For the Asia Week this Fall, both leading auction houses have secured museum-grade collections. We have previously introduced some Chinese art from the Metropolitan Museum of Art which will go under the hammer at Sotheby’s New York. Meanwhile, Christie’s is going to present a selection of Chinese Art from the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC). The top lot of the sale is a large blue and white Tianqiuping from the Qianlong period, expected to fetch US$300,000-5000.

The Art Institute of Chicago

Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte is one of the notable artworks in the AIC collection

Founded in 1879, The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States. Since its first acquisition of Asian Art, the museum continues to expand and diversify its Asian Art collection with the help from the donation by many renowned collectors. It stands as one of the world’s foremost sites for the study, preservation, and presentation of works from across the Asian continent.

A Very Rare Large Blue and White ‘Dragon and Lotus’ Vase, Tianqiuping, Qianlong｜US$300,000-500,000

The sale entitled Chinese Art from The Art Institute of Chicago features 84 lots with a focus on Ming and Qing porcelains. Leading the sale is a blue and white ‘dragon and lotus’ vase, tianqiuping, Qianlong six-character seal mark. It was accessioned by The Art Institute of Chicago in 1937. Prior to that, the vase was owned by Carrie H. and Martin A. Ryerson, the latter one was an American businessman, philanthropist and collector.

Ryerson became Chicago’s richest man by the age of 36. He was a passionate art collector and one of the members of the AIC’s Orientals group. He stands among the most influential donors in the museum’s history. His private collection of paintings by Monet, Sargent, Homer, and others would be gifted to the museum along with Asian works of art.

Measuring 62.3cm in height, the massive tianqiuping vase is vividly painted in deep cobalt blue with two five-clawed dragons writhing amidst a dense ground of lotus scroll. The present vase was produced as an appreciation of early Ming dynasty prototypes.

Qianlong tianqiuping vases with a perfect condition and an illustrious provenance can fetch up to US$2.5m. The present one is estimated at US$300,000-500,000. It is probably because the globular body of the vase has been broken into approximately 7 large sections and the breaks are overall very clean.

Large Wucai 'Garlic-Head' Vases Wanli Six-character Mark (Left: lot 710; right: lot 711)｜estimate: US$200,000-US$300,000

Another highlight of the sale is a pair of large Wucai 'garlic-head' vases Wanli Six-character mark, with a height of 56.5cm and 57cm respectively. Both are inscribed with Wanli six-character mark on the mouth. The pair is separated into two lots which each carries an estimate of US$200,000-US$300,000.

Both come from the collection of Russell Tyson, who donated almost a thousand works of art to the Art Institute of Chicago. A majority of his collection was Asian Art.

 

Highlights from the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago

A Very Rare Large Blue and White ‘Dragon and Lotus’ Vase, Tianqiuping

Lot no.: 763
Height: 62.3cm
Provenance:

• Carrie H. (1859-1937) and Martin A. (1856-1932) Ryerson Collection, Chicago.
• The Art Institute of Chicago, accessioned in 1937.

Estimate: US$300,000 - 500,000

A Rare Large Wucai 'garlic-head' Vase
Wanli Six-character Mark in Underglaze Blue in a Line and of the Period (1573-1619)

Lot no.: 710
Height: 56.5cm
Provenance:

• Russell Tyson (1867-1963) Collection, Chicago, before 1954.
• The Art Institute of Chicago, accessioned in 1954.

Estimate: US$200,000 - 300,000

A Rare Large Wucai 'Garlic-Head' Vase
Wanli Six-character Mark in Underglaze Blue in a Line and of the Period (1573-1619)

Lot no.: 711
Height: 57cm
Provenance:

• Russell Tyson (1867-1963) Collection, Chicago, before 1954.
• The Art Institute of Chicago, accessioned in 1954.

Estimate: US$200,000 - 300,000

Other featured lots

A Very Rare Underglaze-bBue-Decorated Yellow-Enameled Stem Bowl
Qianlong Six-character Seal Mark in Underglaze Blue in a Line and of the Period (1736-1795)

Lot no.: 757
Diameter: 17.8cm
Provenance:

• Russell Tyson (1867-1963) Collection, Chicago, before 1954.
• The Art Institute of Chicago, accessioned in 1954.

Estimate: US$100,000 - 150,000

A Peachbloom-glazed Domed Waterpot, Taibai Zun
Kangxi Six-character Mark in Underglaze Blue and of the Period (1662-1722)

Lot no.: 727
Diameter: 12.3cm
Provenance:

• Kate Sturges Buckingham (1858–1937) Collection, Chicago, before 1926.
• The Art Institute of Chicago, accessioned as the Collection of Lucy Maud Buckingham (1870-1920) in 1926.

Estimate: US$80,000 - 120,000

A Langyao Pear-shaped Vase
Kangxi Period (1662-1722)

Lot no.: 720
Height: 26cm
Provenance:

• Russell Tyson (1867-1963) Collection, Chicago.
• The Art Institute of Chicago, accessioned in 1964.

Estimate: US$4,000 - 6,000

Auction details

Auction house: Christie’s New York
Sale: Chinese Art from The Art Institute of Chicago
Lots offered: 84
Sale date: 12 September 2019｜2pm