Finely carved and rare pale celadon jade altar set. Estimate: $20,000-$30,000. Image courtesy of Cowan’s Auctions Inc. CINCINNATI – Cowan’s will conduct their second auction dedicated solely to Asian Art on Friday, Jan. 27. The auction will feature over 500 lots including a wide selection of ivory, jade and porcelain, prints, Chinese furniture, scroll paintings, and reference material. Some of the highlights in the sale include a finely carved and rare pale celadon jade altar set and an archaistic jadeite lidded wine vessel.
The auction will begin at 10 a.m. Eastern LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.
“With the beginning of 2012, we are very pleased to announce that several important American collections of Asian Art will be offered. These were primarily amassed during the 1960s and 1970s, and are surfacing as a result of the strengthened market for Chinese decorative arts,” said Graydon Sikes, director of Fine Art at Cowan’s.
Cowan’s will offer a finely carved and rare pale celadon jade altar set set estimated at $20,000-$30,000. This Chinese set is dated to the Qianlong Period, 18th century. It includes three separate finely carved jade vessels, including a small rectangular lidded vessel with lobed corners.
An archaistic jadeite lidded wine vessel is estimated to sell between $10,000-$15,000. Chinese and dated to the 19th century, this vessel is inlaid in emerald green and lavender tones, having a dragon chasing a pearl finial, with two mythological beast-headed handles each with loose rings. The body is covered in archaistic and stylized chilong designs on a wooden stand with metal inlay.
A pair of spinach jadeite octagonal bowls are estimated to bring $10,000-$15,000. The bowls, Chinese early 20th century, are highly polished and highly translucent. Each has a wide flat rim with borders, the exterior sides with lotus flowers surrounded by foliage carved in relief. Both have two handles carved in the shape of a flower supporting loose rings and are on elaborately carved compound wooden stands.
An 18th-century Chinese cloisonne gu-form vase is expected to bring $12,000-$15,000. The top rim of the vase has lotus flowers and plantain leaves mirrored on the bottom.
A Chinese spinach jade marriage bowl is estimated at $10,000-$15,000. The interior is inlaid with a traditional double fish motif together with peonies and foliage in relief. The exterior is ornately carved with interlocking foliage, having two ornately carved peony handles, each supporting a loose ring. The bowl has an incised six character Qianlong mark on the bottom and sits on a 20th-century teakwood stand.
A large jade boulder is estimated at $10,000-$12,000. The front of this boulder has three seated figures in a mountainous landscape, the reverse with a similar scene of figures in a landscape, all on a carved and pierced wooden stand.
A white jade hu-form lidded vase is expected to bring $10,000-$15,000. The side has an ornately carved phoenix standing on a rocky ledge and surrounded by scrolling shaped vines.
A large collection of chinese jade seals are estimated to bring $2,000-$4,000.
Cowan’s will conduct a preview on Thursday, Jan. 26, from noon to 5 p.m.
For details visit Cowan’s website at www.cowans.com or phone 513-871-1670.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Finely carved and rare pale celadon jade altar set. Estimate: $20,000-$30,000. Image courtesy of Cowan’s Auctions Inc. 
Archaistic jadeite lidded wine vessel. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000. Image courtesy of Cowan’s Auctions Inc. 
Two spinach jadeite octagonal bowls. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000. Image courtesy of Cowan’s Auctions Inc. 
Chinese cloisonne gu-form vase. Estimate: $12,000-$15,000. Image courtesy of Cowan’s Auctions Inc. 
Chinese spinach jade marriage bowl. Estimate $10,000-$15,000. Image courtesy of Cowan’s Auctions Inc. 
Large jade boulder. Estimate $10,000-$12,000. Image courtesy of Cowan’s Auctions Inc. 
White jade hu-form lidded vase. Estimate $10,000-$15,000. Image courtesy of Cowan’s Auctions Inc.
