Asian Art

The Chinese government has written to a UK auction house to demand a halt to the sale of a silver hunting flask, taken from the Summer Palace when it was sacked by British troops in 1860 during the Second Opium War.

Swaythling auction includes more than 80 pieces of 18th century English origin

A big surprise was in store for the owner of a Chinese lacquer plate consigned to Hermann Historica (25% buyer’s premium) in Grasbrunn, just outside Munich.

The latest themed sale at Bonhams (27.5/25/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) was an auction titled India in Art, offering a mix of pictures and objects relating to the subcontinent.

A string of high prices way over estimates emerged at a recent Asian art sale held by Nagel (24.5% buyer’s premium) in Stuttgart.

A US collector went way over the odds to secure a 15th century southern Indian bronze that took top honours at the Asian art sale at Lempertz (26% buyer’s premium) in Cologne.

Asian art ‘circus’ moves to French capital for dealer shows and auctions in early June

How a chance purchase of a print in a Liverpool junk shop sparked an extensive collection

Among the numerous sculptures for sale at Nagel’s June 13-14 auction of Asian art in Stuttgart is the ferocious figure of the Tibetan Buddhist deity Dorje Legpa in the incarnation of Damchen Garwai Nakpo, or the Lord of the Forge.

Numerous pieces in the Asian art sale at Lempertz in Cologne on June 11 come from the collection of the German doctor Ludwig Jansen.

One of the highlights of Sotheby’s Asian art auction to be held in its Paris room on June 16 will be this jade seal carved with the imperial symbol of a dragon, estimated at €100,000-150,000.

French capital follows the examples of New York and London for a dedicated week of events

On June 14 in Paris Bonhams will hold the first of four sales from the collection of Claude de Marteau which will be on view during the Printemps Asiatique Paris event.

Among the auction houses showing works at the Pagoda will be Irish firm Adam’s, previewing its two Asian spring sales taking place in Dublin on June 28-29.

Aponem is holding a sale at Drouot on June 15.

One of the potential top lots in Artcurial’s Asian art auction in its Paris saleroom on June 8 will be a large 5ft 7in x 2ft 11in (1.72m x 89cm) lacquered wood panel by the Vietnamese lacquer artist Nguyen Khang (1912-89).

Christie’s is holding an Asian art sale in Paris on July 6 and will be exhibiting works from the auction at the Pagoda during the Printemps Asiatique.

Chinese emperors certainly got the message when it came to artistic advances