Two Remarkable Single Owner Sales of Chinese Works of Art at Sotheby's New York
Sotheby’s New York Asia week series of auctions will include two remarkable single owner sales of Chinese works of art.
Informing the Eye of the Collector: Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art from J. T. Tai & Co.takes place on 22 March 2011. J.T. Tai is known for his extraordinary collection of Qing Imperial porcelain as seen in October 2010 with the record breaking Masterpieces of Qing Imperial Porcelain from J.T. Tai & Co. at Sotheby’s Hong King. However, he was also fascinated by early Chinese material culture, particularly archaic ritual bronzes and jades, many fine examples of which are included in the sale. J.T. Tai was of the foremost dealers of Chinese art in the second half of the 20th century. Under his guidance some of the most important collections of Chinese art were formed, most notably those of Avery Brundage and Arthur M. Sackler. Comprising around 600 pieces, to be offered in approximately 330 lots, the sale embraces a wide range of works including archaic ritual bronzes and jades, painted and glazed pottery vessels, figures of the Han to Tang dynasties, and ceramic wares of the Song and later dynasties.
Harmony of Form, Serenity of Color: A Private Collection of ‘Song’ Ceramics will take place on 23 March 2011. The collection encompasses a wide range of ‘Song’ Dynasty ceramic art which is known for its timeless beauty and elegance. Among the highlights of the 83 lot sale is A Fine and Extremely Rare 'Xingyao' Ewer dating to the 10th century (est. $400/600,000). The ‘Song’ Dynasty (960-1279) produced some of the finest ceramics ever made. Stonewares (ceramics that are fired at high temperatures to ensure strength and durability) had been made in China nearly 3000 years before they first appeared in the West. By the ‘Song’ period, body and glaze recipes were expanding, and new techniques were becoming more popular. Minimalist decoration, coupled with a concentration on function and form, helps to give ‘Song’ ceramics a striking modernity.
