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

I.M. CHAIT HOSTS SUCCESSFUL ASIAN AND INTERNATIONAL FINE ART SUMMER SALE!

View Sale

Lot 212

Beverly Hills, CA August 9, 2005: The highly-respected auction house in the heart of the city sold a vast array of items to over three hundred and fifty bidders from all over the world. An eclectic gathering of objets d’art including exquisite European paintings and bronzes, Chinese ceramics and porcelains, Japanese and Chinese screens, Buddhist bronzes and fine jewelry headlined the August 7, 2005 sale.

At the forefront of the European lots was undoubtedly the magnificent Sèvres porcelain covered urn which sold for an impressive $15,275. Founded in 1738 at Chateau de Vicennes, Sèvres porcelain through the years has served as an emblem of wealth for the privileged few. “This is one of the most opulent pieces I’ve ever seen,” gushed an auction attendee. Indeed, the 42” high urn with a delicate figural scene of two horsemen with a fine maiden, verso with pastoral country landscape scene, delicately framed by dramatic gilt handles will make a handsome addition to any space.

One of the headline pieces from the Asian lots was Lot 168 – A rare, Chinese Ming Dynasty Longqing blue and white porcelain jar. The stunning piece, of hexagonal form and decorated with alternating panels of dragon and phoenix was very popular amongst the audience. Bidder paddles rose against each other to a final sale price of $11,750- high above the $6,000-$7,500 estimate.

Another group of crowd favorites that generated far above estimates were a gorgeous array of snuff bottles. Lot 96, an antique white jade snuff bottle, beautifully carved as a stylized Buddhistic lion atop a cloud-form base, fetched an amazing $4,700, over five times the estimate. Lot 98, an antique inside painted glass snuff bottle of flattened form with very finely detailed continuous landscape sold for $1,645 with previous estimate of $500-$600. Lot 94, an antique white jade snuff bottle finely hollowed with a lovely glass stopper sold for $2,467.

Other items of interest:

106 - CARVED ZITAN TABLESCREEN Finely carved, small Chinese zitan wood tablescreen of rectangular form; the center with red lacquer medallion of a writhing dragon, the verso incised with poem. Sold: $7,637

118 - TWO ANTIQUE WHITE JADE CARVINGS Two antique Chinese carved white jades: thin pendant with openwork border, front with seated sage, verso with poem, 19th Century; together with small paperweight in the form of a guzheng, late 19th Century; L: 4" Sold: $1,880

188 - HAN POTTERY KNEELING FIGURE Rare and very finely modeled, Chinese Han Dynasty pottery figure of a kneeling woman dressed in a wide-sleeved robe, with well rendered serene facial expression, some remaining slip and pigments; together with Oxford TL Test #C105k81; H: 12" Sold: $19,975

281 - PAIR ANTIQUE TIBETAN THANKAS Pair superbly painted, antique Tibetan thankas; depicting a Bodhisattva in lush landscape surrounded by attendants and animals with celestial beings above; and Buddha with his attendants descending a celestial staircase to the Earth where figures, animals and lotus await; each framed with silk embroidery depicting a dragon, 18th Century, each approx. 26" x 17"; Provenance: Philosophical Research Society, Los Angeles Sold: $7,637

291 - JAPANESE SCROLL BY IPPO MORI Charming and well painted, antique Japanese scroll painting by Ippo Mori (1798-1871) of a group of puppies beneath bamboo on light powdery snow, signed, seal mark; 45 1/2" x 19 1/2" Sold: $5,875

343 - ART NOUVEAU JAPANESE DESK AND CHAIR Elaborately carved, Art Nouveau Japanese desk and chair; the desk carved with dragon and phoenix amid clouds and Mt. Fuji, above tiered shelves and drawers with dragon and foliage; all above a two drawer frieze set on dragon legs, together with a conforming chair H: 57 1/2" desk; Provenance: Philosophical Research Society, Los Angeles Sold: $2,937

345 - ITALIAN LATE RENAISSANCE CHEST Antique Italian, late Renaissance chest with a "cornice" above a carved panel depicting two angels with scrolling foliate lower halves, flanking a strapwork cartouche with a rampant beast, male and female herms flanking the panel, foliate base with mask apron and feet L: 41 1/2"; Provenance: Philosophical Research Society, Los Angeles Sold: $4,993

348 - ANTIQUE BLACKWOOD CABINET Antique Chinese carved blackwood curio/display cabinet with multi-tiered shelving, with openwork trim and crest, ornate floral scrolling, animal paw feet, late 19th Century; H: 61 1/2" Sold: $3,818

226 - OIL ON CANVAS BY JEAN CALOGERO Oil on canvas "surreal" painting by Jean Calogero (Italian, 1922-2001), depicting a portrait of a harlequin with birds, signed lower left, 21 3/4" x 18"; framed and with overhead light Sold: $1,762

185 - PAIR TANG POTTERY POLO PLAYERS Pair of well modeled, Chinese Tang Dynasty pottery female polo players: each in a very animated pose atop the well featured horses, with much remaining slip and some original pigments each approx. L: 14” Sold: $7,050

198 - PAIR RARE HAN POTTERY FIGURES Pair of superbly modeled, Chinese early Han Dynasty pottery figures of tall standing grooms: each in long robes with draped sleeves, well detailed facial features, together with Oxford TL Test results #C105b87 and #C105b90 each H: 22" Sold: $10,575

The next Antiques and Estates auction will be held on Sunday, August 28, 2005 at 1PM. For more information on this or coming sales, please contact the Gallery at 310 285 0182, or visit the Gallery website at www.chait.com.