Page 51 - Chinese and Japanese Art Auction February 27 and 28th 2020 Galerie Zacke
P. 51

512  |  A SMALL STONE-AGE AXE, NEOLITHIC AGE                       516  |  A PALE CELADON JADE BRUSH REST, QING
 China, c. 2500-2000 BC. This small, stone-age axe comes from the   China, late 19th – early 20th century. Carved as a reclining
 famous collection of Max Loehr and, according to his notes, was    monkey with a long tail coiled to its back. The jade is of an even
 discovered in Inner Mongolia. Loehr lived until 1988, was a German   tone with few white streaks and natural fissures, highlighting the
 scholar and last taught at Harvard University. This black axe has a simple   fur of the monkey. Associated hardwood base. (2)
 form which widens towards the blade. The body is powerful; there is
 no opening, such as for a handle. The main surfaces have a slight curve
 towards the blade, the blade itself being rather blunt. On one of the   Condition: Excellent condition. Some old wear, especially near
 broader sides, the longer edges are beveled and become considerably   the drilling, due to extensive use. Natural flaws and fissures to
 wider towards the narrow butt. It should also be mentioned that Loehr   mineral.
 himself referred to the piece, in English, as a “chisel”. We have identified   Provenance: English private collection.
 it as an “ax” because it has the same form, even if it is smaller.
                                                                    May be used as a brush rest or, alternating, a pendant due to
                                                                    drilling at the mouth.
 Condition: Grinding marks are still visible; chips due to age on the
 exposed edges, particularly in the area around the blade.          Weight: 58.0 g.
 Provenance: Max Loehr Collection, Sotheby’s Paris (15 December     Dimensions: Length 6.4 cm.
 2016).
                     515  |  A JADE ‘DOUBLE GOURD’ PENDANT, MING
                                                                    Auction result comparison: Compare with a related ‘monkey’
 Dimensions: Height 8.3 cm. Max. thickness 17 mm.                   brush rest from the Feng Wen Tang Collection sold at Christies
                     China, 1368-1644. The stone is carved and pierced in the shape
                                                                    Hong Kong for HKD 75,000 gross on October 7th, 2014, in The
                     of a double gourd born on gnarled leafy vines. It has a rounded
 Estimate EUR 200,-                                                 Pavilion Sale, Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, lot 135.
                     full figural shape and an oily, smooth surface. Several reticulated
 Starting price EUR 100,-
                     areas allow for suspension on a string.
                                                                    Estimate EUR 400,-
                                                                    Starting price EUR 200,-
 513  |  A BRONZE BELT HOOK,   Condition: Very good condition with some miniscule natural
 WARRING STATES      flaws in the mineral.
                     Provenance: Austrian private collection.
 China, 475–221 BC. The parcel gilt and turquoise
 inlaid bronze hook shows fine incision work   Weight: 85.1 g.
 depicting patterns and borders of swirling   Dimensions: Height 7.8 cm.
 clouds leading to the top with its typical raised
 chilong head.       Estimate EUR 300,-
                     Starting price EUR 150,-
 Condition: Original condition with old wear
 and extensive traces of use, exactly as expected
 from a bronze of this age. Good natural patina
 with malachite-green and hazelnut-brown
 encrustations. The turquoise bead on top of the
 Chilong head is lost. The remaining two bear a
 very fine patina.
 Provenance: English Private Collection.
 Weight: 140 g.
 Dimensions: 14.5 cm length.

 Estimate EUR 300,-                                                 518  |  A PALE CELADON JADE BELT HOOK, QING
 Starting price EUR 150,-
                                                                    China, 18th to earlier 19th century. Powerfully worked with a
                                                                    dominating dragon head terminal facing a chilong in reticulated
                                                                    carving clambering on the curved shaft. The reverse with an ovoid
 514  |  A JADE ‘CAT’ PENDANT, MING
                                                                    knob. The stone of very pale celadon color with white streaks.
 China, 1368-1644. The cat depicted recumbent
 with its head raised and tilted to the side, the                   Condition: Superb condition with only minor wear.
 stone of deep celadon color mottled with grey,                     Provenance: From a French private collection.
 russet and brown streaks.
                                                                    Weight: 47.7 g.
                     517  |  A WHITE JADE BELT HOOK, QING           Dimensions: Length 9 cm.
 Condition: Fine condition with old wear, traces
 of use and natural flaws to stone.  China, 18th to earlier 19th century. Powerfully worked and   Estimate EUR 300,-
 Provenance: From a private collection.   incised with a ferocious dragon head terminal facing a chilong in   Starting price EUR 150,-
 Collector inventory number “LSA 42” painted in   reticulated carving clambering on the curved shaft. The reverse
 black ink to bottom.   with an ovoid knob. Fine surface polish.
 Weight: 48 g.
 Dimensions: Length 6 cm.  Condition: Superb condition with only minor wear and natural
                     flaws to stone.
 Auction result comparison: Compare with a   Provenance: From a French private collection.
 related Ming dynasty jade cat at Sotheby’s
 London on November 9th, 2018, in Asian Art,   Weight: 50.7 g.
 lot 312.            Dimensions: Length 10 cm.

 Estimate EUR 300,-  Estimate EUR 300,-
 Starting price EUR 150,-  Starting price EUR 150,-




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