A Fine Underglaze-Blue and Yellow-Enameled ‘Gardenia’ Dish from the Zhengde Mark and Period highlights the collection (estimate $100/120,000). The distinctive fragrance of the gardenia flower on dishes of this type was popular among ladies who wore branches of gardenia in their hair. It was also used for flavoring tea and for preparing cosmetics, and the small fruits of the plant were coveted for dyeing–producing a fine yellow or orange color–as well as for their medicinal benefits.

IMPORTANT CHINESE ART
Auction 11 September @ 11:00 AM

The week continues with over 340+ Chinese works of art dating from the Neolithic to the Republic periods, highlighted by a selection of works on offer from notable collections including Qing Imperial monochromes from the collection of Arnold and Blema Steinberg, early ceramics from the Art Institute of Chicago, and Chinese porcelain and works of art from the collection of Henry Arnhold.

The seasonal sale of Chinese Works of Art features A Rare Lavender-Blue ‘Jun’ Narcissus Bowl from the Early Ming Dynasty, on offer from the Art Institute of Chicago (estimate $300/500,000). Representative of a distinct and rare group of Jun flower receptacles known as ‘numbered’ Jun wares, bulb bowls were most likely made for the Imperial court and were displayed in elegant gardens through the Qing dynasty. The Yongzheng and Qianlong Emperors were particularly fond of these wares. The former instructed the Imperial kilns at Jingdezhen to create reproductions, while the latter had many Jun flower pots inscribed with hall names, presumably indicating where they were displayed.

FINE CLASSICAL CHINESE PAINTINGS & CALLIGRAPHY
Auction 12 September @ 10:00 AM

Fine Classical Chinese Paintings & Calligraphy features exceptional landscape paintings on offer from outstanding private collections worldwide, prominent calligraphy by master Zhu Yunming, remarkable works on offer from the Collection of Naomi and Gary Graffman, along with works by modern masters such as Qi Bashi, Wu Hufan, Wu Changshuo, and Yang Shanshen, among others.

An exceptional selection of calligraphy is led by Zhu Yunming’s Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River in Cursive Script (estimate $800,000/1.2 million).  One of the most critical calligraphers from the Ming dynasty known for his uninhabited lifestyle and iconoclastic thinking, Zhu Yunming wrote down this classic lyric poem as a gift to his close friend Xie Yong. The present magnificent handscroll exhibits the classical beauty of Zhu’s cursive scripts, and its imposing scale is considered extremely rare for Zhu’s calligraphies.

SATURDAY AT SOTHEBY’S:
ASIAN ART FEATURING CHINESE ART FROM THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART - THE FLORENCE AND HERBERT IRVING GIFT
Auction 14 September @ 10:00 AM

Asia Week concludes with Saturday at Sotheby’s, offering over 560 lots of fine and decorative Chinese works of art. The auction is highlighted by additional works of Chinese art gifted to the Metropolitan Museum of Art from the collection of Florence and Herbert Irving, early pottery from the Art Institute of Chicago, works of art from the collection of Henry Arnhold, and Tang to Qing dynasty ceramics from the collection of Dr and Mrs Gregory F Sullivan. Highlights include A Pair of Famille-Rose ‘Pomegranate and Bat’ Tianqiuping Vases, Late Qing Dynasty (pictured above, estimate $20/30,000); A Painted Pottery Figure of a Prancing Horse, Tang Dynasty, sold by the Art Institute of Chicago (estimate $15/20,000); and paintings from the Irving collection including Riverscape, an ink on paper painting by Pan Tianshou (estimate $2/4,000), and Landscape with Houses, an ink on paper painting by Qi Baishi (estimate $7/9,000).