Rare rhinoceros horn Buddhist stupa, China, 19th to 20th century, on carved wood stand, 7 1/2 inches high.Estimate: $30,000-$50,000. Image courtesy of Kaminski Auctions.
BEVERLY, Mass. – Celebrating the success of their August Asian sale, Kaminski Auctions will showcase a stunning array of Asian porcelain, ceramics, furniture and fine art in their Fine Asian Art and Antiques auction on Dec. 8, 9 and 10 at their auction gallery at 117 Elliott St. LiveAuctioneers will provide Internet live bidding.
Top lots in this auction include a rare Chinese rhinoceros horn Buddhist stupa of classical form with a circular stepped plinth supporting a double lotus throne with four seated Buddha, and a spiral carved with lotus petals surmounted by a tapered parasol. Standing at 7 1/2 inches high on a carved wood stand, it is estimated at $30,000-$50,000. There is also a strand of 19th century Chinese rhinoceros horn prayer beads, comprised of 108 beads interspaced with carved coral and ivory beads, with an overall length of 59 inches, which estimated at $20,000-$30,000.
Some interesting entries in the sale include a pair of large recumbent enameled wood rams from mid 19th century. The rams are entirely decorated with auspicious animals and longevity motifs. They are estimated at $30,000-$50,000. From the Qianlong Period (1736-1795), there is an exquisite set of semiprecious stone ornaments, featuring jade, jadeite, lapis, coral, seed pearls and turquoise. Totaling 16 pieces, the delicate ornaments are in their original fitted silk-lined box and are estimated at $20,000-$30,000.
Important porcelain pieces in the sale include a Ming Dynasty blue and white bowl decorated with scrolling floral design, ruyi motif and Sanskrit characters estimated at $20,000-$30,000. Another highlight of the auction is a collection of Rose Mandarin porcelain, including a pair of Rose Mandarin jars with covers, decorated with figures and auspicious emblems. Standing at 24 inches tall, they are estimated to bring $22,000-$26,000. Another is a pair of 18th century rose mandarin vases with square stemmed bases, decorated with figures in courtyard scenes. The pair is estimated at $18,000-$21,000. A large single Rose Medallion vase, 34 inches tall, with a flared and scalloped rim and gilt handles in the form of twin foo dogs, is estimated at $15,000-$20,000.
A highly sought after item in the sale is a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) musical instrument. The top is decorated with calligraphy and inlays of mother-of-pearl and stones depicting musicians. The hardware is of jade carved with the ruyi design. A similar instrument in the August Asian sale brought $64,000.
This auction also features unusual brush pots. One is Chinese late Ming to early Qing dynasty brushpot of natural tree root form that is estimated at $18,000-$25,000 and a Yongzheng Period (1722-1735) coconut brush pot of cylinder form carved with intricate scrolling floral motifs and a base carved with dragons and lotuses estimated at $15,000-$20,000.
From a private collection in California comes a pair of 19th century Chinese Lokapala guardians, carved of Shoushan stone estimated to bring $20,000-$30,000. There are also several antique Buddhist stone panels in the sale, including one with a rectangular base decorated with the head of a mythical beast flanked by two seated Bodhisattvas, with a central panel carved with a seated Buddha, valued at $20,000-$30,000.
Antique paintings represented in the sale include a Ming Dynasty silk painting of a procession scene, estimated at $3,000 to $5,000, as well as an early Qing Dynasty landscape with calligraphy, signed and marked with two seals, valued at $10,000 to $20,000. Other highlights include a Song Dynasty (960-1276) silk painting of fruits, as well as a 19th century scroll painting signed “Lin Liang,” of a pair of eagles perched high on a mountain, with an estimate of $4,000-$7,000.
There will be over a dozen lots of remarkably carved Chinese stands and intricately carved jar covers from a private collection. These stunning pieces were acquired from the Frank Caro Gallery, Madison Avenue, New York, and originally purchased by the renowned Asian art dealer, C.T. Loo.
Ching Tsai Loo was the preeminent dealer of Chinese art and artifacts for the first half of the 20th century. Starting his business in Paris, C.T. Loo was almost single-handedly responsible for introducing early Chinese art—bronzes, jades, paintings—to the United States and Europe.
Because of Loo’s connections in Asia, he was able to obtain major pieces for such collectors as J.P. Morgan, Samuel Peters, Alfred Pillsbury, John D. Rockefeller Jr., Denman W. Ross, Richard E. Fuller and Henry Clay Frick.
By the early 1910s he had became an established art dealer in Paris. In the mid-1910s, Loo moved the center of his business to the United States, specifically New York City, where he emerged as one of the top international dealers of Chinese art.
C.T. Loo was a collector as well as a connoisseur, publisher, exhibitioner, organizer, and patron of art. Fifty years after his death, these objects still grace many art museums including the Arthur M. Sacker Gallery and Freer Gallery of Art, at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the St. Louis Art Museum.
In Kaminski’s August auction, wood stands from this important collection sold far above auction estimates and prices ranged from $1,700 to a high of $6,500 for a 19th century, carved sexfoil form wood censor stand with intricate foliate designs. A 17th century wood vase cover with a jade finial in the form of Buddha’s hand symbolizing longevity and good fortune sold for $5,500. And a 19th century wood incense stand, the trefoil tiered form elaborately carved with scrolls and flowers sold for $4,500.
There are over a dozen lots of these prized stands and vase covers in the December Asian sale, from the same private collector. Perhaps the most important lot is a pair of rosewood stands with pierced ruyi and scrolling foliate design estimated at $1,500-$2,000. There is also a rare Kangxi Period blue glazed hexagonal porcelain stand with a monster mask surmounting each of the six feet. It is estimated at $1,200-$1,500. This collection includes stands and covers made of zitan, carved teak, rosewood and porcelain.
Kaminski‘s Fine Asian Art and Antiques auction will be held at their auction gallery at 117 Elliott St. in Beverly, Thursday, Dec., 8 starting at 6 p.m. Eastern and Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 9 and 10 at 9 a.m. Preview are daily through Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Dec. 8, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Dec. 9 and 10 at 8 a.m. until sale time. For more information, register to bid, or order an auction catalog please call 978-927-2223 or view the sale online at www.kaminskiauctions.com.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Rare rhinoceros horn Buddhist stupa, China, 19th to 20th century, on carved wood stand, 7 1/2 inches high.Estimate: $30,000-$50,000. Image courtesy of Kaminski Auctions. Pair of rosewood Imperial stands, China, 19th century, entirely carved with pierced ruyi and scrolling foliate design, 2 1/4 inches x 4 1/2 inches. Estimate: $1,500-$2,000. Image courtesy of Kaminski Auctions. Pair of Rose Mandarin jars with covers, China, 19th century, on gilt wood bases, jar with cover 24 inches high x 14 1/2 inches wide, stands 3 1/2 inches high.Estimate: $22,000-$26,000. Image courtesy of Kaminski Auctions. Pair of recumbent rams, China, mid-19th century, of enameled wood, 28 inches high x 11 inches wide x 25 inches long. Estimate: $30,000-$50,000. Image courtesy of Kaminski Auctions. Carved stone Buddha, China, 31inches high x 15 inches wide x 5 inches deep. Estimate $20,000-$30,000. Image courtesy of Kaminski Auctions. Pair of rose mandarin urns, China, 18th century, decorated with figures in courtyard scenes, 14 3/4 inches high x 8 3/4 inches wide. Estimate: $16,000-$21,000.
