to as early as the first half of the 20th century, setting it apart from other archaic bronzes in private hands and even the most important museum examples.

Important Chinese Art including Jades from the Victor Shaw Collection

The Important Chinese Art auction presents a tightly curated sale including masterworks spanning five millennia, from the Neolithic period through to the Qing dynasty. Highlights include an extremely rare Qianlong period chenxiang mirror ‘raree’ cabinet and a Shang dynasty marble frog.

The ‘raree’ box, possibly commissioned in the 17th year (1752), is set with a mirror flanked by two circular holes through which the Qianlong Emperor would have peeped through to view painted pictures, one of which being his most poignant and enigmatically titled double-portrait, ‘One or Two?’ The powerfully carved box cabinet not only showcases the influence of Western mechanism in 18th century court in China, but is possibly the only example known to be employed by the Qianlong Emperor to ponder on the nuances between the literal reflection of the self and self-identity.

AN IMPORTANT AND SUPERBLY CARVED IMPERIAL CHENXIANGMU MIRROR ‘RAREE’ CABINET,
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD,
POSSIBLY COMMISSIONED IN THE 17TH YEAR (1752)
75.5 BY 16 BY H. 66 CM
EST: HK$ 5,000,000 – 8,000,000 / US$ 637,000 – 1,019,000

The Shang dynasty marble frog belongs to a very rare group of marble carvings marking the dawn of Chinese sculpture. Ever so skilfully and minimalistically carved, the sculpture has truly stood the test of time in its timeless aesthetic. Also from the same important Japanese collection as the marble frog is a group of archaic artworks, including a splendidly decorated gold and silver inlaid sword-hilt, also not seen on the market for over 30 years.

AN OUTSTANDING CARVED MARBLE RECUMBENT FROG,
SHANG DYNASTY
25.3 BY 15.4 BY H. 12.5 CM
EST: HK$ 3,000,000 – 4,000,000 / US$ 382,000 – 509,600
AN EXCEPTIONAL AND RARE GOLD AND SILVER-INLAID BRONZE SWORD HILT,
LATE EASTERN ZHOU – EARLY WESTERN HAN DYNASTY
17.5 CM
EST: HK$ 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 / US$ 191,000 – 255,000

The sale also includes a carefully selected group of Ming – Qing jades from the collection of Victor Shaw (1935-2020), who was renowned not only for his discerning eye but also his philanthropic pursuits.

A RARE WHITE JADE ‘GARDEN AND LADY’ OPENWORK BOULDER,
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD
H. 10.8 CM
EST: HK$ 700,000 – 900,000 / US$ 89,000 – 115,000
A WHITE JADE ARCHAISTIC ‘DUCK AND LOTUS’ GROUP,
QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY
13.8 CM
EST: HK$ 500,000 – 600,000 / US$ 63,700 – 76,500FOTOGRAPHY & TEXT “Courtesy Sotheby’s”.

 

/by
, , , , , ,

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Presents the Most Significant Chinese Works of Art Sale Series to Take Place in the Last Decade

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Presents the Most Significant Chinese Works of Art Sale Series to Take Place in the Last Decade

Hong Kong
Convergence of the Finest Private Collections from the World’s Greatest Chinese Art Collectors
Dr Wou Kiuan, Mr Joseph Lau & Sir Joseph Hotung, and more

(Left to Right)

The Private Collection of Joseph Lau
A Fine Blue and White ‘Lotus Scroll’ Vase, Meiping, Ming Dynasty, Yongle Period
Est: HK$ 25 – 35 million / US$ 3.2 – 4.5 million

The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection
A Magnificent Ruby-Ground Yangcai ‘Trigrams’ Reticulated Vase,
Seal Mark and Period of Qianlong
Est: HK$ 60 – 120 million / US$ 7.6 – 15.3 million

The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung
A Unique and Highly Important Moulded Blue and White Barbed ‘Fish’ Charger, Yuan Dynasty
Est: HK$ 30 – 50 million / US$ 3.8 – 6.4 million

Auction: 8 – 9 October 2022

This October, Sotheby’s Hong Kong presents the most significant Chinese Works of Art sale series with the convergence of the finest private collections from the world’s greatest Chinese art collectors including Dr Wou Kiuan, Mr Joseph Lau and Sir Joseph Hotung. The star lot of this season is a Magnificent Ruby-Ground yangcai ‘Trigrams’ Reticulated Vase from the Qianlong period (Est: HK$ 60 – 120 million / US$ 7.6 – 15.3 million) from the Dr Wou Kiuan Collection Part II, a carefully curated sale presenting six masterpieces from the 18th century. The collection of Joseph Lau, comprising 11 imperial gems, occupies pride of place among the very finest ever assembled in the field. At the heart of Sir Joseph Hotung’s personal collection is an array of masterpieces which charts many of the peaks in China’s long history, from the Neolithic Period to the Qing dynasty. Adding to this season’s strong line-up of renowned private collections are a selection of Ming and Qing jades from the collection of Victor Shaw and a group of archaic artworks from an important Japanese collection.

