Asian Art - Noteworthy Private Collections

India

Alongside individual, truly high-carat consignments of Indian stone sculptures (and with a noticeable increased demand following the successful sale of the Jansen Collection in June), Lempertz also offers a group of Indo-Portuguese ivory carvings from a Rhenish private collection. The moderately estimated pieces are particularly of culturally historical interest, featuring Christian iconography in a colonial context (lots 16–24).

South-East Asia

This chapter also exhibits a great number of sculptures. The highlight is a Buddha Muchalinda from Cambodia, Khmer Kingdom, in the Angkor Wat style of the 12th century. The sculpture was displayed in 2015 in the Museum für Angewandte Kunst in Frankfurt in the exhibition ‘Buddha. 108 Begegnungen‘ (Buddha. 108 Encounters) (lot 44, € 60/80,000). Also worth noting is a Burmese buddha with powerful radiance which was consigned from a Lower Rhenish private collection (lot 41, € 17/20,000).

China, Sculpture

Interesting offers of bronze vessels and sculptures include a bronze of the Daoist deity Bixia Yuanjun (lot 115, €14/18,000) from the Dirksen Collection, and a fire-gilt bronze of the Medicine Buddha Bhaishajyaguru from a Netherlands collection (lot 105, € 20/30,000).

China, Decorative Arts

The top lot is a large, 17th century rhinoceros horn cup from a Hamburg private collection. With exceptionally elaborate execution, it was discovered in 1972 in a local art dealership (lot 145, € 70/90,000).

China, Porcelain

The highlight amongst the porcelains is a rare, imperial doucai dish with flower medallions, consigned from a Westphalian private collection (lot 164, € 50/70,000). This piece is of particular interest because of the expansion of the classical colour palette of the legendary doucai colours from the Chenghua period (1464–1487) of the Ming dynasty to include shadows which became possible in the Yongzheng period (1722–1735), when this dish was made. The enamel colours were applied to the underglaze blue contours with the greatest care and precision, so that there are hardly any places where they have been painted over. Whilst the design is known from other doucai pieces of the Yongzheng period, such as a bowl in the Museum of East Asian Art in Bath, the present piece seems to be the only one known so far in saucer dish form.

China, Paintings

The core of the painting section is a group of paintings from the Ernst A. Voretzsch Collection (1868–1965). With some exhibited in 1919 in a museum and accordingly published, one scroll painting stands out, depicting Uyghurs hunting, painted after Zhao Mengfu (lot 177, € 10/20,000). In addition, two unusually large so-called export paintings with scenes of the harbours of Macao and Hong Kong are offered for sale. Acquired in the 19th century, Lempertz is auctioning these paintings on behalf of a South German estate (lots 190/191, each € 20/30,000).

Japan

A rare standing screen stands out amongst the Japanese paintings. The two-part work shows male archers depicted on a silver ground. Formerly in the Sasaki Collection, Kyoto, the screen was acquired from Kawasaki Bijutsu in Kyoto in 1994 (lot 318, € 25/35,000).

The decorative arts feature high-value metal works, led by a large bronze of a sea eagle (lot 385, € 20/25,000). Of equal quality and value, but with a more moderate estimate, is an exceptionally fine charger with fine relief decoration of the demon catcher Shoki (lot 390, € 6/8,000). Collectors of Japanese ceramics will be attracted to the interesting second part of a Düsseldorf private collection.

An exceptionally naturalistic, very fine netsuke of a greyhound with a club in its mouth (lot 475, € 18/25,000) as well as the expressive depiction of two oni defending themselves from the New Year beans, stand out in particular (lot 454, € 15/000). The first is signed Rantai whilst the second unsigned pieces suggest an attribution to the Hakata carver Otoman. Both market fresh pieces are from a private collection.

The gallerist and netsuke dealerHildegard Flachsmann, known especially to German collectors, is retiring from business after a long and successful career. Not without thanks for their long-standing business relationship, Lempertz is pleased to be able to offer a selection of her netsuke in the upcoming auction.

Following a record hammer price for a netsuke last season, Lempertz is delighted to offer ivory pieces from the identical source. Pieces not made of ivory from this Belgian collection were successfully sold by Lempertz in June for an auction record.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 0221/92 57 29–30.

Edgar Abs
Press and public relations
Cologne, Dezember 2022