First Look: Asia Week’s Exceptional Offerings of Chinese Art and Antiques

A magnificent painted limestone figure of a bodhisattva, Tang dynasty. Estimate $1,500,000–2,500,000.

Sotheby’s is honoured to present a selection of Chinese Buddhist sculpture from the Junkunc collects ion, comprising almost 1,000 years of early Buddhist stone, lacquer and gilt-bronze sculptures dating from the Northern Wei to Ming dynasties.

Junkunc: Chinese Buddhist Sculpture | 12 September

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A white marble inscribed triad group, Northern Qi dynasty, dated Tianbao tenth year, corresponding to 559. Estimate $300,000–500,000.

Formed by the esteemed late Chicago collects or Stephen Junkunc III (d. 1978), the collects ion was one of the largest and most important American collects ions of Chinese art of the 20th century. In addition to this remarkable white marble triad group, highlights include a rare and magnificent painted limestone figure of a standing bodhisattva, and a large and impressive Tang dynasty limestone head.

Junkunc: Chinese Buddhist Sculpture | 12 September

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Yun Shouping, Flowers of Winter and Spring. Estimate $80,000–120,000.

Tang Hung (1926–2018), courtesy name Chunzhi, was born into a family of painters in Beijing. He studied calligraphy and painting in Song court style under Yu Fei’an and he also once followed Zhang Daqian. After moving to Hong Kong in the early 1960s, he met Fung Bi-Che (1916–2009), who was also a Chinese ink painter who studied after Zhang Daqian. Their remarkable collects ion, assembled by two artists who share a lineage in Chinese painting. A selling exhibition of Tang Hung’s and Fung Bi-Che’s own works will run concurrently to connect their personal artistic style to the works in this collects ion.

The Tang Hung and Fung Bi-Che collects ion of Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy | 13 September

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Zhang Daqian, Bridge to Mountain Temple Shrouded by Prismatic Clouds in Splashed Color. Estimate $220,000–280,000.

A precious gift from Zhang Daqian to Tang Hung and Fung Bi-Che, this painting holding the significance of their intimate teacher-student relationship is not only well-kept and treasured in the Tang family, but it was also an important source of inspiration to the two painters’ own works.

The Tang Hung and Fung Bi-Che collects ion of Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy | 13 September

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Property from the Estate of Aron and Elizabeth Landauer.

(Left to right) A “Clair-De-Lune”-glazed dish, Yongzheng mark and period. Estimate $8,000–12,000.

A Wucai “Month” cup, Kangxi mark and period. Estimate $60,000–80,000.

A Ppair of fine Famille-Rose “Balsam Pear” bowls, Qianlong seal marks and period. Estimate $60,000–80,000.

Important Chinese Art features more than 280 lots of fine Chinese ceramics and works of art. Highlights include a rare Tang dynasty sancai-glazed pottery figure of a seated court lady, a large Qianlong mark and period famille-rose “landscape” vase, a rare and fine Jiaqing seal mark and period famille-rose “peach” vase from an important American private collects ion, a rare and impressive late Shang dynasty bronze zun from a Japanese private collects ion, Qing porcelain and works of art from the Junkunc collects ion, imperial Qing dynasty porcelain from the Estate of Aron and Elizabeth Landauer, and property from the Berkshire Museum, Massachusetts.

Important Chinese Art | 12 September

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An archaic bronze ritual vessel (Zun), late Shang dynasty, Yinxu period. Estimate $650,000–850,000.

Notable for its crisp decoration that has been remarkably preserved, this zun is an outstanding example of late Shang bronze workmanship. Originally used as ritual wine containers, zun are known from the late Erligang period and grew in popularity during the Shang dynasty.

Important Chinese Art | 12 September

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A rare and important blue and amber-glazed pottery figure of a court lady,
Tang dynasty. Estimate $500,000–700,000.

This charming figure offers an invaluable glimpse into the cultural, social and political strength of the Tang dynasty; in particular the enjoyment of power, privilege and autonomy of court women. Such figures were commissioned for royal and aristocratic tombs, with elite families vying to stage the most spectacular funerals. Objects made to accompany the departed, known as mingqi, were paraded through the great.mes tropolitan centers of north China and prominently displayed on platforms before being placed in special niches within the tombs themselves.

Important Chinese Art | 12 September

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Works of Art Sold to Benefit the Berkshire Museum.

A large blue and white “Dragon” vase, Qing dynasty, 18th / early 19th century. Estimate $30,000–50,000.

This vase is notable for its grand size, standing significantly taller than other vases of its type, and also for its decoration. Of particular note is the tonality of the cobalt blue and the treatment of the dragons with their bushy manes and elongated toes and claws.

Important Chinese Art | 12 September

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The Ramin Lamsam collects ion of Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy.

Yuyan (Emperor Jiaqing), Poem in Regular Script. Estimate $200,000–300,000.

The Classical Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy department offers another outstanding group of works with the most impeccable provenance, sourced from private collects ions worldwide, including those by Dong Qichang, Lan Ying, Wang Yuanqi, Lu Zhi, Emperor Jiaqing, Qi Baishi, Wu Guanzhong, Huang Junbi, Zhang Daqian, Wu Changshuo and many more.

Fine Classical Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy | 13 September

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The collects ion of Serendipitous Encounters.

Song Dynasty Poems and Essay Exceptions in Running Script. Estimate $100,000–200,000.

This season, Replica Shoes 's will present the Serendipitous Encounters collects ion of Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy and Stephen Junkunc III collects ion of Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy, two collects ions of remarkable provenance gathered by two important figures of Chinese paintings. A portion of Stephen Junkunc III collects ion of Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy Calligraphy will be offered in our Saturday at Replica Shoes 's sale on 15 September.

Fine Classical Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy | 13 September

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The Carl and Lena Ma collects ion Of Chinese Paintings.

Zhang Daqian, Dancing Lotus. Estimate $220,000–400,000.

A highly respected pilot, engineer and an accomplished air transportation commerce entrepreneur, Carl, Chi-Hsun, Ma (1925-2006) became a senior executive of the major airline based in Taiwan to oversee its Marketing and North American operations. In this capacity, he met and assisted Zhang Daqian in transporting his paintings to different destinations around the world. In gratitude of their friendship, Zhang Daqian invited Mr. Ma and his family to his studio where, in 1973, he gifted and dedicated the Dancing Lotus to Mr. Ma.

Fine Classical Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy | 13 September

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Asia Week | Spring 2021 | 亞洲藝術週