This Autumn sale series marks a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts of Chinese art. Very rarely will you see such a superlative line-up from the world’s most celebrated Chinese art collections. We will be offering fresh to market masterpieces in almost each and every field of Chinese art and this is possibly the most anticipated sale series Sotheby’s has ever hosted.

NICOLAS CHOW, CHAIRMAN, ASIA AND CHAIRMAN, CHINESE WORKS OF ART

These illustrious private collections not only showcase the impeccable taste, vision and passion of this century’s most influential Chinese art collectors, but also offer a window to the extraordinary depth and breadth of Chinese art forms.

XIBO WANG, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART

A Journey Through China’s History: The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection Part II

Following on from the success of Part I in New York in March and the record-breaking first Hong Kong chapter in April, the carefully curated sale presents six masterpieces from the 18th century showcasing the unparalleled technical mastery in the imperial kilns in Jingdezhen, including a group of enamelled porcelains formerly from the Fonthill heirlooms which have not surfaced the market in around half a century. Highlights include a Qianlong magnificent and possibly unique ruby-ground yangcai ‘trigrams’ reticulated vase, corroborated by the court archives to have been made either in 1743 or immediately thereafter. The vase is a tangible testament to the unprecedented and unparalleled culmination of technical virtuosity in porcelain production between 1741 and 1743, fuelled by an imperial reprimand from the Qianlong Emperor. (Catalogue essay available upon request)

A MAGNIFICENT RUBY-GROUND YANGCAI ‘TRIGRAMS’ RETICULATED VASE,
SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
H. 31 CM
EST: HK$ 60,000,000 – 120,000,000 / US$ 7,644,000 – 15,287,000

Another highlight also endowed with the Fonthill provenance is a magnificent pair of yangcai ‘butterfly’ vases superbly enamelled on a bright pink ground in a manner imbued with Western influences and fired to perfection.

A MAGNIFICENT PAIR OF YANGCAI ‘BUTTERFLY’ VASES,
SEAL MARKS AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
H. 47 CM
EST: HK$ 40,000,000 – 60,000,000 / US$ 5,096,000 – 7,644,000

Gems of Imperial Porcelain from the Private Collection of Joseph Lau Part II

The name Joseph Lau resonates with collectors around the globe and it is one that stands for excellence. Chinese art stands at the genesis of Joseph Lau’s adventure with art and it is on Chinese art that he cut his exacting eye before expanding his horizons. Lau assembled one of the finest collections of Chinese porcelain ever, articulated around masterpieces, each representative of the best of a certain period and type, and handpicked from the most prestigious collections.

This season’s offerings include a very fine blue and white porcelain dating from the Yongle period in the early 15th century, the pinnacle of underglaze-blue decorated wares and a period much celebrated for imperial patronage in the arts.

A FINE BLUE AND WHITE ‘LOTUS SCROLL’ VASE, MEIPING,
MING DYNASTY, YONGLE PERIOD
31.4 CM
EST: HK$ 25,000,000 – 35,000,000 / US$ 3,185,000 – 4,459,000

This meiping decorated with a lotus scroll is remarkably elegant in its potting and represents the epitome of that classic shape. Similar examples are known in the palace museums in Beijing and Taipei as well as in the Middle Eastern Royal collections of the Ottoman sultans which attest to their universal appeal and high status.

A FINE AND OUTSTANDING DOUCAI AND FAMILLE-ROSE ‘SANDUO’ MOONFLASK,
SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
31.3 CM
EST: HK$ 20,000,000 – 30,000,000 / US$ 2,548,000 – 3,822,000

This magnificent circular flask brilliantly enamelled with fruit represents a particularly ambitious and unusual combination of the doucai and fencai schemes, which brings out the ripe fruit. The present example is superior in all aspects, from the quality of the painting, richness of the cobalt, clarity of the glaze to its pristine condition.

Hotung: The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung

The late Sir Joseph Hotung (1930-2021) was respected and revered in the art world for his jade collection and for his philanthropy. What is much less known is his discriminating eye for the quality and design, and the personal collection formed at his house in London as a backdrop to his life – seen only by a privileged few. The series of dedicated sales begin in Hong Kong with a focus on the Chinese masterpieces in his collection and are divided into Evening and Day sales. The works on offer, ranging from Neolithic jades and bronzes from Shang – Han dynasties to Ming dynasty furniture and modern Chinese paintings, each represent the most sought-after of their period and type. Highlights include a unique and highly important moulded blue and white barbed ‘fish’ charger from the Yuan dynasty and an important and outstanding bronze male chimera, bixie, from the Han dynasty, the latter endowed with a prestigious provenance and illustration history tracing back to as early as the 1920s in Paris.

