If light is scarce then light is scarce; we will immerse ourselves in the darkness and there discover its own particular beauty.
Jun'ichirō Tanizaki, In Praise of Shadows, 1933
The inaugural auction of the Arts of Asia department, entitled ‘Embracing Shadows’ inspired by the famous Japanese author’s essay on aesthetics comprises over 130 lots of paintings, prints, ceramics, lacquer, jewellery and bronze from Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam, Burma and Tibet spanning over a timeline from the late neolithic period to modern day.
Among the sale highlights are Chinese Imperial famille rose ‘Bitter Melon’ bowl bearing a six character Daoguang mark and of the period and an 18th century handscroll depicting foreign emissaries presenting horses at the court. It also features a Japanese gilt wood figure of Dainichi Nyorai from Azuchi Momoyama period and a group of 20th century Japanese prints including a private collection of works by Toshi and Hodaka Yoshida and other artists.
For any specific queries regarding East Asian art, specifically Japanese material, reach out to Marta Somauroo at marta@azcaauction.com. For anything relating to Southeast Asian art, please contact the Head of Department, Beatrice Campi, at beatrice@azcaauction.com.
All lots are subject to Buyer's Premium of 23% + VAT
Lot 4
QIAN SHUN JU (attributed to, 1239 — 1299) Portraits of Periodical Offerings
Unsold
Estimated at £3,000 - £5,000
Lot 7
A HENAN 'TENMOKU' TEABOWL WITH ATTACHED KILN MOULD China, Song dynasty
Unsold
Estimated at £350 - £500
Lot 11
A PERMISSON-GLAZED BOWL AND A 'HARE'S FUR' BOWL China, Song dynasty or later
Unsold
Estimated at £100 - £200
Lot 13
A LONGQUAN 'DRAGON' CHARGER China, Song/Yuan dynasty, 10th - 14th century
Unsold
Estimated at £4,000 - £5,000
Lot 17
A SWATOW WARE BLUE-GROUND SLIP-DECORATED CHARGER China, late Ming dynasty, 16th century
Unsold
Estimated at £2,500 - £3,000
Lot 24
A PAIR OF BLUE AND WHITE 'LANDSCAPE' JARS China, 18th / 19th century
Unsold
Estimated at £1,300 - £1,500
Lot 25
A PAIR OF BLUE AND WHITE VASES China, Qing dynasty, 18th / 19th century
Unsold
Estimated at £300 - £500
Lot 26
A CIRCULAR CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL 'QILIN' BOX AND COVER China, Qing dynasty
Unsold
Estimated at £2,000 - £2,500
Lot 28
A BRONZE INCENSE BURNER China, Qing dynasty, 18th/19th century
Unsold
Estimated at £350 - £500
Lot 29
A SET OF FIVE PAKTONG FISH-SHAPED TEACUP SAUCERS China, Qing dynasty, 19th century
Unsold
Estimated at £350 - £500
Lot 30
A RED-GLAZED VASE, MEIPING China, Qing dynasty, 18th/19th century
Unsold
Estimated at £1,200 - £1,500
Lot 31
A GROUP OF TWENTY CIRCULAR MOTHER-OF-PEARL COUNTERS China, Qing dynasty, 19th century
Unsold
Estimated at £150 - £200
Lot 32
A BLUE AND WHITE BALUSTER VASE China, Qing dynasty, 19th century
Unsold
Estimated at £3,000 - £5,000
Lot 33
A FAMILLE ROSE 'PEASANTS' BOWL China, Qing dynasty 18th / 19th century
Unsold
Estimated at £400 - £600
Lot 37
