SYDNEY.- Bonhams Sydney announced the sale of previously unseen Chinese paintings from three private collections along with a selection of early Chinese pottery from The Reid Family Collection, including exquisite pieces from some of the most important kilns in China from the 12th and 13th century, to be offered in the Important Asian Art Sale in Sydney on 9 May 2018.
A rare 19th century Tibetan Thangka from the collection of Dr Paul Sutherland will be offered for sale. In excellent condition, the thangka was included in the highly acclaimed Art Gallery of NSW 2007 exhibition titled Goddess: Divine Energy. Some 30 Chinese paintings from various private collections, a selection of imperial Chinese porcelain, Tibetan bronzes, and Chinese works of art of scholarly interest will also be presented at the Bonhams Important Asian Art Sale.
Director of Bonhams Australia, Merryn Schreiver said: “We are delighted to present our Asian Art Sale 2018 offering three significant private collections with important works by artists such as Pan Tianshou, Zhang Shanzi, and Kang Youwei. This sale follows Bonhams’ significant success last year which saw the record sale of a Chinese painting attributed to Fu Baoshi, reaching AU$ 3,172,000 inc. premium – the most expensive Asian art ever to be sold in Australia by a wide margin.”
Key pieces include
• Zhang Shanzi (1882 - 1940): Portrait of Mr Chionh Kong Ming. Ink and colour on paper, framed. Inscribed and signed Zhang Shanzi, with three seals of the artist. Dated yihai year (1935). 176.0 x 95.0cm. Estimate: $ 60,000 - $ 80,000
• A pair of Chinese imperial famille-rose medallion bowls. Daoguang seal marks and of the period. Each finely enamelled around the deep U-shaped body with four medallions enclosing landscapes, reserved on a rich ruby-red scraffiato ground and divided by leafy lotus strapwork, the interior with eight stylised ruyi-heads divided by jewelled pendants radiating from a central floral medallion, all supported on a short straight foot, 4.9cm diam., 6.2cm high. Estimate: $ 25,000 - $ 35,000
• A Thangka of Samantabhadra and Samantabhadri, Tibet, 1800s. Pigment on cloth, the reverse with Tibetan inscription 'Om, ah, hum', with cloth mount, framed and glazed, 113.0 x 85.0cm. Estimate: $ 22,000 - $ 32,000
• A gilt-bronze seated figure of Bodhisattva. Kangxi seven-character incised mark to the back with her both hands in Vitarka mudra. 57cm high. Estimate: $ 18,000 - $ 22,000
• Attributed to Lu Yanshao (1909 - 1993): Mount Emei. Ink and color on paper, glazed and mounted. Inscribed and signed Lu Yanshao, with one seal of the artist. Dated guimao year (1963). 54.0 x 33.0cm. Estimate: $ 18,000 - $ 25,000
• Zhang Daqian (1899 - 1983): Mount Emei and Calligraphy. Ink and color, or ink on paper, folding fan. Inscribed and signed on each side Daqian Zhang Yuan, or Daqian Jushi Yuan, with five seals of the artist. Dated the seventh month of jimao (1939). 31.0 x 47.5cm. Estimate: $ 17,000 - $ 22,000
• Rao Zongyi (1917 - 2018): The Taiping Mountain after the Rain. Ink and color on paper, mounted. Signed and inscribed Xuantang, with four seals of the artist. Dated gengyin year (2010). 50.0 x 130.0cm. Estimate: $ 12,000 - $ 18,000
• Attributed Feng Zikai (1898 - 1975): Good Friends and Good Wine.Ink and color on paper, hanging scroll. Inscribed and signed Zikai, with three seals of the artist. 46.5 x 29.5cm. Estimate: $ 12,000 - $ 18,000
• A large Chinese carved chenxiang vase carved in reserve on each side. Landscapes of fisherman, woodsman, farmers, and scholars, against a decorated ground in archaic style of 'kui' dragons and geometric patterns. 45.0cm high. Estimate: $ 12,000 - $ 15,000
• Attributed to Chen Zhifo (1896-1962): ParrotsInk and color on silk, hanging scroll. Inscribed and signed Xueweng, with three seals of the artist. Dated wuzi year (1948). 141.0 x 43.0cm. Estimate: $ 10,000 - $ 13,000