A UNIQUE AND HIGHLY IMPORTANT MOULDED BLUE AND WHITE BARBED ‘FISH’ CHARGER,
YUAN DYNASTY
47.8 CM
EST: HK$ 30,000,000 – 50,000,000 / US$ 3,822,000 – 6,370,000

This dish is unique and was done with an attention to detail that is exceptional even among this rare group of relief-moulded dishes of the Yuan dynasty. Not only is its relief decoration extraordinarily crisp and detailed, but the popular fish design is here also rendered in a highly individual manner that knows few close comparisons. It is a masterpiece that combines the best and rarest Yuan blue-and-white styles.

AN IMPORTANT AND OUTSTANDING BRONZE MALE CHIMERA, BIXIE,
HAN DYNASTY
L. 27 CM, H. 18 CM
EST: HK$ 6,000,000 – 8,000,000 / US$ 764,500 – 1,019,000

This Han dynasty bronze chimera, powerfully rendered with vitality and strength, is a tour de force of Chinese bronzes at their peak. In addition to the prestigious Stoclet provenance, the sculpture’s publication and exhibition history can be traced back to as early as the first half of the 20th century, setting it apart from other archaic bronzes in private hands and even the most important museum examples.

Important Chinese Art including Jades from the Victor Shaw Collection

The Important Chinese Art auction presents a tightly curated sale including masterworks spanning five millennia, from the Neolithic period through to the Qing dynasty. Highlights include an extremely rare Qianlong period chenxiang mirror ‘raree’ cabinet and a Shang dynasty marble frog.

The ‘raree’ box, possibly commissioned in the 17th year (1752), is set with a mirror flanked by two circular holes through which the Qianlong Emperor would have peeped through to view painted pictures, one of which being his most poignant and enigmatically titled double-portrait, ‘One or Two?’ The powerfully carved box cabinet not only showcases the influence of Western mechanism in 18th century court in China, but is possibly the only example known to be employed by the Qianlong Emperor to ponder on the nuances between the literal reflection of the self and self-identity.

AN IMPORTANT AND SUPERBLY CARVED IMPERIAL CHENXIANGMU MIRROR ‘RAREE’ CABINET,
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD,
POSSIBLY COMMISSIONED IN THE 17TH YEAR (1752)
75.5 BY 16 BY H. 66 CM
EST: HK$ 5,000,000 – 8,000,000 / US$ 637,000 – 1,019,000

The Shang dynasty marble frog belongs to a very rare group of marble carvings marking the dawn of Chinese sculpture. Ever so skilfully and minimalistically carved, the sculpture has truly stood the test of time in its timeless aesthetic. Also from the same important Japanese collection as the marble frog is a group of archaic artworks, including a splendidly decorated gold and silver inlaid sword-hilt, also not seen on the market for over 30 years.

AN OUTSTANDING CARVED MARBLE RECUMBENT FROG,
SHANG DYNASTY
25.3 BY 15.4 BY H. 12.5 CM
EST: HK$ 3,000,000 – 4,000,000 / US$ 382,000 – 509,600
AN EXCEPTIONAL AND RARE GOLD AND SILVER-INLAID BRONZE SWORD HILT,
LATE EASTERN ZHOU – EARLY WESTERN HAN DYNASTY
17.5 CM
EST: HK$ 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 / US$ 191,000 – 255,000

The sale also includes a carefully selected group of Ming – Qing jades from the collection of Victor Shaw (1935-2020), who was renowned not only for his discerning eye but also his philanthropic pursuits.

A RARE WHITE JADE ‘GARDEN AND LADY’ OPENWORK BOULDER,
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD
H. 10.8 CM
EST: HK$ 700,000 – 900,000 / US$ 89,000 – 115,000
A WHITE JADE ARCHAISTIC ‘DUCK AND LOTUS’ GROUP,
QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY
13.8 CM
EST: HK$ 500,000 – 600,000 / US$ 63,700 – 76,500FOTOGRAPHY & TEXT “Courtesy Sotheby’s”.

 

/by
, , , , , , ,

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Presents the Most Significant Chinese Works of Art Sale Series to Take Place in the Last Decade

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Presents the Most Significant Chinese Works of Art Sale Series to Take Place in the Last Decade

Hong Kong
Convergence of the Finest Private Collections from the World’s Greatest Chinese Art Collectors
Dr Wou Kiuan, Mr Joseph Lau & Sir Joseph Hotung, and more

(Left to Right)

The Private Collection of Joseph Lau
A Fine Blue and White ‘Lotus Scroll’ Vase, Meiping, Ming Dynasty, Yongle Period
Est: HK$ 25 – 35 million / US$ 3.2 – 4.5 million

The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection
A Magnificent Ruby-Ground Yangcai ‘Trigrams’ Reticulated Vase,
Seal Mark and Period of Qianlong
Est: HK$ 60 – 120 million / US$ 7.6 – 15.3 million

The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung
A Unique and Highly Important Moulded Blue and White Barbed ‘Fish’ Charger, Yuan Dynasty
Est: HK$ 30 – 50 million / US$ 3.8 – 6.4 million

