Asian Art

The Asian & Islamic Art sale at Mallams in Cheltenham on May 24 includes items from the collection of auctioneer Paul Whitfield (1942–2018).

This lacquer painting on lacquered paper, a study of a leafy branch with chestnuts, is signed by Shibata Zeshin (1807-91).

Sotheby’s conducts a timed online sale from May 10-17 titled A Journey Through China’s History: The Dr Wou Kiuan Collection.

Bonhams is conducting a sale on May 18 titled Samurai Beauties and Townsmen: Japanese Art in Peace and War.

This rare 2ft 7in (78cm) high white marble stele depicting the Buddhist goddess Guanyin predates was carved in the Northern Qi dynasty, (550-577AD), around the time of the Sutton Hoo hoard.

The sale at Ma San in Bath on May 4 includes this Japanese double gourd carp vase by Makuzu Kozan (1842-1916).

Among the most striking Japanese works of art in Chiswick Auctions’ sale is this life-size model of an eagle with wings outstretched on a gnarled branch.

The oshi-e technique, meaning ‘pressed picture’, involves folding and pressing scraps of fabric, such as kimono cloth, and washi paper to create an image.

This 16in (41cm) blue and white sleeve vase from the Transitional period is on offer at the Bonhams Knightsbridge sale titled Asian Art on May 15.

The sale of Asian art at Lyon & Turnbull in London on May 16 includes this late Edo or Meiji period boxwood netsuke of a recumbent deer signed Masakiyo.

The Asian art sale at Halls in Shrewsbury on May 11 features this 10½in (27cm) pink ground famille rose vase.

This pair of 10in (25cm) famille verte and ormolu vases has a provenance to Arthur Tite (1904-84), the London connoisseur, gentleman collector and agent to Victor Rothschild, 3rd Baron (1910-90).

Roseberys’ Chinese, Japanese & South East Asian Art sale on May 16-17 runs to over 1000 lots and includes two private collections.

Once the centre of the Asian art trade, and still the repository for some of the most knowledgeable dealers on the subject, the London market has weakened in recent years.

This 14in (36cm) Qianlong mark and period Canton vase of square baluster form is painted with four oval cartouches with European rural landscape views.

Dreweatts’ sale on May 17-18 includes a very rare Xuande (1426-35) mark and period cloisonné ‘pomegranate’ box and cover.

The sale of Asian Art at Chiswick Auctions on May 19 is led by this rare example of Ming dynasty cloisonné.

Asian art specialist Francesca Galloway has left her Dover Street, London, premises of 16 years as she considers new directions for the business and other interests.

This 18th century Chinese export reverse-painted mirror in a period gilt frame took a five-figure sum at auction.

A spate of businesses taking stock and personal collections to the saleroom reflects wider changes in the market