Bonhams’ Parry Collection of Chinese Art Sale produced stellar results on 2 November, and took centre stage at this season’s Asian Art Week in London.
This private Collection included a vast array of materials, such as Imperial enamelware, lacquerware, porcelain and jade. The Parry Family Collection were mostly acquired from two prominent British antique dealers Spink & Son Ltd. and Bluett & Son Ltd. Many of them were exhibited in London’s International Exhibition of Chinese Art, Royal Academy of Arts in the 1930s.
An enthusiastic atmosphere swept across the auction saleroom. After four and a half hours and with 106 lots offered all sold, the auction house pulled off a white glove sale total of £7.8 million pounds (around US$10.6 million dollars), with buyer’s premium. Most of the lots surpassed expectations, where their hammer prices were set multiple times of their estimates – the highest was nearly 17 times when the hammer was dropped.
A 18th century Chinese Imperial teapot was the sale's most expensive lot. The hammer was dropped at £1.7 million pounds – 3.5 times of its low estimate. The teapot was sold at £2.06 million pounds (around US$2.8 million dollars), with buyer’s premium.
Lot 40 | Imperial Beijing Enamel Melon-Shaped Teapot and Cover
Blue enamel four-character mark and of the Qianlong Emperor (reigned 1735-1796)
Length: 15 cm
Provenance:
- Spink & Son Ltd., London
- Mrs. E. A. Parry (1879-1977), London, acquired from the above on 30 September 1925, and thence by descent
Estimate: £500,000 – 800,000
Hammer Price: £1,700,000
Sold: £2,062,750 (around US$2.8 million)
The auctioneer started the bidding at £400,000 pounds, and the bidding price soon reached the £1 million pounds mark. After more than 20 bids, the hammer was dropped at £1.7 million pounds – 3.5 times its low estimate. The lot was sold to an Internet buyer at £2.06 million pounds (around US$2.8 million pounds), with buyer's premium. At that moment, a loud round of applause erupted in the saleroom.
This teapot was produced during the Qianlong period (1735-1796). Its body was made out of enamel copper.
It is one of three examples known to have been created. Two can be found in National Palace Museum, Taipei and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in the United States. The third one, from the Parry Family Collection, is the only known example to have remained in a private collection until now.
This antique was acquired from prominent British antique dealer, Spink & Son Ltd., during the early 20th century. It was then purchased by Mrs E. A. Parry in 1925. It is worth noting that the Parry Family’s taste was different from most British collectors of the same period. They paid more attention to the craftsmanship and overall beauty of artworks.
The various decorative elements depicted on the vessel combine Chinese and European artistic styles. This can be seen in the richness and variety of the colours – ranging from bright yellow tone, various shades of pink, red, blue, turquoise and brown-black. The European influence can also be seen in the landscape scenes, depicting mountains and lakeside landscapes, flowers and butterflies all on a light-blue background.
These details are separated by pink bands of floral scrolls and between ruyi-shaped borders at the foot and shoulder. The cover is decorated with floral motifs, fishermen and sages within mountainous landscapes. Each section is separated by scrolling leaves, reserved on a yellow background.
Lot 56 | Jadeite Archaistic Incense Burner and Cover, Fangding
Seal marks and period of Qianlong Emperor (reigned 1735-1796)
Height: 13.3 cm
Provenance:
- Parry Collection, London, and thence by descent
Estimate: £60,000 – 80,000
Hammer Price: £1,000,000
Sold: £1,222,750 (around US$1.6 million)
This archaic incense burner was was hammered at £1 million pounds – nearly 17 times more than its low estimate. It was sold at £1.22 million pounds, with buyer's premium and became the sale's second most expensive lot.
Meticulously carved in the archaistic shape of a food vessel, the present lot is a remarkable example of jadeite carving depicting archaistic designs of taotie (Chinese mythological monster), ring-handles and stylised dragons. On both sides, there is a pair of mythical-beast-head handles suspending loose rings, all supported on four cabriole feet. At the top lies a cover depicting a Buddhist lion.
The jade material is exquisitely selected and delicate. At the front, the body has different intonations of green; complimented by the white, translucent tone at the back.
This antique highlights the Qianlong Emperor's fascination with antiquity and archaism. It was inspired by archaic bronze ritual food vessels, which were made in China during circa 11th to 3rd centuries BCE.
Lot 49 | Pair of Zitan-Framed Kingfisher Feather-Inlaid ‘Landscape’ Screens
Period of Qianlong Emperor (reigned 1735-1796)
111.2 x 56.7 x 31.2 cm
Provenance:
- H. E. Monsieur Aleksander Vlangali (1823-1908), Russian Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary in China (1863-1873)
- Spink & Son Ltd., London
- Mrs E. A. Parry (1879-1977), London, acquired from the above on 31 July 1926, and thence by descent
Estimate: £120,000 – 180,000 (around US$164,000-247,000)
Hammer Price: £420,000
Sold: £525,250 (around US$715,000)
This pair of screens was hammered at £420,000 pounds – 3.5 times more than its low estimate. It was sold at £525,250 pounds, with buyer's premium and became the sale's third most expensive lot.
This lot has a strong provenance – the earliest dating back to the late 19th century. It was owned by Aleksander Vlangali (1823-1908), Minister of the Russian Empire in China from 1863 to 1873.
Both screens shows mountainous landscapes and an attendant were inspired by literati paintings and ideals. Images of old trees, bamboo, rocks and retreats created by these scholar-artists symbolised their self-cultivation spirit and literati identity. These images throve since the early Song dynasty (circa 10th-11th century CE), as they became metaphors for the well-regulated state.
In addition to the literati landscape paintings, the Qianlong Emperor also showcased himself as a guardian and connoisseur of China’s ancient heritage. He championed archaism as both an aesthetic and intellectual movement. The zitan frames and stands follow the Emperor’s taste for archaism, utilising motifs seen on early ritual bronze vessels such as taotie masks and S-shaped scrolls.
Other highlight lots:
Lot 21 | Famille Rose Verte ‘Lotus’ Month Cup
Six-character mark and period of Kangxi Emperor (reigned 1661-1722)
Height: 4.9 cm
Provenance:
- Captain Charles Oswald Liddell (1854-1941)
- Bluett & Sons Ltd., London
- E. A. Parry (1879-1946), London, acquired from the above on 12 June 1929, and thence by descent
Estimate: £70,000 – 120,000
Hammer Price: £340,000
Sold: £425,250 (around US$579,000)
Lot 74 | Imperial Two-Colour Cinnabar-Lacqured Yixing Teapot and Cover
Period of Qianlong Emperor (1735-1796)
Length: 18.3 cm
Provenance:
- Spink & Son Ltd., London
- E. A. Parry (1879-1946), London, acquired from the above on 30 October 1919, and thence by descent
Estimate: £70,000 – 120,000
Hammer Price: £280,000
Sold: £350,250 (around US$477,000)
Lot 59 | Imperial Red Lacquer Inscribed Chrysanthemum-Shaped Bowl and Cover
Seal marks and period of Qianlong Emperor (reigned 1735-1796), the inscription dated Spring 1776
Diameter: 10.6 cm
Provenance:
- Spink & Son Ltd., London
- Mrs E. A. Parry (1879-1977), London, acquired from the above on 30 June 1933, and thence by descent
Estimate: £100,000 – 150,000
Hammer Price: £230,000
Sold: £287,750 (around US$392,000)
Auction Summary:
Auction House: Bonhams London
Sale: The Parry Collection of Chinese Art
Date: 2 November 2021
Number of lots: 106
Sale Rate: 100%
Sale Total: £7,888,246 (around US$10.6 million)