Important jadeite and diamond necklace

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intense emerald green jadeite, Jadeite and Diamond Necklace, oval jadeite cabochon

Important jadeite and diamond necklace. Estimate HK$25,000,000 – 30,000,000 (US$3,205,000 – 3,850,000). Photo Tiancheng International

Composed of nine graduated oval jadeite cabochons of intense emerald green colour and very fine translucency, each spaced by clusters of marquise-, pear-shaped and brilliant-cut diamonds extending to the back, the diamonds together weighing approximately 29.80 carats, mounted in 18 karat white gold, length approximately 481mm.

Cabochons measuring approximately 19.72 x 16.12 x 8.08 to 16.45 x 13.62 x 7.85mm.

Accompanied by Hong Kong Jade & Stone Laboratory report numbered KJ87622(1-9), dated 23 September 2014, stating that the jadeites are natural, known in the trade as ‘A Jade’.

Tiancheng International. HONG KONG AUTUMN AUCTION. Jewellery and Jadeite. 7 Dec · 1 pm

Fine pair of 22.73 and 21.90 carats Colombian emerald and diamond pendent earrings

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Colombian emerald, cushion-shaped emerald, emerald and diamond pendent earrings

Fine pair of 22.73 and 21.90 carats Colombian emerald and diamond pendent earrings. Estimate HK$7,000,000 – 9,000,000 (US$900,000 – 1,154,000). Photo Tiancheng International

Each suspending a cushion-shaped emerald weighing 22.73 and 21.90 carats respectively, surmounted by a cushioned-shaped and old mine-cut diamond weighing 2.01 and 2.01 carats respectively, framed and linked by brilliant-cut diamonds altogether weighing approximately 4.25 carats, mounted in platinum.

Accompanied by Gübelin reports numbered 1003731 and 1003779, dated 17 and 19 March 2010, stating that the 22.73 and 21.90 carat emeralds are natural, Green colour, of Colombian origin, with indications of minor clarity enhancement; GIA reports numbered 1112542307 and 2115515841, dated 13 January 2010 and 29 December 2009, stating that the 2.01 and 2.01 carat diamond are F colour, VS2 clarity.

Tiancheng International. HONG KONG AUTUMN AUCTION. Jewellery and Jadeite. 7 Dec · 1 pm

Impressive 34.24 carats Burmese star sapphire, sapphire and diamond ring

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cabochon star sapphire, Sapphire and diamond ring, star sapphire

Impressive 34.24 carats Burmese star sapphire, sapphire and diamond ring. Estimate HK$2,600,000 – 3,600,000 (US$335,000 – 460,000). Photo Tiancheng International

Centring on a cabochon star sapphire weighing 34.24 carats, to a stylised mount decorated with calibré- and brilliant-cut diamonds enhanced by circular-cut sapphires, the diamonds and sapphires together weighing approximately 2.60 and 5.35 carats respectively, mounted in 18 karat white gold. Ring size: 7¾

Accompanied by SSEF report numbered 76427, dated 24 September 2014, stating that the 34.24 carat star sapphire is natural, Blue colour of medium strong saturation, of Burmese origin, with no indications of heat treatment and with a distinct star effect (asterism);

Gübelin report numbered 0109327, dated 5 October 2001, stating that the 34.24 carat star sapphire is natural, Blue colour, of Burmese origin, with no indications of thermal enhancement.

Tiancheng International. HONG KONG AUTUMN AUCTION. Jewellery and Jadeite. 7 Dec · 1 pm

Bi-coloured icy jadeite pendant

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Bi-coloured icy jadeite pendant

Bi-coloured icy jadeite pendant. Estimate HK$4,200,000 – 5,200,000 (US$540,000 – 666,000). Photo Tiancheng International

The highly translucent jadeite of soft apple green tone, suffused with bright green patches, carved as a huaigu atop with a toad holding a peach, accompanied by an adjustable brown cord, to a brilliant-cut diamond-set hoop and rondelles, mounted in 18 karat pink gold.

Huaigu measuring approximately 51.73 x 36.87 x 17.29mm.

Accompanied by Hong Kong Jade & Stone Laboratory report numbered KJ87216, dated 22 August 2014, stating that the jadeite is natural, known in the trade as ‘A Jade’.

Tiancheng International. HONG KONG AUTUMN AUCTION. Jewellery and Jadeite. 7 Dec · 1 pm

Impressive pair of Mozambican « Pigeon’s Blood » ruby and diamond pendent earrings

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Mozambican "Pigeon's Blood" ruby, Mozambique ruby, oval ruby, ruby and diamond pendent earrings

Impressive pair of Mozambican « Pigeon’s Blood » ruby and diamond pendent earrings. Estimate HK$11,500,000 – 15,000,000 (US$1,480,000 – 1,900,000). Photo Tiancheng International

Each suspending an oval ruby weighing 7.12 and 7.06 carats respectively, surmounted by a circular-cut ruby altogether weighing approximately 1.70 carats, decorated with pear-shaped and brilliant-cut diamonds altogether weighing approximately 11.35 carats, mounted in 18 karat white and yellow gold.

