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| gilt-bronze cloisonné enamel tiger waterpot and cover, Qianlong mark and period, |
Sotheby's London will present for sale a range of Imperial porcelain, monochrome ceramics, bronzes and jades in its biannual sale of Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on November 9th. The auction will comprise 560 lots, estimated to realise in the region of £12 million. Highlights include a superb gilt-bronze and cloisonné enamel tiger waterpot of Qianlong mark and period from the collection of Sir Peter Moores at Parbold Hall in Lancashire and a group of Qing dynasty monochrome porcelains from the renowned collection of Richard Fairfax William Cartwright at Aynhoe Park near Banbury.
Richard Fairfax William Cartwright's (1903-1954) Chinese porcelain collection was kept for many years at Aynhoe Park, the Oxfordshire estate owned by his family since 1616. Cartwright began acquiring fine early Qing dynasty monochrome porcelains in the 1930s. To fund these purchases, his daughter recalls his habit of stowing small change in a drawer each day, until sufficient funds had accumulated for a worthwhile trip to London. He designated a special exhibition room at Aynhoe devoted to his monochromes and displayed them in recessed cases, each dedicated to a particular colour group. Seventeen rare, exquisitely vibrant eighteenth century Imperial monochromes from Cartwright's collection feature in the sale, (with a combined estimate in excess of £1 million) including wares in yellow, robin's egg blue and vibrant green. The highlight, a rare crimson-pink glazed chrysanthemum dish of Qianlong mark and period, is estimated at £80,000-120,000.
This large Doucai ‘Lotus and Bats’ jar and cover of Qianlong mark and period has a large body decorated with an ornate composition of bats in mid-flight and lotus scrolls in rich doucai enamels. Wares decorated in this manner were appreciated during the Qing dynasty for their understated elegance. In this case, the quality of the vase is accentuated by the restrained use of gilt paint and reflects the exceptional standard of quality of its period.