The sale will feature 98 exceptional lots ranging from archaic bronze vessels to modern Chinese paintings, and is expected to realize in excess of $6 million. The Gordons began collecting in the early 1970s, when relatively little Chinese art was available in America. Joining a circle of American collectors that included Arthur M. Sackler and Paul Singer, the Gordons bought mainly at auction or from premier dealers such as Frank Caro (successor to C.T. Loo) in New York and the firms of Eskenazi Ltd., S.Marchant and Son, Bluett & Sons Ltd. and John Sparks Ltd. in London.
Leading the sale is an exceptionally rare blue-glazed flask-form vase, Qianlong six-character seal mark in underglaze blue and of the period (1736-1795). The striking and unusual form of this magnificent vase is based on Yueyao celadon-glazed stoneware prototypes from the Jin dynasty, 3rd-4th century, and is a vivid reflection of the Yongzheng and Qianlong Emperors' fondness for archaic shapes and designs. The charming bird-form handles are a fanciful Qing alternative to the small double-lug handles applied on the narrow sides of the Yueyao prototypes. The refined sculptural quality of the bird-form handles is accentuated by the thinning of the brilliant blue glaze onthe wings, tails and beaks. Qing vases of this form are exceptionally rare, and include two in the Palace Museum, Beijing and one in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Immediately following will be Property from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, which includes rare archaic jades, early bronze accouterments and mirrors, sculpture and other works of art. Highlights include two large bronze lobed mirrors, Tang dynasty (618-907); a rare gilt-copper mask, Liao dynasty 907-1125); a rare greyishgreen and opaque buff jade ‘toothed’ pendant fragment, Neolithic period, Hongshan culture, an two rare sandstone wall fragments of apsaras, Song/early Ming dynasty, 10th-14th century
The afternoon session continues with Part 1 of Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art and then Part II on March 25, which all together offer over 600 objects across a myriad categories and tastes, from outstanding archaic bronzes to sleek, elegant furniture to superb jade carvings. Highlights include a rare large Gilt-Bronze Dragon Head Terminal Fitting from the Tang dynasty (618-907).