Accompanied by SSEF report numbered 76567, dated 26 September 2014, stating that the 7.12 and 7.06 carat rubies are natural, Red colour of medium strong saturation, of Mozambican origin, with no indications of heating; along with an appendix stating that ‘the natural rubies possess extraordinary characteristics and merit special mention and appreciation…their vivid and saturated red is due to a combination of well-balanced trace elements in the gemstone, typical and characteristics for rubies from this new source of excellent gems in East Africa…Assembling a matching pair of natural rubies from Mozambique of this size and quality is very rare and exceptional.’

Lotus report numbered P-10033, dated 20 August 2014, stating that the 7.12 and 7.06 carat rubies are natural, Medium-Deep Red colour of Vivid saturation, the deep red colour of these gems earns them the Lotus « Royal Red » distinction, of Mozambican origin, with no indications of enhancement; along with a special supplement, stating that « this dynamic duo matches not merely in shape and size, but their colours are so close that one can almost imagine they were fashioned from the same piece of rough… the rarity, and thus resultant value, of the set compounds that of jewels already impressive in their own right. »

GRS report numbered GRS2014-098605, dated 18 September 2014, stating that the 7.12 and 7.06 carat rubies are natural, Vivid Red (GRS type « Pigeon’s Blood ») colour, of Mozambican origin, with no indication of thermal treatment.

22 GIA reports stating that the pear-shaped and brilliant-cut diamonds ranging from 0.94 to 0.31 carat are all D colour, Internally Flawless to VVS2 clarity respectively.

Tiancheng International. HONG KONG AUTUMN AUCTION. Jewellery and Jadeite. 7 Dec · 1 pm

A very rare Famille Rose ‘Boy and Chicken’ cup, Qianlong six-character fanggu seal mark, with an inscription dated to bingshen year, corresponding to 1776, and of the period

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'Boy and Chicken' cup, Bingshen year, famille-rose, Qianlong six-character fanggu seal mark

A very rare Famille Rose ‘Boy and Chicken’ cup, Qianlong six-character fanggu seal mark, with an inscription dated to bingshen year, corresponding to 1776, and of the period. Estimate HK$2,000,000 – HK$3,000,000 ($260,000 – $390,000). Unsold. Photo Christie’s Ltd 2014

The cup is delicately enamelled to the exterior with a boy at play beside a cockerel accompanied by a hen and two chicks amongst peonies in a rocky garden. One side of the cup is inscribed with a long poem ending in Qianlong bingshen yu ti, ‘inscribed in the bingshen year of Qianlong’, and two seals in iron red. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm.) high, stand, box

Notes: Compare with an example in the Palace Museum collection, Beijing, included in the exhibition The Life of Emperor Qianlong, Macao Museum of Art, Macao, 2002, and illustrated in the Catalogue, no. 90. A pair of bowls of the same design in the National Palace Museum, Taipei were included in the exhibition K’ang-hsi, Yung-cheng and Ch’ien-lung Ware from the Ch’ing Dynasty, National Palace Museum, Taipei 1986, illustrated in the Catalogue, no.144.

Cups of this type are based on earlier Chenghua doucai prototypes such as the pair of cups of similar shape, but decorated with chickens only, included in the Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Government Exhibits for International Exhibition of Chinese Art in London, vol. II, Porcelain, 1948, p. 130, no. 171.

The mark on the base of all of these cups reads Da Qing Qianlong fanggu, which translates as ‘made in imitation of antiquity in the Qianlong reign of the Great Qing dynasty’. The imitation of antiquity, or archaism, was a theme close to the Qianlong emperor’s heart and a considerable number of imperial art objects in a range of different media bear this mark. The correct rendering of the mark was given by D. Howard and J. Ayers when they included a similar cup in their catalogue of the Mottahedeh collection, Chinese for the West, London/New York, 1978, vol. 1, pp. 171-2, no. 165, in which they date the cup to the Qianlong reign. A cup of this type was also published as dating to the Qianlong period by S. Bushell, who translated the poem in Oriental Ceramic Art, New York, 1899, pp. 49-51.

The poem is in praise of well-known works of art from earlier periods and in particular to Ming dynasty chicken cups. As with most of Qianlong’s poems, there are many archaic references. In this instance, the Emperor mentioned the child prodigy, Jia Chang (b. AD713), as depicted by the image of the boy on the present cup. At the age of thirteen, Jia Chang was such a talented trainer of fighting cocks that the Tang dynasty emperor Xuanzong (r. AD 713-56) employed him to train the imperial fighting cocks. The design on these cups is therefore often known as ‘the precocious boy’.

