US auction house Rivertown Antiques and Estate Services' upcoming Asian Arts auction sale on 29 May presents 230 lots of Asian art, antiques and more from the Shang Dynasty through to the 20th century. Offerings include porcelain, ceramics, jade, Buddhist bronzes and paintings, sourced from important collections. All items are offered without reserve, making this sale is a treasure trove for amateur and veteran Asian art collectors. Here are a few of the top lots not to be missed.
This large gilt bronze figure of Buddha dates to the 14th century. The seller's relative was Mr Robin George, who was trained as a lawyer in Australia and went to the UK in the late 1800s. George joined the army as an officer and was posted to India in the late 1800s. He was then sent with joint forces to the East at the time of the Boxer rebellion with the British Army. After this, he was posted to India and during this time he met an English lady on the ship to Calcutta whom he eventually married around 1900-02. They both died around the 1940s. George bought this figure and other items back from China after the Boxer rebellion, c. 1901, to India and then to the UK. It was then inherited by the current seller by direct descent and has never been on the market since 1900. A picture of George's residence shows the bronze figure in 1930s.
Also part of Robin George's collection is this pair of inscribed silver and gilt bronze figures of Arhats from the 15th century. In Buddhism, arhats are those who have reached enlightenment (or Nirvana), though not yet full Buddhahood.
This dragon vase has a Kangxi mark and dates to that period. It was formerly in the collection of the Marshall Coyne, noted Washington, D.C. hotelier, who travelled to China with President Richard Nixon. It has been exhibited at a China House Gallery Exhibition in New York.
Also from Coyne's collection is this Famille Rose moon flask from the Qianlong period. This period (1735-96) is considered the pinnacle of Famille Rose design, when the designs became most elaborate and detailed on enamelled porcelain.
From the Song Dynasty comes this Junyao purple-splashed foliate dish, a glazed pottery dish in an abstract design. Also from the Song Dynasty is a Geyao tripod dish.
This Ming Dynasty gilt bronze figure of Buddha comes from the collection of Robert Edwards (1883-1979) and his wife Gloria (1886-1960).
Robert arrived in Shanghai in 1910, to work for Jardine, Matheson & Co. He married Gloria Byrne in 1917 and it was Gloria who took a special interest in acquiring Chinese antiques. The couple stayed in China until 1938-39 when they returned to the UK.
The Edwards' collection included this large Yuan Dynasty gilt bronze figure of Buddha and this pair of Qing Dynasty gilt bronze figures of Vajrapani. The Vajrapani are a protective deities of the Buddha.
Don't miss this magnificent selection of Asian arts on 29 May, and in the meantime explore the full catalogue on Barnebys.