Auction: 8 – 9 October 2022

This October, Sotheby’s Hong Kong presents the most significant Chinese Works of Art sale series with the convergence of the finest private collections from the world’s greatest Chinese art collectors including Dr Wou Kiuan, Mr Joseph Lau and Sir Joseph Hotung. The star lot of this season is a Magnificent Ruby-Ground yangcai ‘Trigrams’ Reticulated Vase from the Qianlong period (Est: HK$ 60 – 120 million / US$ 7.6 – 15.3 million) from the Dr Wou Kiuan Collection Part II, a carefully curated sale presenting six masterpieces from the 18th century. The collection of Joseph Lau, comprising 11 imperial gems, occupies pride of place among the very finest ever assembled in the field. At the heart of Sir Joseph Hotung’s personal collection is an array of masterpieces which charts many of the peaks in China’s long history, from the Neolithic Period to the Qing dynasty. Adding to this season’s strong line-up of renowned private collections are a selection of Ming and Qing jades from the collection of Victor Shaw and a group of archaic artworks from an important Japanese collection.

This Autumn sale series marks a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts of Chinese art. Very rarely will you see such a superlative line-up from the world’s most celebrated Chinese art collections. We will be offering fresh to market masterpieces in almost each and every field of Chinese art and this is possibly the most anticipated sale series Sotheby’s has ever hosted.

NICOLAS CHOW, CHAIRMAN, ASIA AND CHAIRMAN, CHINESE WORKS OF ART

These illustrious private collections not only showcase the impeccable taste, vision and passion of this century’s most influential Chinese art collectors, but also offer a window to the extraordinary depth and breadth of Chinese art forms.

XIBO WANG, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART

A Journey Through China’s History: The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection Part II

Following on from the success of Part I in New York in March and the record-breaking first Hong Kong chapter in April, the carefully curated sale presents six masterpieces from the 18th century showcasing the unparalleled technical mastery in the imperial kilns in Jingdezhen, including a group of enamelled porcelains formerly from the Fonthill heirlooms which have not surfaced the market in around half a century. Highlights include a Qianlong magnificent and possibly unique ruby-ground yangcai ‘trigrams’ reticulated vase, corroborated by the court archives to have been made either in 1743 or immediately thereafter. The vase is a tangible testament to the unprecedented and unparalleled culmination of technical virtuosity in porcelain production between 1741 and 1743, fuelled by an imperial reprimand from the Qianlong Emperor. (Catalogue essay available upon request)

A MAGNIFICENT RUBY-GROUND YANGCAI ‘TRIGRAMS’ RETICULATED VASE,
SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
H. 31 CM
EST: HK$ 60,000,000 – 120,000,000 / US$ 7,644,000 – 15,287,000

Another highlight also endowed with the Fonthill provenance is a magnificent pair of yangcai ‘butterfly’ vases superbly enamelled on a bright pink ground in a manner imbued with Western influences and fired to perfection.

A MAGNIFICENT PAIR OF YANGCAI ‘BUTTERFLY’ VASES,
SEAL MARKS AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
H. 47 CM
EST: HK$ 40,000,000 – 60,000,000 / US$ 5,096,000 – 7,644,000

Gems of Imperial Porcelain from the Private Collection of Joseph Lau Part II

The name Joseph Lau resonates with collectors around the globe and it is one that stands for excellence. Chinese art stands at the genesis of Joseph Lau’s adventure with art and it is on Chinese art that he cut his exacting eye before expanding his horizons. Lau assembled one of the finest collections of Chinese porcelain ever, articulated around masterpieces, each representative of the best of a certain period and type, and handpicked from the most prestigious collections.

This season’s offerings include a very fine blue and white porcelain dating from the Yongle period in the early 15th century, the pinnacle of underglaze-blue decorated wares and a period much celebrated for imperial patronage in the arts.

A FINE BLUE AND WHITE ‘LOTUS SCROLL’ VASE, MEIPING,
MING DYNASTY, YONGLE PERIOD
31.4 CM
EST: HK$ 25,000,000 – 35,000,000 / US$ 3,185,000 – 4,459,000

This meiping decorated with a lotus scroll is remarkably elegant in its potting and represents the epitome of that classic shape. Similar examples are known in the palace museums in Beijing and Taipei as well as in the Middle Eastern Royal collections of the Ottoman sultans which attest to their universal appeal and high status.

A FINE AND OUTSTANDING DOUCAI AND FAMILLE-ROSE ‘SANDUO’ MOONFLASK,
SEAL MARK AND PERIOD OF QIANLONG
31.3 CM
EST: HK$ 20,000,000 – 30,000,000 / US$ 2,548,000 – 3,822,000

This magnificent circular flask brilliantly enamelled with fruit represents a particularly ambitious and unusual combination of the doucai and fencai schemes, which brings out the ripe fruit. The present example is superior in all aspects, from the quality of the painting, richness of the cobalt, clarity of the glaze to its pristine condition.

