Skip to content

Natural history category adds color to I.M. Chait sale Aug. 2

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Superb specimen of the precious gem ammolite, the fossilized shell of an ammonite, 20 inches wide (est. $55,000-$65,000). I.M. Chait Gallery/Auctioneers
Superb specimen of the precious gem ammolite, the fossilized shell of an ammonite, 20 inches wide (est. $55,000-$65,000). I.M. Chait Gallery/Auctioneers

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – I.M. Chait Gallery/Auctioneers will conduct an Asian arts, antiques and natural history auction on Sunday, Aug. 2, beginning at 11 a.m. Pacific Time. Absentee and Internet live bidding during the sale will be available through LiveAuctioneers.com.

This special auction will feature a wide variety of natural history and art objects created from geological materials, including many fine lapidary works by Luis Alberto Quispe Aparicio.

Lapidary dragon decanter set designed by Luis Alberto Quispe Aparicio specifically for the traditional Chinese liquor Moutai (est. $50,000-$60,000). I.M. Chait Gallery/Auctioneers
Lapidary dragon decanter set designed by Luis Alberto Quispe Aparicio specifically for the traditional Chinese liquor Moutai (est. $50,000-$60,000). I.M. Chait Gallery/Auctioneers

An extensive selection of important Chinese furniture includes pieces crafted of zitan and huanghuali wood, and sourced from several local collections.

Pair tall Chinese zitan wood cabinets with intricately carved design of writhing dragons, 79 3/4in (est. $10,000-$15,000). I.M. Chait Gallery/Auctioneers
Pair tall Chinese zitan wood cabinets with intricately carved design of writhing dragons, 79 3/4in (est. $10,000-$15,000). I.M. Chait Gallery/Auctioneers

There are fine groupings of carved Chinese jades including vessels, scholarly desk objects and three large mountains from a New York and a Brentwood, Calif., collection.

Large Chinese carved celadon jade mountain, 18 1/2in long, on openwork wood stand (est. $12,000-$15,000). I.M. Chait Gallery/Auctioneers
Large Chinese carved celadon jade mountain, 18 1/2in long, on openwork wood stand (est. $12,000-$15,000). I.M. Chait Gallery/Auctioneers

Fine estate precious gem and jadeite jewelry includes rings, necklaces, earrings and pendants. Other finely crafted objects in rare and precious materials include designs incorporating tiger’s eye, tourmaline and meteorite.

Tops among the paintings by American artists is a large and important oil painting by Asher Brown Durand (1796-1886) of the Hudson River School movement, which depicts a mountain vista.

Important Hudson River School oil painting by Asher Brown Durand (1796-1886) 28 1/2in x 40 1/2in (est. $100,000-$150,000). I.M. Chait Gallery/Auctioneers
Important Hudson River School oil painting by Asher Brown Durand (1796-1886)
28 1/2in x 40 1/2in (est. $100,000-$150,000). I.M. Chait Gallery/Auctioneers

For details contact I.M. Chait Gallery / Auctioneers by phone at 310-285-0182 or via email at chait@chait.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.