This prestigious auction will take place on Saturday, December 5 in Aguttes’ saleroom in France. Amazing works of art from Vietnam, China, and Japan will be offered at the sale.
Among them, objects with strong symbolism such as an important lacquered bronze sculpture from the Imperial Nguyen Dynasty, a rare pendant of Buddhas from the Ming period patinated by their history through the centuries, or a Chenxiang wooden bowl whose calligraphy tells administration rules during the Han Period.
The quality of execution of these objects, the choice of the resources exploited, and the work of materials such as wood, bronze, jade, lacquer, or even porcelain attest to the technicality and ancestral know-how of these different countries.
VIETNAM
In Vietnam, Avalokiteshvara is represented in many forms and is worshipped throughout the country. Dating back to the Nguyen Period, the last Vietnamese Imperial Dynasty, this elegant and majestic 12-armed Avalokiteshvara is typical of the heyday of Buddhist art.
The lacquered wood in red and gold tones reveals the folds of the fabric, details of the ornamentation, and the fullness of the shapes. It is exceptional for the quality of its execution.
Lot 12｜VIETNAM DYNASTY OF NGUYEN (1802-1945)
Important red and gold lacquered wood sculpture, depicting the 12-armed Avalokitesvara seated in meditation, the folded hands in presentation of offerings, the crown adorned with flowers, a hair bun with stylized dragon patterns and the jewel.
The hands hold the different attributes, one with the reminiscence of Amithaba.
H. 105 cm - L. 72 cm - P. 50 cm
Estimate: €3,000 - 5,000
Concerning Vietnam also, this superb 17th-century bronze mother goddess whose costume and diadem are chiseled with great finesse, is a sign of the great technical skills of the masters of these days.
Lot 17｜VIETNAM 17th CENTURY
Important subject in lacquered bronze, representing a mother goddess, seated in majesty, the face surmounted by a diadem, the collar representing the heads of ruyi, the details of the costume finely chiseled, with beautiful movement of the folds of the dress decorated with clouds. With its wooden base.
H. 63 cm - H. total: 83 cm
Estimate: €40,000 - 60,000
CHINA
To continue with objects related to beliefs, Aguttes Asian Art Department had the privilege to reveal a pair of Buddhas from the Ming Period (16th century) in their meditative and peaceful gestures. Indeed, after a delicate cleaning, the crusty patinas of the two bronzes have disappeared, a forgotten gilding has been unveiled.
In Buddhism, Amitâbha, who reigns in the West Pure Land, with his raised right hand sketches the gesture of argumentation, Dharmachakra-Mudrā, while the left hand lowered in Dhyana-Mudra, a gesture of concentration or meditation. In her tiara appears her main attribute, the vase containing the liquor of immortality. Avalokiteshvara makes the gesture of giving, Varada-Mudra, his right hand oriented towards the earth, while his left hand is raised peacefully. Lord of Infinite Compassion, he is considered as an emanation of Amitâbha, of which he represents, as a Bodhisattva, the acting strength.
It is symbolized by the presence of a small figure of Amitabha in the tiara of Avalokiteshvara. The deities are both seated on an independent plinth, in the shape of a blooming lotus flower, with three rows of petals.
Lot 76｜CHINA MING PERIOD, 16th CENTURY
Rare and exceptional bronze bouddhas set, in formerly gilded bronze, representing respectively Amitâyus, an adorned form of Amitâbha, and Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, both depicted in meditation, dressed in the monastic robe and mantle, adorned with jewels and crowned with a high tiara enclosing a bun crowned with the sacred jewel.
H. total: 36 cm - 37 cm H. subject: 29.5 cm - 30 cm
Estimate: €10,000 - 15,000
You will discover a superb celadon jade horse partially veined in brown from the Qianlong Period. The animal with prominent muscles probably comes from one of the patrons of many beautiful masterpieces that abound the Guimet Museum.
Lot 88｜CHINA 18th CENTURY, QIANLONG PERIOD (1711-1799)
Exceptional sculpture in celadon jade partially veined in brown, depicting a horse with a speckled gray body, depicted at resting position, legs bent, head looking back, mane and tail are finely chiseled. The musculature is reproduced with strength, demonstrating the mastery of the sculptor, giving the animal a breath of life.
Dim. 13 x 20 cm
Estimate : €40,000 - 60,000
This bowl dated back to 1900, the wall of which is adorned with an ancient text, recalls the history of civil servants under the golden age of the Han Dynasty. The period saw the triumph of an administrative organization based on literate officials from the elite, characteristic of Chinese civilization. Their function gave them power over the administration of the Empire. The rules were strict and any official not following them was punished.
Lot 77｜CHINA CIRCA 1900
Globular shape CHENXIANG wood bowl, the wall decorated in light relief with a classical text from the West Han Period on the standards and selection criteria of civil servants, the rim of the opening decorated with bats in relief. With formerly golden characters and bats. With its articulated six-legged plinth, decorated with stylized patterns.
