FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Josh Chait
310.285.0182
josh@chait.com

LUMINOUS CHINESE PORCELAINS, BRILLIANT BRONZES, FINE FRENCH FURNITURE, A TREASURY OF EXQUISITE JEWELS, GREAT JADES AND IVORIES AND MUCH MORE FROM AROUND THE GLOBE WILL BE FEATURED IN I.M. CHAIT GALLERY'S NOVEMBER 21ST INTERNATIONAL FINE ART SALE

View Sale

Lot 200

Beverly Hills, CA, November 1st, 2004 - I.M. Chait Gallery will be host to an array of treasures on November 21- and people are abuzz at how the auction has been pegged as a sale to which all others pale- "the best we've seen in half a decade," boasts the House' proprietor, Mr. Isadore Chait. Indeed, from a fabulous group of Chinese blue and white porcelains, archaic bronzes, carved jades and early ceramics, European and American art and furnishings and a lovely group of jewelry from Beverly Hills and West Hollywood estates, topped with fine Ming and Qing porcelains possessing coveted marks of the Period, the sale is guaranteed to present a generous gathering of beauty for art aficionados everywhere.

The Chenghua Emperor of the Ming dynasty reigned from 1465 to 1487, and the Chenghua mark is one of the rarest in porcelain artifacts. This auction presents a superbly painted Cheunghua Blue and White Dragon Dish. Important and superbly painted, Imperial Chinese 15th Century Ming Dynasty, mark and of the Period, blue and white porcelain dish; elaborate central dragon amid "reverse" waves surrounded by three dragons and with typical cloud design on border. This magnificent piece is expected to fetch between $60,000-$80,000

Another stand-out piece is a gorgeous Early Tang pottery recumbent camel. Extremely rare and superbly modeled with exquisite detailing to "hair", separate removable saddle; this great piece is estimated between $10,000-15,000.

Snuff bottles are the Chinese equivalent to snuff boxes which first developed in the West. Both were used as containers for powdered tobacco, or snuff. Tobacco was originally brought to Europe from the Americas, and was subsequently introduced to China by traders and missionaries. Craftsmen used jade, precious and semi-precious stones, glass, porcelain and metals, and organic material such as ivory, amber, tortoiseshell, and wood to create these miniature works of art. Snuff bottles became a status symbol for the nobility and the sophisticated elite.

One of the snuff bottles in this auction is an antique and well hollowed, apple-green jadeite snuff bottle of extremely flattened form; landscape with sage on front, prunus branches on verso, rose quartz stopper; (estimate $2,500-3,000)

One of the many things associated with Loius XV is Rococo Art. Elaborate and decorative in style, French Rococo burst forth on the scene in 1715, succeeding the popular reign of Baroque art. Fragonard, Boucher, Watteau and Tiepolo are unanimous for capturing images that represent this time. Another great painter associated with this romantic period is Hubert Robert (1733-1808). Robert worked closely with Fragonard and in certain circles Robert was called "Robert des Ruines" because of his penchant for depicting Roman ruins. Vastly popular in his day, Robert exhibited at Salons and was one of the first curators of the Louvre.

On the auction block this coming November 21st is a large and antique oil painting on canvas attributed to Hubert Robert. The painting depicts a magnificent ruin next to a mill, all set in a landscape with figures in the foreground, gilt frame (estimate $4,500-$6,000)

Other highlights for this auction include:

Lot #20
IVORY NETSUKE BY KEI-UN

Elaborately carved, ivory netsuke of two Nio wrestlers in the midst of starting a match on a large "sandal" platform, very finely detailed and well featured, Circa 1900, signed on oval reserve; Provenance: Henry Lang Collection

Estimate $1,800-2,200

Lot #28
BOXWOOD NETSUKE BY GEIJO

Well executed, carved boxwood netsuke by Reigen Geijo (b. 1935) of a baby dragon fish (tachinoro), carved in the round (manju-style), with inlaid umimatsu eyes, fine detailing and with fierce grimace, signed, Circa 1977

Estimate $2,400-2,800

Lot #106
ANTIQUE LACQUER INRO

Very elaborately detailed, antique four-case brown and gold lacquer inro with scene of figures towing a large boat, the verso with fortress in the background, signed Koryu and with seal, carved wood ojime; H: 3 1/8"

Estimate $3,000-4,000

Lot #165
CARVED WHITE JADE "MOUNTAIN"

Chinese carved white jade "mountain" of very pure coloration, with a seated Buddha nestled into rockery beneath pine and inscription in gilt, verso with pine trees and pavilions; H: 9 3/4", carved wood stand

Estimate $10,000-12,000

Lot #178
ANTIQUE RHINOCEROS HORN LIBATION CUP

Well carved and antique, Chinese rhinoceros horn libation cup of tall slender form, typical hydra designs in relief with very unusual archaistic bird-like creature as a handle, Circa 17th/18th Century; H: 6"

Estimate $6,500-8,000

Lot #201
MING WANLI BLUE AND WHITE BOX

Superbly painted, Chinese 16th Century Ming Dynasty, Wanli mark and of the Period, blue and white circular porcelain box with dragon designs, remarkably pristine condition; D: 7 3/4"

Estimate $30,000-35,000

Lot #208A
MASSIVE SICHUAN POTTERY HORSE

Massive and nearly life-size, Chinese Han Dynasty Sichuan pottery sectional model of a horse, good detailing and features allover, lucite stand; L: 61"

Estimate $30,000-40,000

Lot #225A
ANTIQUE KPM PORCELAIN PLAQUE

Beautifully painted, antique Royal Berlin oval porcelain plaque with very finely detailed bust of a woman with long wavy hair draped in a diaphanous veil and blue robe, signed Wagner lower right and signed KPM on verso, 8 1/4" x 6 1/2"; exquisite openwork carved wood gilt frame

Estimate $6,000-8,000

Lot #234
OIL PAINTING BY GONZALO ARIZA

Oil on canvas by Gonzalo Ariza (Colombian, 1912-1995), depicting a school of goldfish, 20" x 26", signed lower right; gilt frame

Estimate $6,000-7,000

Lot #277
RARE LIAO DYNASTY SECTIONAL SADDLE

Extremely rare, Chinese Liao Dynasty gilt copper/bronze saddle; some original wood base remaining, the metal with allover repoussé designs typical of Liao metalwork, probably from a royal tomb; seat L: 13"

Estimate $6,000-8,000

Lot #339
ANTIQUE FRENCH EMPIRE ARMOIRE

Antique French Empire Period armoire with centered tall narrow entablature surmounting a standard entablature above three doors: large central mirror, gilt classical nude maidens above laurel wreathes, all divided by columns with gilt capitals and bases; set on a base terminating in paw and rounded feet; classical gilt hardware, 19th Century; H: 97 1/2"; Provenance: Madame la Co. Cohereniteff (?), Villa les Myrthes, 2 Rue Monneghetti, Monaco

Estimate $5,000-7,000

The International Fine Art auction will be held on Sunday, November 21st, 2004, at 1:00 PM. The auction offers in-room, absentee, phone, and live on-line bidding. The I.M. Chait Gallery/Auctioneers is located at 9330 Civic Center Drive, Beverly Hills, California, 90210. For more information, or to order a catalogue, kindly call (310) 285-0182, or visit our website at www.chait.com.