DALLAS, TX.- Remarkable auctions are shaped by remarkable collections, and Heritage’s September 24 Fine & Decorative Asian Art Signature® Auction is made up of works from more than a dozen distinguished U.S.-based collections of significant objects from Japan, China and beyond. The collections boast collector names that keen-eyed connoisseurs notice when scouring a season’s auction schedule: Ruth Sylvia Nelkin, Princess Maria Romanoff, Dr. John Ross, the Kestenband Collection, and works from the collections of military commanders like James B. Linder and Lu Jingcun lead the fall auction with exquisite works in cloisonné, important ink paintings, jade and jadeite, Tang dynasty terracotta and more.

“With Heritage’s expansion, and the opening of our Tokyo headquarters, our Asian Art category is growing rapidly,” says Moyun Niu, Heritage's Consignment Director of Asian Art. “And in conjunction with this fall’s nationwide Asia Week, we present Heritage’s Asia Week, starting with the extraordinary works in our September 24 auction, and again one day later in our September 25 Japanese Woodblock Prints from The Nelkin Collection Part II Signature® Auction.” The collections represented during the September 25 event have been built over decades by enthusiasts with spectacular taste and a rich history of scholarship. “We are honored to handle these works and to discover the stories that came with them, as well as to conduct further research,” says Charlene Wang, of Heritage’s Fine & Decorative Arts category. “We’re dedicated to the mission of helping our clients either downsize their collections as they move into a new chapter of their lives or acquire and build new collections.”

This exquisite Chinese cloisonné tripod censer from the estate of Ann Alter, dated to the mid-Qing Dynasty, showcases the intricate and labor-intensive cloisonné technique. Its body displays the Eight Buddhist Emblems surrounded by lotus and scrolling foliage and its shoulders are flanked by a pair of gilt dragon-form handles, with each dragon meticulously crafted with five claws — a symbol reserved for the emperor; the censer's elegant form and luxurious materials reflect the high level of craftsmanship associated with imperial commissions. (A similar but slightly smaller example, with a pair of four-clawed dragon handles, can be found in the collection of the RISD Museum.) Ms. Alter acquired this piece in 1975 from the famed Manheim Galleries in the French Quarter of New Orleans. “This exquisite example embodies the exceptional quality of cloisonné enamel,” says Wang.

Speaking of Empires: Princess Maria “Mimi” Romanoff, a Sicilian princess married to a direct descendant of the Russian Imperial family and a noted New York socialite, had a keen eye and built a coveted collection that included this 17th-18th Century Huanghuali “Kangzhuo” low table crafted from rare Huanghuali wood harvested in Hainan, China, and inset with a large pane of green Duan stone from Guangdong. The table features "water-stopping" edges above a narrow waist; the beaded aprons are adorned with a pair of dragons and the corners are embellished with vivid lion masks. The Princess used this table in her Fifth Avenue apartment’s living room as a coffee table.

The distinguished collection of Dr. Milton C. Changillustrates his particular focus on Chinese antiques and his dedication to collecting and preserving exceptional pieces. “Dr. Chang’s acquisitions span five decades and reflect his deep respect for China's artistic traditions and his passion for preserving its cultural legacy,” says Wang. “Among his prized possessions is this 19th-century Chinese silk Kesi panel, a masterpiece renowned for its intricate depiction of Daoist immortals offering birthday felicitations to Xiwangmu, the Queen Mother of the West.” Dr. Chang’s collection in this auction is also represented by a remarkable array of Chinese jade carvings: Highlights include this Qing Dynasty white jade ruyi-scepter head plaque, remarkable for its color purity and exquisite carving; a finely carved celadon jade sutra plaque, notable for its delicate design and craftsmanship; and a Chinese spinach jade chrysanthemum dish.

Collectors Jack and Jane Chin also contribute important jade and jadeite to the September 24 auction, including this large 20th-Century Chinese celadon jade Lingzhi and Bats vase with a carved pair of rabbits under lingzhi branches, with bats and a mythical beast on the reverse; and this Chinese carved green jade washer featuring an intricate carved dragon design.

The auction is also led by a stunning selection of Tang dynasty terracotta pieces, including this pair of large sancai-glazed Lokapalas that exemplify the era's mastery of pottery. The guardian Lokapala figures were believed to guard and protect the spirits in an aristocratic tomb burial. The exquisite glaze, with its vibrant splashes of green and amber, highlights the intricate detail; the blend of form and color not only reflects the artistic innovation of the Tang dynasty but also serves as a testament to the cultural exchange and religious devotion of the period. And compare this Tang dynasty terracotta horse to this one: The former — finely modeled and muscular with a poised head, alert ears, and one leg raised — represents power, grace, and vitality in its earth-toned body with traces of original pigment; the latter is amber-glazed and stands at attention in a sunburst of vibrant yellows and burnt oranges. And this large and exuberant Tang dynasty polychromed terracotta camel and rider joins them in the event.

On September 24, Heritage will offer important paintings by renowned artists, including this charming ink-on-paper work by the Chinese modernist artist Ou Haonian, who passed away this year. Snail on Banana Leaf was a gift from the artist to the former President of Taiwan, Chiang Ching-kuo, who later gifted it to Admiral James B. Linder, the last Commander of the U.S. Taiwan Defense Command. The event also offers two paintings attributed to the celebrated artist Zhang Daqian from the aforementioned Ruth Nelkin Collection. The ink and color on board Day Lily, Jiachen is dated 1964 and depicts a blooming day lily that represents best wishes to elder women and mothers, with a poem to the upper right in homage to the Qing dynasty painter Jin Nong. The ink on paper Chrysanthemumreflects the range of ink’s nuance at the hand of master, from the sharpest delineations of the flower and stem to its softest textures and angles.

On that note: Ruth Sylvia Nelkin of Stamford, Connecticut and New York City was a collector known for her killer eye and exquisite taste in iconic Japanese prints, fine and antique jewelry, remarkable Fabergé and Russian works of art, virtuoso pieces of French art glass and a landscape-focused trove of American paintings. This year Heritage has introduced the various parts of her gracious collection to the public in a handful of significant auctions, and last June held the first of three auctions dedicated to Nelkin’s exceptional collection of Japanese woodblock prints, including nearly 250 works by such masters of the form as Katsushika Hokusai, Takahashi Hiroaki, Yoshida Hiroshi and more. On Sept. 25, the second auction of the series takes place, Japanese Woodblock Prints from The Nelkin Collection Part II Signature® Auction, which features a carefully selected collection of surimono, including Red, Raku Teabowl (Aka-Raku chawan) by Kubo Shunman, from the series of Five Colors of Tea Utensils (Chaki goshiki) and Hokusai’s A Bride Holding a Fan (Congratulatory Wedding Poem). This auction also presents a strong selection of shin-hanga prints from Kawase Hasui, Yoshida Hiroshi, Ito Shinsui, Yamamura Koka and many other iconic artists of the movement. And touring to Tokyo with the above highlights are gems from the final event in the Nelkin Woodblock series: Heritage’s March 21, 2025 Japanese Woodblock Prints from The Nelkin Collection Part III Signature® Auction. The absolute star of that sale will be Under the Wave off Kanagawa, also widely known as The Great Wave, by Hokusai.

“Via both of our September Asian Art auctions and again in the spring, by bringing these works back to the market, Heritage hopes they will continue to bring joy and appreciation to their new homes,” says Wang.