A WHITE-GLAZED AND TWO FAMILLE ROSE FIGURES OF BUDAI HESHANG China, 18th and 20th centuries
Unsold
Estimated at £200 - £300
Lot 38
A LARGE POWDER BLUE-GROUND FAMILLE ROSE FISHBOWL China, late Qing dynasty
Unsold
Estimated at £5,000 - £8,000
Lot 40
A SMALL FAMILLE ROSE TULIP VASE China, late Qing / Republic period
Unsold
Estimated at £400 - £600
Lot 43
A BLUE AND WHITE 'LOTUS' JAR AND COVER China, late Qing dyansty, 19th / 20th century
Unsold
Estimated at £150 - £200
Lot 44
A 'PEACH BLOOM' BRUSH WASHER China, Late Qing / Republic period
Unsold
Estimated at £200 - £300
Lot 46
A GILT LACQUERED BRONZE FIGURE OF LOKAPALA China, 19th /20th century
Unsold
Estimated at £700 - £900
Lot 48
A PAIR OF LARGE GLAZED POTTERY 'LION DOGS' ROOF TILES Vietnam, mid 19th century
Unsold
Estimated at £2,000 - £3,000
Lot 49
A WOOD MOTHER-OF-PEARL INLAID OPIUM TRAY Vietnam, 19th century
Unsold
Estimated at £900 - £1,200
Lot 51
A BALINESE GOLD RING Indonesia, South East Asia, 19th - 20th century
Unsold
Estimated at £1,000 - £1,500
Lot 52
A BALINESE GOLD RING Indonesia, South East Asia, 19th - 20th century
Unsold
Estimated at £1,000 - £1,500
Lot 55
A GILT RUBY-SET EAGLE BROOCH Possibly Sri Lanka or Southern India, 19th - 20th century
Unsold
Estimated at £800 - £1,200
Lot 69
A LARGE BLUE AND WHITE KAKIEMON 'SPARROWS AND BAMBOO' BOWL Japan, Edo period, 17th century
Unsold
Estimated at £1,200 - £1,500
Lot 70
A BLUE AND WHITE ARITA 'EUROPEANS' JUG Japan, Edo period, 17th century
Unsold
Estimated at £1,500 - £2,000
Lot 71
A LARGE BLUE AND WHITE ARITA 'PEONY' BOTTLE VASE Japan, Edo period, circa 1690
Unsold
Estimated at £1,200 - £1,500
Lot 72
A LARGE BLUE AND WHITE ARITA 'PRUNUS AND PINE' BOTTLE VASE Japan, Edo period, circa 1690
Unsold
Estimated at £1,200 - £1,500
Lot 73
A LARGE BLUE AND WHITE ARITA 'PRUNUS AND BAMBOO' BOTTLE VASE Japan, Edo period, circa 1690
Unsold
Estimated at £1,200 - £1,500
Lot 74
A PAIR OF LARGE IMARI 'SHISHI' JARS AND COVERS Japan, late Edo period, 18th / 19th century
Unsold
Estimated at £6,000 - £8,000
Lot 76
A LARGE UNUSUAL IMARI BOWL Japan, Edo period, 19th century
Unsold
Estimated at £3,000 - £5,000
Lot 79
A HIRADO 'KARAKO AND PUPPY' TEAPOT AND COVER Japan, Meiji period, late 19th century
Unsold
Estimated at £800 - £1,200
Lot 81
A PAIR OF SATSUMA 'CHRYSANTHEMEUM' VASES Japan, Meiji period
Unsold
Estimated at £3,000 - £5,000
Lot 82
A RETICULATED SATSUMA INCENSE BURNER, COVER AND LINER Japan, Meiji period, circa 1900
Unsold
Estimated at £200 - £300
Lot 91
WATANABE SHOKA (1835 — 1887) Japan, Meiji period, 19th century
Unsold
Estimated at £150 - £200
Lot 93
A BRONZE 'WILD HOG' INCENSE BURNER AND COVER Japan, 19th century or earlier
Unsold
Estimated at £700 - £900
Lot 94
A BRONZE MODEL OF A BUFFALO Japan, Meiji period, 19th century
Unsold
Estimated at £1,200 - £1,500
Lot 95
AN OKIMONO OF A FIGHTING COCKEREL, SHAMO Japan, Meiji period
Unsold
Estimated at £12,000 - £15,000
Lot 96
AN ENAMELLED SILVER MODEL OF A HAWK Japan, Meiji period, late 19th century
Unsold
Estimated at £5,000 - £6,000