Asian Art soars in London

In the year of the tiger, Asian art will roar for 10 days in London beginning Thursday.

More than 40 galleries, major auction houses and museums will work together during “Asian Art in London” (Nov. 4-13), an event that each year draws collectors, curators and scholars from around the world.

Art from more than 20 Asian countries will be offered, including Indian paintings, enamels and jewelry; Chinese porcelain, jade and textiles; and Japanese lacquer, screens and sculptural ornaments. Pieces will date from the ancient to the contemporary, priced in the thousands to the millions.

Galleries have organized very diverse shows. Eskenazi of Clifford Street will celebrate its 50th anniversary as dealers with an exhibition of 12 Chinese masterpieces, acquired over the past 10 years and especially set aside for this event. One of the most prized works will be a superbly painted, 18th-century pear-shaped vase decorated with two fierce dragons chasing a flaming pearl (price well in excess of £10 million). Sam Fogg of Clifford Street will present publicly for the first time a group of more than 70 watercolors showing Buddhist murals from the Ajanta caves in India (200 B.C.-500 A.D.) as they looked when rediscovered in the late 19th century. They are to be sold as a group, along with extensive documentation, for around $100,000. Francesca Galloway of Dover Street will hold a nonselling exhibition of the famed Indian miniature collection of American film director James Ivory, featuring colorful scenes from the Hindu courts of Rajasthan.

Turning to the contemporary, dealer Katie Jones will have a joint show at Galerie Besson in the Royal Arcade of sought-after Japanese ceramist Ken Mihara and indigo-dye textile artist Shihoko Fukumoto, both produce striking meditative works (prices: £3,000-£14,500). Michael Goedhuis of Bloomfield Terrace will show 30 contemporary Chinese ink paintings, including mysterious blue paintings of vibrant horses made in 2010 by China’s Xu Lei.

“These are very exciting days for us,” says Christie’s Chinese art specialist Marco Almeida.

Christie’s will conduct a series of Asian auctions, beginning Nov. 9 with Chinese ceramics and works of art. The star lot will be an exquisitely minimalist, grayish-blue glazed vase from the southern Song dynasty (1127-1279). “Such a rare vessel is incredibly sought after,” Mr. Almeida notes (estimate: £600,000-£800,000). Another highlight will be a colorful, 18th-century Chinese tureen in the shape of a swimming goose proudly carrying on its breast the coat-of-arms of the Spanish family for which it was made (estimate: £200,000-£300,000).

Top lot at Sotheby’s Chinese sale Nov. 10 will be an imposing 14th-century, blue-and-white jar decorated with flowers, estimated at £400,000-£600,000.

White jade is much in demand. Bonhams has on the catalog cover of its Chinese sale Nov. 11 an exceptionally rare white-jade seal that was commissioned by the Qianlong Emperor (1711-1799), who ruled China at a peak of its affluence. Bonhams says there is “tremendous interest” in the piece (estimate: £2 million-£3 million). The square seal is surmounted by a five-clawed dragon with menacing fangs. The seal’s inscription reads, “Self-strengthening never ceases.”

Classic Japanese art is an area to keep an eye on. It has lagged the Chinese market in recent years because of ferocious buying on the part of mainland Chinese. In comparison, says Christie’s Japanese specialist Anastasia von Seibold, the Japanese market is undervalued, making it a “buying opportunity.” Both Christie’s (Nov. 10) and Bonhams (Nov. 9 and Nov. 11) have Japanese sales. At both houses, inro and netsuke will feature prominently. These are miniature art works worn by Japanese men in the 17th-19th centuries as part of their pocketless kimono. The inro is a sealed case comprising small, nested boxes for storing personal belongings; the netsuke, a small carving of animals or people, kept the inro securely closed. At Bonhams, an 18th-century wooden netsuke of a dog is estimated at £20,000-£25,000.

60,000 coins later, father-son wants museum

Pune A collection of 60,000 antique coins, many of them of gold, is the proud possession of Devdutta Angal (70) and son Narindra.Recently back from the annual conference of the Numismatic Society of India, they are trying to set up a museum in Pune to showcase the collection. “We have sought permission of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to raise a building. The museum will showcase coins of different dynasties,” said Narindra.


The museum will have, a large collection of coins from South East Asia and gold coins of the ancient rulers. “We presented a paper on our collection in the recent All India Numismatic Society conference in Orissa,” said Narindra. He said his father — the secretary of the Numismatic Society of Maharashtra, Pune—- had been collecting the coins for the last 60 years.

“We have one coin that’s 1,200 years old, from South East Asia, which has an eagle emblem. For the first time, I presented the coin at the 94th annual conference of the Numismatic Society of India, Bhubaneswar, held from 19-21 October,” said Devdutta.

“The speciality of the said coin is that the edge was made thicker to avoid handling damage to the central design,” he added.

“At the conference, I presented a paper on a coin casting die, cut in sandstone. It was from the Pyu dynasty of Burma, presently Myanmar and dates back 1,600 years,” said Devdutta.

Most Expensive Asian Antiques on ebay

About Asian Antiques

Antiques by Zaar
Offering a variety of 18th and 19th century Tibetan and Chinese designs. Includes cabinets, sideboards, and Altar tables.
http://www.antiquesbyzaar.com

Dragon Imports
Direct importers of Chinese country furniture and accessories. Also featuring specialty items from Southeast Asia, cabinets, tables, chairs, Buddhas and other accessories.
http://www.dragonimports.com

Shibui Japanese Antiques
Genuine asian houseware, furnishings and furniture, including tansu chests and restorations, for collectors and interior designers.
http://www.shibuihome.com/index.html

L & E Arts and Craft Ltd of Hong Kong
Exports fine antique furniture, accessories, and porcelains from the Orient.
http://www.lneco.com/index.html

Turning East
Offers quality Ming Dynasty Furniture at wholesale prices.
http://www.turningeast.com

Evelyn's Antique Chinese Furniture Inc.
Antique Chinese furniture from 17th to 19th century, screens, carpets, and carvings. Restoration and refinishing services.
http://www.evelynantique.com

Shen's Gallery
Direct importer of fine provincial Chinese antique furniture and designer-quality accessories.
http://www.shensgallery.com/

Sullivan Evans Asian Antiques
Offers antique Chinese furniture and southeast Asian and Tibetan arts and crafts.
http://www.sullivanevans.com/

Elliott Bay Antiques
Specializes in 18th and 19th century Chinese furniture and collectibles, and offers a wide selection of Japanese, European, and American pieces.
http://www.chinese-antique-furniture.com/

Eastern Curio Shanghai Ltd.
Chinese antique, reproduction, and recycled wood furniture, Eastern and Oriental curios, art and textiles.
http://www.easterncurio.com