Hotung: The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph Hotung

The late Sir Joseph Hotung (1930-2021) was respected and revered in the art world for his jade collection and for his philanthropy. What is much less known is his discriminating eye for the quality and design, and the personal collection formed at his house in London as a backdrop to his life – seen only by a privileged few. The series of dedicated sales begin in Hong Kong with a focus on the Chinese masterpieces in his collection and are divided into Evening and Day sales. The works on offer, ranging from Neolithic jades and bronzes from Shang – Han dynasties to Ming dynasty furniture and modern Chinese paintings, each represent the most sought-after of their period and type. Highlights include a unique and highly important moulded blue and white barbed ‘fish’ charger from the Yuan dynasty and an important and outstanding bronze male chimera, bixie, from the Han dynasty, the latter endowed with a prestigious provenance and illustration history tracing back to as early as the 1920s in Paris.

A UNIQUE AND HIGHLY IMPORTANT MOULDED BLUE AND WHITE BARBED ‘FISH’ CHARGER,
YUAN DYNASTY
47.8 CM
EST: HK$ 30,000,000 – 50,000,000 / US$ 3,822,000 – 6,370,000

This dish is unique and was done with an attention to detail that is exceptional even among this rare group of relief-moulded dishes of the Yuan dynasty. Not only is its relief decoration extraordinarily crisp and detailed, but the popular fish design is here also rendered in a highly individual manner that knows few close comparisons. It is a masterpiece that combines the best and rarest Yuan blue-and-white styles.

AN IMPORTANT AND OUTSTANDING BRONZE MALE CHIMERA, BIXIE,
HAN DYNASTY
L. 27 CM, H. 18 CM
EST: HK$ 6,000,000 – 8,000,000 / US$ 764,500 – 1,019,000

This Han dynasty bronze chimera, powerfully rendered with vitality and strength, is a tour de force of Chinese bronzes at their peak. In addition to the prestigious Stoclet provenance, the sculpture’s publication and exhibition history can be traced back to as early as the first half of the 20th century, setting it apart from other archaic bronzes in private hands and even the most important museum examples.

Important Chinese Art including Jades from the Victor Shaw Collection

The Important Chinese Art auction presents a tightly curated sale including masterworks spanning five millennia, from the Neolithic period through to the Qing dynasty. Highlights include an extremely rare Qianlong period chenxiang mirror ‘raree’ cabinet and a Shang dynasty marble frog.

The ‘raree’ box, possibly commissioned in the 17th year (1752), is set with a mirror flanked by two circular holes through which the Qianlong Emperor would have peeped through to view painted pictures, one of which being his most poignant and enigmatically titled double-portrait, ‘One or Two?’ The powerfully carved box cabinet not only showcases the influence of Western mechanism in 18th century court in China, but is possibly the only example known to be employed by the Qianlong Emperor to ponder on the nuances between the literal reflection of the self and self-identity.

AN IMPORTANT AND SUPERBLY CARVED IMPERIAL CHENXIANGMU MIRROR ‘RAREE’ CABINET,
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD,
POSSIBLY COMMISSIONED IN THE 17TH YEAR (1752)
75.5 BY 16 BY H. 66 CM
EST: HK$ 5,000,000 – 8,000,000 / US$ 637,000 – 1,019,000

The Shang dynasty marble frog belongs to a very rare group of marble carvings marking the dawn of Chinese sculpture. Ever so skilfully and minimalistically carved, the sculpture has truly stood the test of time in its timeless aesthetic. Also from the same important Japanese collection as the marble frog is a group of archaic artworks, including a splendidly decorated gold and silver inlaid sword-hilt, also not seen on the market for over 30 years.

AN OUTSTANDING CARVED MARBLE RECUMBENT FROG,
SHANG DYNASTY
25.3 BY 15.4 BY H. 12.5 CM
EST: HK$ 3,000,000 – 4,000,000 / US$ 382,000 – 509,600
AN EXCEPTIONAL AND RARE GOLD AND SILVER-INLAID BRONZE SWORD HILT,
LATE EASTERN ZHOU – EARLY WESTERN HAN DYNASTY
17.5 CM
EST: HK$ 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 / US$ 191,000 – 255,000

The sale also includes a carefully selected group of Ming – Qing jades from the collection of Victor Shaw (1935-2020), who was renowned not only for his discerning eye but also his philanthropic pursuits.

A RARE WHITE JADE ‘GARDEN AND LADY’ OPENWORK BOULDER,
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD
H. 10.8 CM
EST: HK$ 700,000 – 900,000 / US$ 89,000 – 115,000
A WHITE JADE ARCHAISTIC ‘DUCK AND LOTUS’ GROUP,
QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY
13.8 CM
EST: HK$ 500,000 – 600,000 / US$ 63,700 – 76,500FOTOGRAPHY & TEXT “Courtesy Sotheby’s”.

