NEW YORK – On June 10, Gianguan Auctions brings to the podium early Buddhist art and historic paintings together with outstanding artisanal works for daily life – Zisha teapots, Chinese seals, carved jades and early ceramics. These objects give collectors access the icons and subtle arts of the culture. The auction will begin at 10 a.m. Eastern time. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.
One of the sale’s marque offerings is a $1 million jade jar (above) that has survived intact from the Han Dynasty (221-206 B.C). Staggering in size and complexity, the whitish jade is covered in sinuous carvings of 18 coiling, crouching, weaving qilins, the ancient hoofed, fire-breathing chimera said to appear in the presence of a sage or illustrious leader. The jar’s size – 11 inches tall – and weight – 20 pounds – indicates the nearly 2,000-year-old vessel was a special commission.
Bird in a Lotus Pond, a sharp edged and spare painting by Bada Shangren (Zhu Da), the Ming prince turned monk turned professional artist, comes to the podium with a $1.5 million valuation. The focus of the enigmatic work (below) is a long-beaked bird on a branch, caught between pond below and flowers above. It is Lot 80, signed with the Zhu Da characters that resemble the signs for laughing and crying, has one artist seal and is of the period.
Once Buddhism took hold during the Han Dynasty (A.D. 206-220 ), artists created statues, plaques and altar pieces for public adoration and private worship. These reflections of faith have long appealed to an international audience that often-overlooked provenance for prestige. The properties in this sale were sourced in domestic collections. The earliest work is a Northern Wei (A.D. 386-535) stone Bodhisattva, in an unusual seated asana with crossed ankles and hands in mudras “fear not” and “charity.” Backed by a mandorla, positioned atop a base flanked by lions, the 11-inch tall, mottled figure with some remaining pigment captures the sculptural style of the Wei period. It is Lot 148, valued at $40,000 or above.
Two hundred years later, during the Northern Qi (A.D. 550-557) period, an anonymous artist carved a marble statue of a slender standing Buddha that has been passed down through the generations. In a frontal stance, with a columnar posture marked by a curved profile, and a long robe with parallel U-shaped folds, the image is typical of the period. The figure stands 33 inches tall and weighs nearly 80 pounds. It is Lot 145 and valued at more than $60,000.
The Song Dynasty (960-1127) then produced a bronze Bodhisattva Manjushri riding on the back of a Buddhist lion. The 10-inch-tall statue weighs more than 4 pounds. It is Lot 153, similar to an example in the Palace Museum Beijing, and valued at more than $30,000.
A surviving statue form the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1371) is a gilt and celadon glazed Guanyin. The face, headpiece and jewelry are gilt. The delicate facial gestures demonstrate the skill of Yuan Longquan potters. Lot 157, the 26-inch-tall statue (below) is set to go off at above $20,000.
The need to nourish the body as well as the spirit is evident in a collection of more than 20 Zisha teapots. One of the highlights is Lot 159, Gu Jingzhou’s high profile, bamboo reed pot with a mouse finial and a caterpillar on the spout by. It has three artists marks and is valued at upwards of $5,000. Lot 167 (below), by Yang Youlan is incised with a poem and pine and crane motif. It has two artist’s marks, and will fetch about $500.
A double ring jade disk with nine sections that tell the story of the Book of Han Fujiezi in clerical script is certain to draw strong interest. At the center, a medallion comprised of two-halves meet in open fretwork. Nine fitted arcs bearing script surround it, expanding the diameter to 22 inches. The jade is green with tones of russet. It is Lot 211, opening at $25,000.
For details and condition reports, contact the gallery director at info@gianguanauctons.com or call fg212 867-7288.
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