CHRISTIES. IMPORTANT CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 26 November 2014, Convention Hall

An extremely rare early Ming blue and white jar, guan, Yongle period (1403-1425)

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Early Ming, guan, JAR, Yongle Period

An extremely rare early Ming blue and white jar, guan, Yongle period (1403-1425). Estimate HK$2,000,000 – HK$3,000,000 ($260,000 – $390,000). Price Realized HK$2,200,000 ($284,909). Photo Christie’s Ltd 2014

The exterior of the jar is delicately painted in underglaze-blue with the ‘heaping and piling’ effect, depicting a continuous garden scene with leafy flowering branches of chrysanthemum and morning glory, beside rocks and millet sprays. 5 1/8 in. (13 cm.) wide

Provenance: Sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 29 April 1997, lot 532

Notes: Blue and white jars of this design from the early 15th century are extremely rare, and only very few related examples have been published to date. Compare to another early 15th century example of similar design from the collection of Mrs. Alfred Clark, now in the British Museum, illustrated in Oriental Ceramics, The World’s Great Collections, vol. 5, 1981, pl. 38. Another comparable example was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 29 September 1992, lot 471. No excavated example appears to have been found from the Yongle and Xuande strata at the Jingdezhen Imperial kilns so far, suggesting that only very few jars of this rare type were produced at the time.

It appears that this select group of early Ming jars became the prototype of much revered blue and white jars from the later Chenghua period, potted to similar forms and painted similarly with composite flowers but in a paler blue with less ‘heaping and piling’ which is characteristic of cobalt used during the period. One such example was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30 May 2006, lot 1387.

CHRISTIES. IMPORTANT CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 26 November 2014, Convention Hall

An anhua-decorated white-glazed bowl, Hongwu period (1368-1398)

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Hongwu Period

An anhua-decorated white-glazed bowl, Hongwu period (1368-1398). Estimate HK$2,000,000 – HK$3,000,000 ($260,000 – $390,000). Unsold. Photo Christie’s Ltd 2014

The finely potted bowl with deep rounded sides is covered overall with a creamy-white glaze. It is decorated in anhua around the cavetto with a striding phoenix and a scaly dragon among S-form double-headed ruyi clouds. 8 1/4 in. (21 cm.) diam., box

Notes: A small group of white-glazed bowls with moulded decorations on the interior from the Hongwu period are published. The first is illustrated by J. Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, London, 2001, p. 85, no. 2:1. The second bowl, dating to the late 14th century, is illustrated by R. Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection, vol. 2, London, 1994, pl. 648. Two other bowls are known, one from the Percival David Foundation now housed at the British Museum, museum no. PDF A.451; and another is illustrated by J. Ayers, The Baur Collection, Geneva, 1969, A.142.

CHRISTIES. IMPORTANT CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 26 November 2014, Convention Hall

A rare large carved qingbai meiping and cover, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279)

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meiping and cover, Qingbai, Southern Song dynasty

A rare large carved Qingbai meiping and cover, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279). Estimate HK$2,000,000 – HK$3,000,000 ($260,000 – $390,000). Price Realized HK$3,160,000 ($409,233). Photo Christie’s Ltd 2014

The vase is crisply carved with a broad band of scrolling lotus, all under a translucent glaze of pale aquamarine tone pooling in the recesses, ending in an irregular line above the foot exposing the white biscuit body. The cover is carved on the top with a spray of lotus. 13 3/4 in. (34.9 cm.) high, box

Notes: Starting from the early Northern Song dynasty, kilns at Jingdezhen achieved success in producing very fine white-bodied porcelain covered with an illuminous glaze of icy blue tinge, earning the name qingbai, ‘blue white’, or yingqing, ‘shadow blue’. The exquisite quality of qingbai porcelain was widely recognised, and the Southern Song ceramic historian Jiang Qi mentioned in his treatise Tao ji (Ceramic Records) that white porcelain produced at Jingdezhen was so refined and pure that it was known as Raoyu, ‘jade of Rao’. Raozhou was the name of the region in which the Jingdezhen kilns were located.

Although many meiping vases originally had covers, very few have retained them. Thus the current qingbai meiping is rare not only because of its decoration, but especially since its cover has been preserved. A meiping without cover, carved with similar motifs but with broader shoulders is illustrated in Sekai toji zenshu, vol. 12, Song, Tokyo, 1977, pl. 30; another is illustrated in Mayuyama Seventy Years, Tokyo, 1976, pl. 417.

CHRISTIES. IMPORTANT CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 26 November 2014, Convention Hall

A large pair of Longquan celadon bottle vases, Ming dynasty, 16th century

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16th Century, bottle vase, Longquan celadon, Ming Dynasty

A large pair of Longquan celadon bottle vases, Ming dynasty, 16th century. Estimate HK$2,000,000 – HK$3,000,000 ($260,000 – $390,000). Price Realized HK$2,200,000 ($284,909). Photo Christie’s Ltd 2014

Each vase is sturdily potted with a pear-shaped body, decorated with a single bow string, raised on a low splayed ring foot. The waisted neck with a pair of mythical beast-head C-shaped handles, each suspending a circular ring. The glaze of a rich olive-green tone. 11 3/4 in. (30.2 cm.) high, box (2)

Note: Compare with a smaller vase of this shape and design, illustrated in Green-Longquan Celadon of the Ming Dynasty, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 2009, p. 195, no. 103 (18.9 cm. high); where the author mentions a similar vase dating to 1566, excavated in Chengdu, Sichuan province.

CHRISTIES. IMPORTANT CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART, 26 November 2014, Convention Hall