 

/by
Japan: Courts and Culture: The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace
, , , , , , ,

ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST – Japan: Courts and Culture – The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace

ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST – JAPÓN: CORTES Y CULTURA – GALERÍA DE LA REINA, PALACIO DE BUCKINGHAM

Japón: Cortes y Cultura: Galería de la Reina, Palacio de Buckingham

Esta exposición explora los encuentros reales británicos con Japón durante un período de 350 años.

Desde  armaduras de samurái  enviadas a James I en 1613 hasta un  regalo de coronación  para SM la Reina en 1953, los tesoros japoneses han llegado a la corte británica a través del comercio, los viajes y los tratados.

Cada objeto en exhibición refleja materiales y técnicas particulares de Japón. Excepcionalmente, muchos fueron encargados o presentados por la familia imperial japonesa. Juntos, revelan el intercambio ceremonial, diplomático y artístico que une las dos cortes de Oriente y Occidente.

… un desfile de tesoros exquisito, intrincado y verdaderamente divertido ★★★★

EL TELÉGRAFO

La Colección Real contiene algunos de los ejemplos más significativos dearte y diseño japonés en el mundo occidental. Por primera vez, se reúnen los aspectos más destacados de esta destacada colección para contar la historia de 300 años de intercambio diplomático, artístico y cultural entre las familias reales e imperiales británica y japonesa. La exposición incluye raras piezas de porcelana y laca, armaduras de samuráis, biombos bordados y obsequios diplomáticos de los reinados de Jaime I a Su Majestad la Reina. Juntos, ofrecen una visión única de los mundos de los rituales, el honor y el arte que vinculan las cortes y las culturas de Gran Bretaña y Japón.

Japón: Cortes y Cultura: Galería de la Reina, Palacio de Buckingham
Japón: Cortes y Cultura: Galería de la Reina, Palacio de Buckingham
Japón: Tribunales y cultura: Galería de la Reina, Palacio de BuckinghamJapón: Tribunales y cultura: Galería de la Reina, Palacio de Buckingham

Explora la exposición

Descripción

Esta espléndida y discreta armadura fue enviada a James I de Inglaterra por Tokugawa Hidetada, tercer hijo de Tokugawa Ieyasu, quien gobernó como el segundo shōgun de la dinastía Tokugawa de 1605 a 1623. Algunas fuentes han sugerido que la armadura pudo haber pertenecido alguna vez a Takeda Katsuyori (1546 – 82), un  daimyō  que había luchado y perdido contra Tokugawa Ieyasu en la batalla de Tenmokuzan en 1582.La armadura es del tipo envuelto en el cuerpo ( dōmaru ), que gira alrededor del cuerpo y se abrocha a la derecha. El casco con forma de calabaza ( akodanari kabuto ) está firmado por Iwai Yozaemon, uno de los principales armeros de la familia gobernante Tokugawa. Las armaduras de Iwai Yozaemon en otras colecciones reales europeas indican que este fue un obsequio diplomático popular de la familia Tokugawa, fácilmente disponible de una fuente regular y confiable.

El casco tiene una nuca muy ancha, casi plana ( shikoro ), pequeñas vueltas atrás ( fukikaeshi ) y visera ( mabizashi ) decorada en laca dorada con nubes estilizadas. El  casco akodanari  tiene líneas de remaches verticales prominentes y está lacado en negro. Es posible que se haya diseñado un área elevada en la parte posterior del casco para acomodar el  chonmage , el peinado samurái que consistía en una coronilla afeitada con el cabello aceitado y atado en la parte posterior de la cabeza en una cola. Esta forma distintiva de casco fue extremadamente popular durante el período Muromachi (1392-1573) y el estilo tradicional habría atraído a la familia Tokugawa, que era conservadora en sus gustos. La mascarilla ( sōmen) tiene un aspecto temible, aunque posiblemente los bigotes se hayan recortado con el paso de los años.

Gran parte de la armadura está atada con seda roja y azul en un patrón de tablero de ajedrez. Las láminas ( kozane ) son piezas individuales de hierro lacadas y unidas, una técnica conocida como  hon-kozane  (‘verdadero’ kozane), que crea una armadura más flexible.

Continuando con el estilo conservador, las hombreras ( sode ) son muy grandes para una armadura de este período. Las áreas superiores de hierro sólido de la coraza ( dō ) están decoradas con dragones lacados en oro cuyas lenguas lacadas en rojo persiguen nubes estilizadas, posiblemente simbolizando la perla budista de la iluminación, sobre un fondo de laca negra. Las llantas ( fukurin ) y otros accesorios metálicos son de shakudō grabado y perforado y aleación de cobre dorado. Curiosamente, los pequeños herrajes para sujetar la coraza tienen un discreto motivo de una hoja de paulownia ( kiri ), símbolo imperial adoptado posteriormente por la familia Tokugawa. Las mangas ( kote) están decoradas de manera similar y tienen seda fina, aunque descolorida, con motivos auspiciosos y áreas de malla de hierro. Las grebas ( suneadas ) están decoradas con otras nubes estilizadas en laca dorada sobre negro.

