This 3ft 6in (1.08m) high Ming dynasty huanghuali folding chair is among only a limited number of surviving examples dating to 17th century. It is admired for its impressive proportions and the dynamic sweep of the rounded crestrail, constructed in three parts rather than the more commonly seen five-part rails. It is estimated at $2m-3m at Christie's New York.
Live sales will begin on March 21 with Japanese and Korean Art featuring ancient armour, Buddhist works and lacquer objects among other items.
Highlights include an early impression of Hokusai’s (1760-1849) Great Wave - the first in his series of Mount Fuji views - valued at $500,000-700,000, and a Joseon Dynasty (18th century) white porcelain moon jar estimated at $1m-2m.
This 17th or 18th century gold-heightened Tibetan painting of Milarepa – a yogi considered one of the great folk heroes of Tibetan culture – is estimated at $200,000-300,000 in Christie’s ‘Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Works of Art’ on March 22. Milarepa is said to have composed thousands of Buddhist songs and poems and is often portrayed with his hand cupped to his ear in song, as he is here.
Two live sales take place on March 22. Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Works of Art is headlined by a 17th or 18th century gold-heightened Tibetan painting of Milarepa estimated at $200,000-300,000, while South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art, is led by a monumental oil on canvas painted in 2004 by Manjit Bawa (1941-2008) guided at $1m-$1.5m.
Longstanding business
This small 5in (13cm) high Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) Guan ware vase is of a form known in Chinese as a dan pingor danshi ping, literally meaning gallbladder vase. The texture and crackle of its bluish toned glaze is believed to have been created to deliberately emulate jade. Previously owned by the renowned Swedish collector Carl Kempe (1884-1967), it is estimated at $700,000-900,000 in Christie’s sale of works from JJ Lally & Co on March 23.
Scheduled for March 23 is the firm’s dedicated auction of works from Chinese art dealer JJ Lally & Co.
The New York gallery was established by James Lally in 1986 and ran for 35 years before his retirement in 2021. The 138-lot sale encompasses Chinese ceramics and works of art from the Shang through the Qing dynasties and includes a Kangxi period (1662-1722) clair-de-lune-glazed ‘hundred rib’ guan jar, guided at $400,000-600,000, and Guan bottle vase, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279), estimated at $700,000-900,000.
The centrepiece of Christie’s AWNY programme is Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art offered across two days on March 23-24.
Several private collections of ceramics and early Chinese works of art will be offered as well as a selection of classical Chinese furniture.
Among the stand-out items is a 17th century folding huanghuali chair, estimated at $2m-3m, and an early Western Zhou dynasty (11th-10th century BC) bronze ritual wine vesselor jue guided at $250,000-350,000.
The three online sales incorporate JJ Lally & Co - The Library, running from March 15-30, South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art Online from March 15-28 and Arts of Asia Online from March 15-29.
