Page 217 - Pavillion Sale OCt 6 2015 Christies
P. 217

Important Notices and Explanation of
Cataloguing Practice

Christie’s Interest in Property                           RECENT CHANGES TO IMPORTS OF                             “With signature...”/”With seal...”/
Consigned for Auction                                     ELEPHANT IVORY AND OTHER WILDLIFE                        Has a signature/seal which in our opinion is not
From time to time, Christie’s may offer a lot             MATERIAL INTO THE USA                                    that of the artist
which it owns in whole or in part. Such property          The USA has recently changed its policy on the           “Dated...”
is identified in the catalogue with the symbol ∆          import of property made of or containing elephant        Is so dated and in our opinion was executed at
next to the lot number. On occasion, Christie’s           ivory. Only Asian Elephant ivory may be imported         about that date.
has a direct financial interest in lots consigned for     into the USA, and imports must be accompanied            “With date...”/
sale which may include guaranteeing a minimum             by DNA analysis confirming the item was from an          Is so dated but was not in our opinion executed at
price or making an advance to the consignor that is       Asian Elephant and confirmation that the object is       that date.
secured solely by consigned property. Such property       more than 100 years old. We have not obtained a
is identified in the catalogue by the symbol º next       DNA analysis on any lot prior to sale and cannot         For Chinese Porcelain and Works of Art
to the lot number.This symbol will be used both in        indicate whether the elephant ivory in a particular      1.	 A piece catalogued with the name of a period,
cases where Christie’s holds the financial interest on    lot is African or Asian elephant. Buyers purchase        reign or dynasty without further qualification was,
its own, and in cases where Christie’s has financed       these lots at their own risk and will be responsible     in our qualified opinion, made during or shortly
all or a part of such interest through a third party.     for the costs of obtaining any DNA analysis or other     after that period, reign or dynasty (e.g. “a Ming
Such third parties generally benefit financially if a     report required in connection with their proposed        vase”).
guaranteed lot is sold successfully and may incur         import of such property into the USA.                    2.	 A piece catalogued “in the style of ” a period,
a loss if the sale is not successful. The financing       The USA also requires all imports of property            reign or dynasty is, in our qualified opinion, quite
offered by a third party may be in the form of an         made of or containing any wildlife material to be        possibly a copy or imitation of pieces made during
irrevocable bid provided by that third party. Where       accompanied by a scientific confirmation of species      the named period, reign or dynasty (e.g. “a vase in
Christie’s has an ownership or financial interest         and in some cases an additional confirmation of age.     Ming style”).
in every lot in the catalogue, Christie’s will not        We have not obtained such confirmations prior to         3.	 A reference to a “mark and of the period”
designate each lot with a symbol, but will state its      sale (unless specifically indicated) and buyers will be  means that, in our qualified opinion, the piece is of
interest at the front of the catalogue.                   responsible for arranging and paying for any such        the period of the mark
In this catalogue, if property has ºu next to the lot     additional confirmations or opinions required for        (e.g.“Kangxi six-character mark and
number, Christie’s guarantee of a minimum price           their proposed import into the USA.                      of the period”).
has been fully financed through third parties.            A buyer’s inability to export or import any lot          4.	 A reference to a mark without reference to “and
                                                          containing elephant ivory or other wildlife material     of the period” means that, in our qualified opinion,
All Dimensions are Approximate                            is not a basis for cancelling the purchase.              although bearing the mark, the pieces were possibly
Condition Reports                                                                                                  not made in the period of the mark (e.g. “Kangxi
Christie’s catalogues include references to condition     Catalogue Exchange rate:                                 six-character mark”).
only in descriptions of multiple works (such as           HK$7.8 = US$1                                            5.	Where no date, per iod, reign or mark is
prints, books and wine). For all other property, no       We may convert and display in our catalogues the         mentioned, the lot is, in our qualified opinion, of
statement of condition is made and only alterations       HK$ prices in US$ using this exchange rate.  Please      uncertain date or 19th or 20th century manufacture.
or replacement components are listed. Please contact      note this is for the convenience of our clients only
the Specialist Department for a condition report on       and is not binding in any way.                           To prospective buyers of clocks
a particular lot.                                         The rate of exchange was established at the latest       Where possible, significant damage is mentioned
Condition reports are provided as a service to            practical date prior to the printing of the catalogue    in the catalogue description of the Lot, although
interested clients. Prospective buyers should note        and may therefore have changed by the time of the        this will not necessarily include all faults and
that descriptions of property are not warranties and      sale.                                                    imperfections nor restoration. No warranty is given
that each lot is sold “as is.”                            Bidders should bear in mind that estimates are           that any clock is in working order and nothing
                                                          prepared well in advance of the sale and are not         in the catalogue description of any Lot should be
Property Incorporating Materials                          definitive.They are subject to revision.                 taken as implying such a warranty, nor as indicating
from Endangered and other                                                                                          the absence of restoration or repair, nor as being
protected Species                                         EXPLANATION OF CATALOGUING                               a statement as to the condition of the Lot or the
Property made of or incorporating (irrespective of        PRACTICE                                                 state of conservation. Not all clocks are sold with
percentage) endangered and other protected species        The following expressions with their accompanying        pendulums, weights or keys; please refer to the
of wildlife are marked with the symbol (~) in the         explanations are used by Christie’s as standard          catalogue description for details of what is sold with
catalogue. Such material includes, among other            cataloguing practice. Our use of these expressions       each Lot.
things, ivory, tortoiseshell, crocodile skin, rhinoceros  does not take account of the condition of the lot or
horn, whale bone and certain species of coral,            of the extent of any restoration.
together with Brazilian rosewood and Agarwood.
Prospective purchasers are advised that several           For Paintings, prints and Works of Art
countries prohibit altogether the importation of          A work catalogued with the name(s) or recognised
property containing such materials, and that other        designation of an artist or maker, without any
countries require a permit (e.g., a CITES permit)         qualification, is, in our opinion, a work by the artist
from the relevant regulatory agencies in the countries    or maker. In other cases, the following words or
of exportation as well as importation. Accordingly,       expressions, with the following meanings are used:
clients should familiarize themselves with the relevant   Buyers are recommended to inspect the property
customs laws and regulations prior to bidding on          themselves. Written condition reports are usually
any property with wildlife material if they intend to     available on request.
import the property into another country.                 “Attributed to...”
                                                          In our opinion probably a work by the artist or
Please note that it is the client’s responsibility        maker in whole or in part.
to determine and satisfy the requirements of              “Circle of...”
any applicable laws or regulations applying to            In our opinion a work of the period of the artist or
the export or import of property containing               maker and showing his influence.
endangered and other protected wildlife material.         “Manner of...”
The inability of a client to export or import             In our opinion a work executed in the style of the
property containing endangered and other                  artist or maker but of a later date.
protected wildlife material is not a basis for            “After...”
cancellation or setting aside the contract of sale.       In our opinion a copy of any date of a work of the
Please note also that lots containing potentially         artist or maker.
regulated wildlife material are marked as a               “Signed...”/”Sealed...”/
convenience to our clients, but Christie’s does not       Has a signature/seal which in our opinion is that of
accept liability for errors or for failing to mark        the artist
lots containing protected or regulated species.

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