"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

As the autumnal days grow shorter and the evenings longer, I am proud to announce the inaugural auction of the Arts of Asia department. Entitled ‘Embracing Shadows’ to reflect the seasonal changes in nature and celebrate the famous Japanese author and his essay on aesthetics, focussing on importance of light in art appreciation.

Together with Beatrice Campi we selected over 140 lots from East and Southeast Asia to suit a variety of collecting tastes. The pieces date from the Late Neolithic period to modern day, and cover the vast area including Japan, Korea, China, Tibet, Vietnam and Burma. The star lots comprise notable pieces from several private collections, such as important Qing dynasty ceramics, several rare paintings, and a group of 20th century Japanese prints. Further highlights include a selection of Burmese jewellery as well as quality bronzes and pottery from China and Japan.

The viewing will take place from Friday 1st - Sunday 10th of November from 11am - 4pm. We will be happy to help you explore the sale, learn about the lots of your interest and assist with bidding registration. If you have any questions related to the featured lots or attending the sale, feel free to contact Marta Somauroo at marta@azcaauctions.com and Beatrice Campi at beatrice@azcaauctions.com.

Lot 68

A GILT WOOD FIGURE OF A BUDDHA

A GILT WOOD FIGURE OF A BUDDHA. Japan, Azuchi Momoyama period, 16th / 17th century. Estimate £1,200-1,500

Despite the dark, centuries-old patina of incense smoke, the inner light of this beautifully sculpted figure of meditating Dainichi Nyorai shines through.

Buddha is simply a title meaning ‘The Enlightened One’ and in the complex Buddhist pantheon Dainichi (literally the Great Sun) is placed in the centre. He takes precedent over the Historical Buddha (prince Siddhartha Gautama) as the Cosmic Buddha, with all the others being the emanation of his wisdom. He is especially important to the Japanese Shingon sect of Esoteric Buddhism.

The hand gesture of the current figure is a variation of a mudra described as Chiken-In (智拳印), where the clasped five fingers of the right hand symbolise the worldly elements: earth, water, fire, wind, and space united around a finger of the left hand - the spiritual consciousness. 

Thus the present figure is a reminder of the true nature of the Buddhist teachings and brings the mind to the core of what is real and what is an illusion.

Lot 129

TOSHI YOSHIDA (1911 — 1995). Mount Fuji

TOSHI YOSHIDA (1911 — 1995). Mount Fuji. Japan, 1987. Estimate £200 - £300 

In this iconic image by Toshi Yoshida, Japan’s sacred mountain is slowly swallowed up by evening shadows. Our sale features several examples of works by brothers Toshi and Hodaka Yoshida (1926 — 1995) from an important London collection. The Dulwich Picture Gallery in London currently hosts an exhibition celebrating the creative legacy of this artistic family of printmakers and painters.

It is a pleasure to see the enthusiasm and appreciation for the 20th century Japanese woodblock prints. The market is still forming for many of these artists but exhibitions like the one in Dulwich are helping to shape both tastes and prices.

Lot 3 

AN IMPERIAL FAMILLE ROSE 'BITTER MELON' BOWL AND COVER

AN IMPERIAL FAMILLE ROSE 'BITTER MELON' BOWL AND COVER. China, six-character Daoguang mark and of the period (1821 - 1850). Estimate £3,000 - £5,000

This delicate and finely painted bowl comes form a deceased private Irish estate and since mid 19th century still boasts a matching cover. Both pieces feature the Imperial six-character Daoguang mark. The design, based on a word play of butterflies (die) depicted together with gourd vines or melons (gua) create a pun ‘gua die mianmian’, expressing an auspicious wish for generations of sons and grandsons.

The ‘Bitter Melon’ design is not a rarity, it has been produced since the Qianlong period all the way through to the 20th century. What makes this example stand out is the strong provenance, impeccable condition and the presence of the cover, often the first to suffer damage over decades of use and transportation.

Lot 4 

QIAN SHUN JU (attributed to 1239-1299) 
Portraits of Periodical Offerings

QIAN SHUN JU (attributed to 1239-1299) Portraits of Periodical Offerings. China, 18th century or earlier. Estimate £3,000 - £5,000

This handscroll painted on silk, depicting a procession of foreign emissaries delivering gifts of jade, coral and beautifully caparisonned horses to the Imperial court is signed Qian Shun Ju, entitled Portraits of Periodical Offerings (Zhígòngtú) and embellished with a calligraphy and signature of Zhang Shen, a collector, scholar and calligrapher active at the turn of Yuan and Ming dynasties. A very closely related painting, dated to the Ming Dynasty is housed in the collection of the Smythsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, Washington DC. The Smythsonian scroll is traditionally attributed to Han Gan (715 — 781), the Tang Dynasty painter renowned for his vivid and spirited depiction of horses from the Imperial stables.

The current scroll has ben appraised at the time of purchase in the 1990s by the present owner and deemed to be a later, 18th century copy, but more research is needed to establish the potential authorship and age.

Throughout the history of the Chinese empire, the vassal states and tribes were obliged to deliver diplomatic gifts to the court on regular basis. Portraits of Periodical Offerings, Zhígòngtú, (職貢圖 / 职贡图) was a popular theme and a way of recording those foreign tributes arriving at the court and ambassadors delivering them. Examples were commissioned since the Liang Dynasty (526 - 539) and copies made for circulation among the court officials. Each depiction was accompanied by a short description of the diplomat and their country of origin.

Click below to view all lots in the upcoming auction and explore an exciting range of items available for bidding.