Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian (156)

Confirmed by the experts at Sotheby's in Hong Kong to be the only surviving painting by 13th Century Chinese Southern Song Artist Chen Jue 陳珏(款). Signature and two seals. Ink and colors on silk, framed. 19.5 x 12.75 inches, 49.5 x 32.5 cm.

Only Pair of Korean Enlightened Saints (Nahan) Paintings Ever Offered for Sale. Set in beautiful landscapes, the Nahan on the right has subdued a demon who is supplicating before him. 18th Century. Colors on paper. 30 x 13.5 inches, 76 x 34 cm each.

Chinese Song Dynasty Guanyin Wood Sculpture. 41.5 inches, 105 cm.

Rare and Grand Joseon Dynasty 19th Century Eight-Panel Chaekgeori Still-Life Screen painting on All-Original Mounting. Chaekgeori literally translates to "books and things," and the things are scholar's accoutrements. It is rare to find such an old and important screen on its original silk and wood mounting. They are usually remounted. In fact, the only other 19th century examples you will ever see are all in museums. So this is a once-in-a-lifetime acquisition opportunity for a serious connoisseur of fine art and Korean culture. This genre of painting is uniquely Korean and was created by King Jeongjo in 1791. The shelves of the painting are adorned with books and objects collected from other countries, illuminating the ideas of the erudite and cosmopolitan scholar. The spatial illusion of reverse perspective used in early examples of chaekgeori is masterfully rendered here. This screen inspired the pursuit of knowledge and reverence for cultural values in the many ritual ceremonies it was used in over the decades. 141 x 60 inches, 358 x 152 cm.

Rare and Outstanding early 19th Century Korean Porcelain Jar with Dynamic Underglaze Painting of Copper Red and Iron Brown and an Incredible Thick Dripping Blue Glaze. Unquestionably one of the best and most creative Korean porcelains you will ever see. There really is no other like it, from the design to the copper-red and iron-brown brushwork, from the potting to the glaze, it is truly one-of-a-kind. It has all of the best characteristics of Korean ceramics, whimsical yet technically accomplished, with unaffected sincerity, earthy soulfulness, absence of artifice, and effortless reverence for and affinity with nature. The dripping blue glaze on the surface, and the peach tones that come through the white porcelain glaze, make it all the more special. It will always reward repeated viewing and touching. 10 inches tall x 10 inches wide, 25.5 x 25.5 cm.

Fine, Rare Eight-Panel Painting by Revered Korean Artist Kim Eung Won aka Soho (1855-1921). Orchids are an ancient Korean symbol of purity, modesty, and virtue. The rock symbolizes eternity, so the combination of orchids and rock have the meaning of eternal adherence to principle. The orchid grows in remote places, but its fragrance spreads over the land, just as the scholar often works in isolation, but through their scholarly and ethical works their influence is felt throughout the land. Talented painters of orchids were and still are held in the highest regard. Though Daewongun (Prince Yi Ha Eung) is often cited as the greatest painter of orchids, most scholars now agree it was Kim Eung Won who was creating many of the paintings for which Prince Daewongun took credit and which Daewongun signed. Daewongun was, of course, a great painter of orchids, but most agree now that Kim Eung Won may deserve the title of greatest. His paintings sell for a fraction of the price of Daewongun's paintings, at least for now. That can be expected to change as the general public catches up with the scholarship on the subject. The last photo here is of the only other Kim Eung Won screen offered for sale. The "sale" price is more than double the price we are asking here. This is the only Kim Eung Won eight-panel painting we have ever offered in our 18 years in business. It is unlikely we will ever find another. Ink on paper. 54 x 14 inches, 137.5 x 35.5 cm unmounted. (A much smaller and single Daewongun painting sold at Christie's for $12,500 on March 18, 2014).

Very Fine and Rare Goryeo Dynasty Inlaid Celadon Cosmetic Box, 12th to 13th Century. The last photo here is a similar example that was in Christie's September 22, 2005 Sale of Japanese and Korean Art. We are sure you will agree that the Christie's example is not as refined, detailed, and beautifully designed as the piece that we offer here, with its inlaid lotus, geese, willow tree, and reeds. The condition is also excellent. On the side, you can see two small spaces where the potter's fingers covered the glaze. This is original to the piece so it is not a condition issue. It is in pretty much its original condition. The Christie's example was estimated at $10,000 to $15,000, 10 years ago. Dimensions: 4.75 inches wide, 3 inches high (50% larger than the Christie's example, which was 3.25 inches wide). 12 cm wide and 7.5 cm high.

You rarely see 19th Century Korean tiger paintings offered for sale anymore, especially in excellent condition like this one. When they do come up in auctions now, they sell for five figures. That's because there is nothing anywhere like Joseon Era Korean tiger folk paintings. Tigers in Korean paintings are not ferocious. They are humorous and full of personality. And each one is unique, like this fellow here with his quizzical and lovable face as he is being addressed by the magpies. This was a favorite symbol of the common folks and represented the people speaking truth to power. The pine tree is a symbol of longevity and wisdom. The azaleas symbolize beauty. This painting is very "Korean." It is painted in ink and colors on traditional and old hanji paper. Korean tiger folk paintings are never signed. Frame: 45 x 29 inches (114 x 74 cm), Painting: 38 x 22 inches (97 x 56 cm).

