Chinese Works of Art

Described as a “pair of Chinese porcelain candlesticks. Late 19th century” and bearing the modest guide of $600-800, a pair of iron red-decorated holy water vessels hammered for $85,000 (£63,375) at Tremont Auctions (19% buyer’s premium).

George Washington portrait was thought to be a copy of Gilbert Stuart work by Canton artist Foeiqua

Ahead of a busy autumn season for Asian art, Asaph Hyman, Bonhams’ global head of Chinese ceramics and works of art, discusses the pull of single-owner dealer sales, the shifting profile of the Chinese buyer, and what it takes to bring major consignments to the rostrum

Qianlong (1735-96) period ‘Boy and chicken’ cups typically pay homage to those made in the Ming period – particularly the celebrated Chenghua (1464-87) doucai prototypes that have long been considered among the greatest Chinese porcelains.

Cross collecting helps plate from Washington’s Order of the Cincinatti service to take a six-figure price

The contents of the London home furnished by a renowned Christie’s auctioneer and a distinguished interior decorator emerged at Dreweatts (27/26% buyer’s premium) earlier this month.

ATG was interested to learn more about the two Kangxi (1662-1722) blue and white porcelain wall sconces and ‘soap dish’ sold by Mayfair firm Plakas (29% buyer’s premium) on March 19.

Sotheby’s Hong Kong’s Asian Art Week was led by the earliest extant court painting by the Italian Jesuit painter Giuseppe Castiglione (1688-1766).

While May’s series of UK Asian art auctions lacks the overall focus of the Asian Art in London initiative in the autumn or the pomp of other spring events in New York or Hong Kong, it remains a key moment in the calendar.

The group of Chinese ‘export’ silver offered by Gorringe’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Lewes on April 21 came by descent from Reginald Follett Codrington Hedgeland (1874-1967), an Oxford graduate from Exeter who joined the Chinese Maritime Customs Service in 1898.

An auction titled China 500 Years held by Mayfair orientalist firm Plakas (29% buyer’s premium) on March 19 included elements of two rare Kangxi (1662-1722) blue and white porcelain wall sconces. They were estimated at £2000-3000 but contested to £17,000.

Single-owner collection reflects both the port’s position linking trade routes and the artisans it attracted

The March 3-4 sale at Chorley’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Prinknash Abbey, Gloucestershire, was topped by a good example of Qing imperial needlework: a yellow ground silk and metal thread cushion cover.

Among the most desirable of the Chinese export porcelain patterns made for the Dutch market is the so-called ‘skating lesson’ design.

A set of 12 Chinese export pictures depicting the manufacture and distribution of porcelain was among the highlights of a recent sale held by Nadeau’s in Windsor, Connecticut.

This imposing pair of 3ft 8in (1.09m) high hexagonal form vases combine both early 19th century Chinese and later 19th century French craftsmanship.

Extensive collection also came with impressive records of purchase such as original dealer invoices