Texto adaptado de  Japón: Cortes y Cultura  (2020).

Procedencia

Enviado a James I por Shōgun Tokugawa Hidetada, 1613

Esta es una de las ‘dos ​​armaduras barnizadas’ entregadas al Capitán John Saris de la Compañía de las Indias Orientales en Edo el 19 de septiembre de 1613. Saris regresó a Plymouth con los obsequios en septiembre de 1614, pero no sobrevive ningún relato de su entrega a James I. Es casi seguro que la pareja fue la primera armadura japonesa en llegar a Gran Bretaña. A mediados del siglo XVII, parece que se separaron, ya que solo se registró uno en la Torre de Londres en 1660. La armadura actual se almacenó en una caja de laca en la Armería del Palacio de St. James, donde fue inventariada en 1649. –51 por el gobierno de la Commonwealth para la venta póstuma de las posesiones de Carlos I. En ese momento, se describió como una ‘Armadura india’ y Major Bas la compró el 23 de octubre de 1651 por 10 libras esterlinas.

Después del Interregno, la armadura se devolvió a la Colección Real, pero abundó la confusión sobre la procedencia de ambas piezas. La armadura de la Torre se describió, por ejemplo, en 1662 como un regalo a Carlos II “del emperador Mougul”, en la India. Todavía en 1916, la armadura actual se confundió con otra en las Armerías Reales que, de hecho, había sido entregada a Felipe II de España en 1585. En ese momento, en realidad estaba montada en la pared del Gran Vestíbulo en el Castillo de Windsor, con otros artículos japoneses de la Colección Real.

Fuente y fotos: ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST

/by
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

los Nft, el Criptoarte que está conquistando el mundo oportunidades para artistas y diseñadores

los Nft, el Criptoarte que está conquistando el mundo oportunidades para artistas y diseñadores

Aunque hace años que existe esta tecnología, hasta hace poco no había saltado a la palestra: hablamos de los NFT, en los cuales las inversiones crecieron un 299 % solo en 2020. En efecto, la casa de subastas más importante y conocida del mundo, Christie’s, ha superado la obra digital de Mike «Beeple» Winkelmann, es decir, una recopilación de 5.000 contenidos creados y cargados a lo largo de 5.000 días, que se vendió por 69 millones de dólares. Estas 5.000 obras son totalmente digitales, no existen en el mundo físico, pero se vendieron exactamente igual que si se tratase de un cuadro tradicional.

¿Qué son los NFT? El acrónimo corresponde a Non Fungible Token y, en la práctica, representan un auténtico certificado digital que demuestra la titularidad de un bien gracias al uso de la tecnología blockchain. A diferencia de los billetes de banco de cualquier divisa y de los Bitcoins, que son intercambiables por otros de su mismo tipo y, por tanto, fungibles, los NFT son «fichas» no fungibles, únicas y no intercambiables por otros NFT.

Cada NFT es único y no puede duplicarse. Es verdad que se puede poseer la imagen de una obra comprada como NFT; pero, en este caso, no se posee el original.

En otras palabras, dos monedas de 2 euros son perfectamente iguales: en este caso, lo que cambia es el portador, por lo que podemos decir que son bienes fungibles. Pero un cuadro original es un bien no fungible porque es único, exactamente igual que los NFT (evidentemente, estos en formato digital): quien posee una impresión del cuadro original lo que tiene es evidentemente una reproducción de este, que carece del valor de la obra original.

Incluso un tuit puede convertirse en un NFT

En pocas palabras, los NFT son la manera de certificar que una obra digital es única y original: puede ser un dibujo, un tuit, un vídeo, una imagen jpeg, un GIF y mucho más. Técnicamente, se trata de bloques de datos registrados en la blockchain, es decir, un archivo cifrado que contiene los metadatos que permiten identificar al titular y que describen la «obra» asociada al NFT.

Asimismo, gracias a la tecnología blockchain, se puede supervisar toda la cadena de compra de un solo NFT, que cuenta con una auténtica «firma» del autor. Los NFT más conocidos suelen pagarse en Ether, que está basada en la blockchain Ethereum.

Toda obra digital puede convertirse en NFT

Al igual que se puede crear una obra en forma de cuadro o pieza musical y ponerla a la venta como original, se pueden crear NFT: ya se encargará el mercado —es decir, el interés de alguien en comprarlo— de fijar su valor. Por tanto, todos pueden crear NFT y venderlos, o comprarlos y revenderlos a un precio mayor, siempre que encuentren a algún interesado en gastarse una cantidad superior.

En la web se pueden comprar NFT para todos los gustos: desde estatuillas digitales hasta los llamados «criptogatitos» protagonistas de un juego específico basado en coleccionables; desde ilustraciones hasta piezas musicales.