Rare and Fine Painting on Silk of Dokseong, The Hermit Saint, from the renowned Charles J. Chu Collection. Sold on June 25, 2010 in Skinner's Asian Works of Art auction (Sale 2512, Lot 445). We sold the last Dokseong painting we had to the Art Institute of Chicago. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a beautiful and important painting with an impeccable provenance. Dokseong is portrayed here in a heavenly landscape filled with ancient symbolism, as he sits under the pine tree (symbol of longevity) with a stack of books, beside peonies (symbol of wealth, in this case, a wealth of knowledge and natural beauty), in front of waterfalls and a river (symbols of eternal life), atop a rocky plateau with freshly blooming orchids (orchids are an ancient Korean symbol of purity, modesty, and virtue; rocks symbolizes eternity; so the combination of orchids and rocks have the meaning of eternal adherence to principle). His robe is adorned with clouds (symbol of longevity) and chrysanthemums (symbol of abundance). The chrysanthemums are echoed in the bookshelves. The melons and pomegranates atop the books are fruits with many seeds, so they symbolize plenty. In this case, they represent nature's abundance. Frame: 42 x 33 inches (107 x 84 cm), Painting: 36.5 x 27.25 inches (93 x 69 cm).

Burmese Bronze Buddha with Movable Left Hand. 16.5 inches, 42 cm.

Nepalese Magar Tribe Mask with a Vagina and an Inscription in the forehead, and a Penis Nose. 9.5 inches, 24 cm. From the collection of Irwin Hersey, renowned author on Asian and primitive art, and publisher of the Primitive Art Newsletter in the 1970s. Irwin Hersey was an advisor to museums and prominent collectors, and vetted pieces for many of the international tribal art fairs and Asian art fairs.

Unique Burmese Gilded Bronze Buddha with Human Face and an Inscription that winds around the circumference. 10 inches, 25.5 cm.

Very Rare 13th Century Celadon Bowl with Elaborate Gold Painting. Gold-painted celadons were produced during a short period of time in the late 13th Century in Korea, so they are very rare. Black and white slip inlay is used for the design of the Willow Trees (ancient symbol of peace and contentment), Duck Family (symbol of blissful family life), Pampas Grass (symbol of autumn), Bullocho (mythical longevity plant), Lotus Blossoms (symbol of purity and rebirth), Chrysanthemums (symbol of well-being and abundance), and Orchids (symbol of modesty). Real gold paint is used throughout, for the bullocho, the pampas flowers, the irises, the ducks, the three rings that circle the interior of the bowl at the top to create a band for the inlaid floral scroll, and the two rings at the bottom of the bowl interior that create a solar center for the gold chrysanthemum. The exterior of the bowl is as elaborately inlaid as the interior, with gorgeous floral scrolls and sprays throughout, and a ring of stylized lotus blossoms at the bottom. Old gold lacquer repair like you see here is considered desirable by serious collectors and adds value along with character and history to a very rare, true masterpiece of celadon. As a philosophy, "golden repair" treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise. Pieces were even sometimes deliberately broken in order to apply this aesthetic to them. 7.5w x 2.75h inches, 19w x 7h cm.

Nepalese Terai Region Maiden Mask, 10.25 inches, 26 cm. From the collection of Irwin Hersey, renowned author on Asian and primitive art, and publisher of the Primitive Art Newsletter in the 1970s. Irwin Hersey was an advisor to museums and prominent collectors, and vetted pieces for many of the international tribal art fairs and Asian art fairs.

Nepalese Mask of a Humla Aesthete with a Thorja Topknot. 11 inches, 28 cm. From the collection of Irwin Hersey, renowned author on Asian and primitive art, and publisher of the Primitive Art Newsletter in the 1970s. Irwin Hersey was an advisor to museums and prominent collectors, and vetted pieces for many of the international tribal art fairs and Asian art fairs.

Fine 19th Century Korean Royal Court Painting of Children at Play. This genre of Korean paintings always displays children playing in imaginary Chinese court costumes, and is called Baekdongja-do in Korean. From the ground-breaking Auspicious Spirits, Korean Folk Paintings exhibition catalogue: "Depicting the children as court nobility expressed an auspicious desire that one's own children achieve success in life." This exceptional example was displayed in the room of a wife in the Korean royal court to inspire her to become pregnant and to have healthy, playful, and successful children. It was also displayed on the first birthday of each child. Ink and colors on silk. 40 x 14.5 inches, 101.5 x 37 cm.

South China/North Vietnam Yao Shaman Ka Dong Deity Ritual Mask. This fine old mask would have been used in the same family for several generations to perform rituals such as those for a newborn baby and maturation. The wood for this important mask would have been taken from dep in the forest where spirits were believed to live. 14.5 inches, 37 cm.

Rare and Sublime Nias Island Torque Necklace in a Classic Form made of graduated slices of Coconut Shell. Purchased by a renowned and published collector at Bonham's on May 15, 2008 (Lot 507, page 14 of the catalogue). More provenance information available upon request. 9.25 inches (23.5 cm)