Apollo Galleries to auction peerless antiquities, ancient jewellery, weaponry, May 14-15

Pair of life-size Roman marble statues of nude children representing Harpocrates, god of silence and secrecy, each standing on a plinth. Formerly in a West Sussex estate, acquired 1960s/1970s. Accompanied by archaeological expertise by Dr Raffaele D’Amato and geological scholarly report by Dr Ronald Bonewitz. Estimate £40,000-£60,000 ($50,185-$75,280)

LONDON – Dr. Ivan Bonchev of Apollo Galleries and Auctions, Britain’s premier source for authentic, expertly appraised cultural art and antiquities, takes pleasure in announcing highlights of the company’s May 14-15, 2022 sale. The elegant 599-lot auction event is divided into two sessions, each devoted to its own distinct specialties. Classical and Asian antiquities will be presented on Saturday the 14th, while ancient jewellery and weaponry are reserved for Sunday the 15th. Deeply provenanced, all auction items have been vetted by world-renowned consultants, and if applicable, scientifically analyzed and tested.

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Song Dynasty ceramics among Asian artworks offered by Skinner, March 23

Jun bowl, possibly Northern Song dynasty, est. $200,000-$300,000. Image courtesy of Skinner
Jun bowl, possibly Northern Song dynasty, est. $200,000-$300,000. Image courtesy of Skinner
Jun bowl, possibly Northern Song dynasty, est. $200,000-$300,000. Image courtesy of Skinner

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. – Skinner Auctioneers will host a live Asian Works of Art sale at its Marlborough galleries on Wednesday, March 23 starting at 10 am Eastern time. Coinciding with Asia Week in New York, the auction will offer jade pieces, Song period ceramics, a broad range of famille rose, paintings and Buddhist sculptures. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Imperial Qianlong celadon jade seal leads Gianguan’s Sept. 18 auction

Imperial celadon jade seal of Emperor Qianlong, est. $20,000-$25,000
Imperial celadon jade seal of Emperor Qianlong, est. $20,000-$25,000
Imperial celadon jade seal of Emperor Qianlong, est. $20,000-$25,000

NEW YORK – On September 18, Gianguan Auctions will hold a sale of Important Chinese Works of Art and Paintings, featuring traditional and contemporary master paintings, carved jades, fine ceramics, Yixing teapots, bronze and Buddhist sculptures. The online auction will start at 10 am Eastern time. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.Continue reading

Rivertown unveils estate-sourced Asian art for May 29 no-reserve auction

HOUSTON – Rivertown Antiques & Estate Services, one of the world’s most trusted sources of Asian fine and decorative art, will present a 230-lot auction on Saturday, May 29 featuring rarities that date from the Shang Dynasty (2nd millennium BC) through the 20th century. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Chinese scholar’s rocks: artworks created by nature

This extensively carved Chinese lapis scholar’s rock on a rosewood stand brought $20,000 plus the buyer’s premium in May 2020 at Bridgewater Auction.
This extensively carved Chinese lapis scholar’s rock on a rosewood stand brought $20,000 plus the buyer’s premium in May 2020 at Bridgewater Auction.
This extensively carved Chinese lapis scholar’s rock on a rosewood stand brought $20,000 plus the buyer’s premium in May 2020 at Bridgewater Auction.

NEW YORK — Few artists can aspire to be as talented as nature. Over centuries, its forces have shaped rocks into elegant objects that have inspired Chinese painters and poets. The objects called gongshi (Chinese, 供石), better known as scholar’s rocks, began to be appreciated for their striking forms in the late Tang Dynasty (600-900) and gathered from riverbeds, on mountains, and in far flung locations. By the Song dynasty (960-1279), their place in history was cemented when Chinese scholars brought them into the studios where they wrote and painted. Scholars would draw inspiration from these rocks that represented nature — mountains in particular — gazing upon them in meditative contemplation. Many poems and essays were based on these rocks, and they have been subject matter for paintings.

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