H. 17.5 cm - D. 29 cm
Estimate: €20,000 - 30,000
France is full of sumptuous works of art from China, two single owners’ collections from Haute-Normandie and Burgundy are proving it again today. Made up of numerous porcelains, Asian Art specialists discovered a superb wall baluster vase with enamels of the famille rose from the Qianlong period, 17th century (lot 49) and a sumptuous pair of cups with enamels of the famille rose from the Daoguang Period (1821-1850).
LOT 49｜CHINA QIANLONG PERIOD WITH MARK (18th CENTURY)
Wall baluster vase with porcelain of the famille rose, decorated with a calligraphic poem in a medallion, on a background of flowers and foliage, the base is underlined by a Greek frieze, two handles in the shape of stylized dragons on the neck. With Qianlong mark on the base.
Dim. 21.1 x 9 cm
Provenance: Private Parisian collection, in the family since the end of the 19th century
Estimate: €8,000 - 12,000
Emperor Daoguang (1782-1850) is the grandson of the great emperor Qianlong (1735-1796). Was emperor Daoguang an heir of Qianlong passions who was famous for his taste for arts? Indeed, the porcelain artisan of the time continued under his reign to produce very beautiful pieces.
Lot 25｜CHINA DAOGUANG PERIOD (1821-1850)
Pair of polylobed cups evoking a blooming flower, in porcelain and enamels of the famille rose, the faces decorated with eight figures of barbarian tribes bringing gifts, the interior with the medallion decorated of a blue dragon covered with stylized clouds.
‘Xie Lin Zhu Ren’ mark on the base
H. 5.8 cm - D. 15.8 cm.
Estimate: €15,000 - 20,000
To close this presentation on Chinese works, we woud like to draw your attention to two cinnabar lacquer boxes, one from the 17h century, decorated with lychees on a background of geometric patterns and the other one from the Jiaqing Period representing an assembly of Taoist dignitaries, accompanied by their disciples.
Lot 108｜CHINA 17th CENTURY
Small circular box in cinnabar lacquer, decorated with lychees on a background of geometric patterns. “Zhang Cheng” apocryphal mark on the base.
D. 8 cm
Estimate: €3,000 - 5,000
Lot 109｜CHINA JIAQING PERIOD (1796-1820)
Polylobed cinnabar lacquer box, finely carved with a central medallion, representing an assembly of Taoist dignitaries accompanied by their disciples on a terrace with longevity pines and maples. The perimeter adorned with eight medallions representing bats evolving above mountain peaks and lingzhi, alternating with the eight Buddhist emblems.
Dim. 11 x 35 x 25 cm
Estimate: €6,000 - 8,000
JAPAN
Japan will offer us a representation of the bestiary through the centuries and the arts with these two extremely decorative and lively bronze sculptures. One representing a bawling deer (17th century) and the other two tigers fighting (20th century).
Also, this eight leaves screen in black ink on a gold background (17th - 19th century) invites us to admire a herd of bulls on the edge of a century-old tree. It is signed Kô Sukoku (1730-1804), at the age of 67.
Lot 119｜JAPAN 17th CENTURY
Elegant and large bronze incense burner with a beautiful brown patina, taking the shape of a slender deer, roaring, standing on three legs, the raised rear right leg in balance. The openwork cover, taking place on the back of the deer, is decorated with a lingzhi.
H. 30.5 cm - L. 61 cm
Provenance: Inventory of André Portier in 1924, n ° 11
Estimate: €6,000 - 8,000
Lot 120｜JAPAN TAISHO PERIOD
Large two fighting tigers, signed Akasofu Gyoko on the belly (Metal Cast Workers).
H. 28 - 34 cm L. 48 - 61.5 cm
Estimate: €4,000 - 5,000
Lot 136｜JAPAN 18th - EARLY 19th CENTURY
Eight-leaf screen in black ink on a gold background representing a herd of bulls on the edge of a century-old tree. The screen is signed Kô Sukoku (1730-1804), at his age of 67 lower right.
Dim. 121 x 360 cm
Estimate: € 8,000 - 10,000
The Asian Art sale catalogue is currently available online at aguttes.com
Aguttes Neuilly : 164 bis avenue Charles-de-Gaulle
Public viewing
2020/12/1-4｜10am - 6:30pm
2020/12/5｜9.30am - 12pm
Auction
2020/12/5｜2:30pm
To leave an absentee bid or request a telephone line, please contact:
bid@aguttes.com
To live bid, please sign in at :
DrouotLive, BidLive or Invaluable
To request for condition reports, videos or HD photos, please contact:
asie@aguttes.com
Head of Department
Johanna Blancard de Léry
+33 (0)1 47 45 00 90
delery@aguttes.com
Upcoming Asian Art Sale: March 2021