Hace poco se produjo una especie de especulación, cuando algunos NFT se vendieron a precios que muchos juzgarían «demenciales». Por ejemplo:

  • El yacitado artista Beeple vendió sus 5.000 obras por 69 millones de dó
  • Jack Dorsey, uno de los fundadores de Twitter, vendió su primer tuit por 2,9 millones de dó
  • Cryptopunk #3100, uno de los 10.000 personajes coleccionables, se vendió por 7,6 millones de dó
  • La cantautora Grimes vendió varias de sus obras de arte digital en forma de NFT por 6 millones de dó
  • El conocido meme «Disaster Girl» se vendió en unasubasta por más de 500.000 dó Ahora la protagonista de la foto, Zoe Roth, que entonces tenía 4 años, ha acumulado un considerable patrimonio.
Esta «obra» se vendió por 7,6 millones de dólares

Aunque estos ejemplos son de artistas o personas ya reconocidos y que ya tienen su público, los NFT pueden representar una gran oportunidad para todos los creativos.

Los puntos fuertes y las oportunidades de los NFT

En efecto, la aparición de los NFT supone una gran innovación no solo tecnológica, sino también en el sentido de que es capaz de permitir a creadores de todo tipo trabajar directamente para el público, saltándose las fases intermedias de la venta y, de esa forma, adquiriendo un auténtico poder descentralizado sobre sus propias obras. Una vez tomada conciencia de esto, gracias a los NFT, los artistas pueden:

  • Establecer una conexión directa con las personas interesadas en comprar arte o cualquier otra forma de obra digital, dejando obsoleto el concepto de galería para exponer y dar a conocer las obras.
  • Gracias a esto, muchos artistas pueden experimentar e ir más allá de las tendencias habituales de laindustria delarte digital. Dado que no estamos más que al principio, aún quedan muchos formatos por explorar en el mundo de los NFT.
  • Los artistas pueden recibir regalías para ganar un porcentaje de los beneficios cada vez que su trabajo se vende a un nuevo propietario.

Un ejemplo concreto: la artista canadiense Krista Kim vendió la primera casa digital del mundo en forma de NFT por 500.000 dólares. Gracias a la evolución de la Realidad Aumentada, esta propiedad digital podrá convertirse en un lugar virtual en el que la gente podrá socializar: por tanto, el arte digital va más allá del concepto de obra «estática», convirtiéndose además en un objeto interactivo.

Dónde y cómo crear y vender NFT

Una vez aclarado que un NFT es un nuevo tipo de activo digital no duplicable y original, cuya titularidad queda registrada en la blockchain, hay que saber que para comprarlos y después revenderlos se pueden usar varias divisas. NBA Top Shot, una serie de figurillas live action con los mejores tiros de baloncesto de la historia, por ejemplo, se pueden comprar con tarjeta de crédito. En realidad, para comprar NFT en muchas otras plataformas hay que utilizar alguna forma de criptomoneda.

Sobre todo: ¿dónde se pueden comprar y vender NFT? He aquí algunas plataformas:

  • OpenSea: es probablemente el mayor mercado de NFT, que funciona como una galería online de obras. Opera como una casa de subastas, pero también tiene algunas obras con precio fijo.
  • Rarible: otra plataforma muy conocida de compraventa de NFT. Aquí los artistas pueden crear y cargar sus creaciones entre música, arte digital y coleccionables.
  • SuperRare: aquí los artistas venden trabajos artísticos digitales ú Se define como «un punto medio entre Instagram y Christie’s»
  • Foundation: se centra principalmente en el arte digital.

Estos son solo algunos de los muchísimos mercados virtuales disponibles.

Pero ¿cómo se crean en la práctica los NFT? El proceso requiere algunos pasos fundamentales:

  • Se pueden utilizar programas como Photoshop para crear arte digital que «transformar» en NFT. pero es posible incluso usar fotos que se pueden cargar en las plataformas: la creatividad no tiene lí
  • El siguiente paso consiste en hacerse con un monedero digital (digital wallet) basado en Ethereum, una especie de app de banca online, pero sin el banco, que sirve para enviar y recibir dinero. Se puede crear, por ejemplo, mediante la extensión Chrome MetaMask, que se aconseja usar por la plataforma OpenSea.

  • Después hay que comprar la criptomoneda Ether: se pueden usar distintos tipos de aplicaciones, como Coinbase o Robinhood, pero también la propia MetaMask.
  • Una vez configurado el monedero, puedes ir por ejemplo a Rarible y, en pocos pasos guiados, crear tu NFT. Solo hay que cargar el archivo preseleccionado en formato PNG, GIF, MP3 u otro que ocupe como máximo 30 MB, establecer el precio y las regalías, el título y la descripció
  • Al crearlo y asociarlo a nuestro monedero deberemos pagar comisiones para ponerlo a la venta.

No estamos más que al principio de los NFT: algunos todavía no los consideran más que una «burbuja especulativa», mientras que otros ven en ellos un auténtico renacimiento del arte digital. Solo el tiempo sabrá decirnos qué éxito tendrá este mercado. Mientras tanto, los artistas de todo tipo pueden seguir experimentando.

Fuente:www.pixartprinting.es by Candido Romano 

/by