Sworders expects brush pot to lead Asian Art sale April 29
Exceptional zitan ‘Hundred Boys’ large brush pot, late 18th/early 19th century, deeply carved with numerous small figures at various pursuits on a rocky mountainside below clouds. Estimate: £20,000-£30,000. Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers image.
LONDON – Intensive research, marketing and contact-building in China and Hong Kong has resulted in a surge of interest in a rare Chinese wooden brush pot. With an original guide price of £20,000-£30,000, the Sworder team now expects it to exceed those expectations at an Asian Art Sale on Tuesday, April 29.
LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.
The late 18th or early 19th century brush pot has been owned by the same family for nearly 40 years. They were unaware of its true value until they took the item to Sworders for expert assessment. The auctioneers recognized the rarity and quality of the item and gave it a conservative guide price of £20,000 to £30,000.
“As soon as we were able to share the details of this pot with our network in China it became clear that interest in this piece was going to be phenomenal,” said Richard Harrison, Sworders’ head of Asian Art. “We expect our phone bidding lines to be fully booked and we know many Chinese specialists are traveling to our auction room to be able to bid in person. With that level of interest, we may well see it realise six figures.”
The pot is a rare example of Zitan artwork and is intricately carved from a single piece of wood. The images show dozens of figures in a popular Chinese subject known as “The Hundred Boys” around the outside. Originally the pot would have been used to store calligraphers’ brushes.
The sale also includes a garniture of five large blue and white 19th century vases – the tallest measuring just over 64 centimetres (25.6 inches) – being sold as a single lot, with a guide price of £5,000-£8,000. Another highlight is a rare set of four Daoist Immortals – a group of legendary saints from Chinese mythology – dating back to the second half of the 18th century, with a guide price of £3,000-£5,000.
Along with the usual pre-19th Century Asian works of art, this particular sale includes some highly sought after examples of contemporary Chinese works. One of the highlights is the Muban Portfolio of 60 woodblock prints, each print commissioned by the Muban Foundation, from distinguished printmakers including Xu Bing. The lot comes with a companion volume, The Arts of Contemporary Chinese Woodcuts, 2003 and is estimated at £25,000-£30,000.
Another leading name from the contemporary art scene in the Far East is Chen Wen Hsi (Wenxi) (1906-1992). The Singaporean artist is in demand around the world and a painting titled Chickens is expected to fetch between £5000-£10,000.
For details phone +44 (0)1279 817778 or email: auctions@sworder.co.uk.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Exceptional zitan ‘Hundred Boys’ large brush pot, late 18th/early 19th century, deeply carved with numerous small figures at various pursuits on a rocky mountainside below clouds. Estimate: £20,000-£30,000. Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers image.
‘The Muban Portfolio,’ first published in 2003, is a unique collection of original woodblock prints by 60 distinguished printmakers in China, presented in a portfolio together with a hardback copy of the companion volume ‘The Arts of Contemporary Chinese Woodcuts.’ Estimate: £25,000-£30,000. Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers image.
Chen Wenxi / Chen Wen Hsi (1906-1992), ‘Chicken,’ 1966, with artist’s seal, ink and color on paper, 44.2 x 59.3 cm, with the original gallery label verso. Estimate: £5,000-£10,000. Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers image.
Set of three panels in the manner of Liu Yucen, inscription dated 1941, pierced wood frames, 73.5 x 21cm. Estimate: £2,000-£3,000. Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers image.
Rare set of four Daoist Immortals, probably second half of the 18th century, Han Zhongli, LanCaihe, Han Xiangzi and Cao Guojiu, each well modeled, 17 cm. Estimate: £3,000-£5,000. Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers image.
Thangka of a seated Shakyamuni, 18th century, probably central Tibet, accompanied by monks and deities, 72 x 54 cm. Estimate: £1,800-£2,000. Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers image.
Rare ivory and lacquer Okimono, circa 1870, in the form of a red-headed Shojo woman on all fours, grasping a gold lacquered bowl 3.6cm. £2,500-£3,500. Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers image.
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