Asia

The Gilded Captivity of a Maharaja 1 Reply

In 1849, the Anglo-Sikh war ends the independence of Punjab. The last Maharaja was a young and frail man, who was given by the British a residence in Scotland. His name was Duleep Singh. India and M…

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki. Last reply by Pierre Tavlitzki Dec 11.

Exquisite Chinese Boxes 1 Reply

Since ancient times, or at least since the Tang, the lacquered box is one of the finest objects of Chinese art. On December 1 in Hong Kong, Christie's auctions a piece created in the Yuan Dynasty, ci…

Tagged: Yuan

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki. Last reply by Pierre Tavlitzki Dec 1.

Five Drunken Kings 1 Reply

The day before yesterday, I began my article on Fu Baoshi in the Modern art group with this sentence: The Chinese pictorial art has a unique feature: throughout 2000 years, it has evolved without eve…

Tagged: RenRenfa

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki. Last reply by Pierre Tavlitzki Nov 29.

The Zitan Throne 1 Reply

As a seat, a throne is nothing but a marquise or a bench. But that name is reserved for the seats used by monarchs to meet their audience during the ceremonies. For such a prestigious use, this piece…

Tagged: Qianlong

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki. Last reply by Pierre Tavlitzki Oct 8.

No Pocket for Kimonos 1 Reply

To carry things, the Japanese used small bags hanging from the waistband of their kimono. The best known on the art market is the inro. To avoid these precious bags slipping, their cords were blocked…

Tagged: Masanao, netsuke

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki. Last reply by Pierre Tavlitzki Sep 18.

In the Fifth Year of the Reign of Wuping 1 Reply

Today we go deep into the history of China up to a time of great chaos. China was divided into five main kingdoms that were fighting one another. The emperors were weak and superstitious, their follo…

Tagged: Qi, Buddhism

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki. Last reply by Pierre Tavlitzki Sep 15.

Buddhism for the Sui 1 Reply

Anarchy reigned in China since the fall of the Han, when a general of the North managed to conquer the kingdoms of the South, founding the Sui Dynasty. Realizing that military dominance was not suffi…

Tagged: Sui

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki. Last reply by Pierre Tavlitzki Jun 12.

Qing Calligraphies 1 Reply

Calligraphy has certainly started at the same time as writing, of which the oldest known examples exceed five millennia. This is less an archaeological than a logical argument. To be understood, whic…

Tagged: Kangxi

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki. Last reply by Pierre Tavlitzki May 31.

Antiquity and Perfection of the Imperial Chinese Ceramics 1 Reply

For centuries, or even for millennia, the Imperial manufactories of ceramics produced masterpieces for the emperors of China. Sold by Christie's in Hong Kong on May 27, a vase manufactured 250 years…

Tagged: Qianlong

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki. Last reply by Pierre Tavlitzki May 28.

The Jar of Bonhams and the Jar of Christie's 1 Reply

The price of antique Imperial Chinese wares is often hard to predict, although the best auction houses know clearly to identify the top pieces. Yesterday in London, Bonhams sold for £ 1.1 million ch…

Tagged: Jiajing

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki. Last reply by Pierre Tavlitzki May 28.

The Exquisite Realism of Maruyama 1 Reply

In Japan, graphic art is closely related to furnishings. The screen is an important and original piece. Designed to be folded and moved, it enables to change the look of the room where it is adding t…

Tagged: Okyo, Maruyama

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki. Last reply by Pierre Tavlitzki May 12.

A Pair of Golden Bookcases for the Emperor Wanli 1 Reply

Wanli, who reigned 400 years ago, was one of the last emperors of the Ming dynasty. A pair of lacquered and gilded bookcases, for sale by Sotheby's in Hong Kong on April 8, bears his mark. Each piec…

Tagged: Wanli

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki. Last reply by Pierre Tavlitzki Apr 8.

Tortoise and Oyster for Tang 1 Reply

On April 8 in Hong Kong, Sotheby's will sell a special object, which has spent the centuries without yielding to the ravages of time and is an invaluable testimony (culturally speaking) of ancient lu…

Tagged: Tang

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki. Last reply by Pierre Tavlitzki Apr 8.

The Tiger of Mysore 1 Reply

Bonhams reminds us in its press release: Tipu Sahib said that he preferred to live one day as a tiger than a lifetime as a sheep. Nicknamed the Tiger of Mysore, the Sultan was one of the main protago…

Tagged: Tipu, Mysore

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki. Last reply by Pierre Tavlitzki Apr 3.

The Atlas of Gandhara 1 Reply

It can be said of today's art that it is international. This is not really new: 1800 years ago, in Gandhara, same comment applied. Gandhara was a transition zone between Persia and Central Asia, nea…

Tagged: Gandhara

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki. Last reply by Pierre Tavlitzki Mar 21.

The Beauty of Jade 1 Reply

The gemstones are universal, but the jade is a specialty of the Far East. This very hard rock enables an artistic carving which is appreciated since ancient times. The carving may be figurative, as o…

Tagged: Qianlong, jade

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki. Last reply by Pierre Tavlitzki Mar 19.

Cool evening on the Sumida River, as seen by Hokusai 2 Replies

The Ukiyo-e is a unique and famous feature of Japanese iconography. It depicts the daily activities and the varied pleasures of the floating worlds. The sample that Christie's shows on March 17 in N…

Tagged: Hokusai

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki. Last reply by Pierre Tavlitzki Mar 19.

Come Back of Rat and Rabbit 1 Reply

Today, we are not just talking about auctions, but also on international politics. In September, just after the announcement of the sale of the Yves Saint-Laurent collection, Chinese lobbying groups…

Tagged: Qianlong, Castiglione

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki. Last reply by Pierre Tavlitzki Feb 26.

Timeline - Asia

AUCTION HOUSES referred below : Beaussant Lefèvre Site Drouot-Presse Bonhams Site Press China Guardian Site Press Christie's Site Press Lyon and Turnbull Site and Press Pierre Bergé et Associés Site…

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki Dec. 25, 2008.

2008 Auction History

All Results in BOLD A Korean jar made 200 years ago was sold 3,7 M$ before fees by Bonhams and Butterfields on December 9 in San Francisco. It had been estimated 200 K$. Again some objects from the…

Started by Pierre Tavlitzki Dec. 24, 2008.