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

20th Century Chinese Paintings and Antique Porcelains Shine in I.M. Chait’s Mid-Summer International and Asian Art Auction.

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Lot 211

BEVERLY HILLS, CA. With a field of historic treasures spanning Neolithic to contemporary times, I.M. Chait’s mid-summer sale of International and Asian Fine Arts played to a broad group of buyers and established the American record for a Twentieth Century Chinese artist at auction.

Lots 208 – 220, a collection of ink-and-wash and ink-and-color-on- paper landscapes by Chinese Master Huang Jun Bi were highly anticipated. Direct gifts of the artist to the consignor, they had been privately held for more than 40 years. With their strength untested, the paintings commanded a total of $79,500, thereby establishing a record for the artist at auction. Within that figure, Lot 208, a painting of many waterfalls falling commanded $11,400. Lot 218, a suite of four paintings, climbed to $18,000. Lot 220, a collection of four paintings, reached $7200.

Lot 218

The day’s highest price for an individual lot came when Lot 198, a dramatic cobalt blue Jiaqing porcelain vessel with cover, commanded $20,400. With Chinese porcelains being an I.M. Chait specialty, it was not a total surprise when Lot 199, a Fourteenth Century Yuan Blue and White “Yuhu” (Yuhuchunping vase) made $18,000.

Lot 198

Many moderately estimated offerings in the porcelain categories consistently exceeded their estimates. Lot 158, a pair of Chinese Kangxi-style blue and white porcelain “yen-yen” vases, made $6,600. Lot 154, a pair of wine cups featuring writhing dragons and flaming pearls and bearing the Jiaqing seal marks soared to $2,400. Lot 143, an antique Famille Rose enameled charger with a striking yellow ground embellished with bats and “shou” medallions amid branches of peaches, reached $1,320. Other decorative porcelains, such as Lot 186, a rare pair of persimmon glazed Song tea bowls, which commanded $6,600, fell comfortably in the mid-range of their estimates. Lot 182, a rare Qianlong porcelain dish, brought $8,400.

Lot 158

Jade objects of all colors and styles entertained a host of appreciative collectors. Lot 194, a Moghul-style carved celadon jade vase brought $7,800. Lot 192, a fine white jade scepter commanded $6,000. Lot 118, a slender carved jade vase with chain exceeded its high estimate when it brought $4,800. Similarly, Lot 117, a delicate Chinese white jade bowl, went for more than expected at $5,100. Lot 120, a pair of carved white jade censers topped their estimate at $2,040. Lot 121, carved white jade mountain with landscapes carved on both sides went off at $4,500. Lot 112, a spinach jade “message tube,” finished out the category on a high note by nearly doubling its estimate at $1600.

Lot 194

Among the highly decorative objects, Lot 206, a pair of bronze Chinese elephants with decorative trappings of cloisonné, found their market at $16,200. A few minutes later, Lot 207, an Eighteenth Century Chinese table screen of brass with hardstone appliqué fell well within its estimate, making it a virtual “bargain” at $9,900. And Lot 104, an antique gold lacquered ivory fan, found favor with buyers and doubled its estimate, commanding $1700.

Lot 206

Japanese antiques from several categories made their impact felt as well. Lot 250, a highly articulated ivory dragon containing more than 40 segments including moveable horns and whiskers, saw its price soar to $8,400. Lot 252, an Ivory Okimono of ladies and children found its niche at $3,900. Lot 274, a pair of tall Japanese cloisonné enamel vases, with a seductive midnight blue ground from the early Twentieth century was taken at $3,300. Meanwhile, Lot 262, an elaborate Yabu Meizan cup and saucer led the Satsuma collection at $1,800.

Lot 250

Among the artifacts associated with spirituality, Lot 228, an antique Tibetan Thanka painting of the Tantric diety Yamantaka, led the field at $4,800. Lot 296, a Russian icon of the Madonna and child, in oil on panel and with fine silver repoussé, brought $3,300. Lot 229, a large Chinese Ming-style gilt bronze Buddha was hammered down at $2,400. When Lot 53, a Chinese Buddhist strand of 108 flattened circular Rhino beads, became the object of two bidders desires the final hammer went down at $2100.

Lot 228

Shifting the day’s emphasis to treasures of the West, a collection of Ivory miniatures, lots 285 – 292, made $8,220. The star item in the category was Lot 290, a miniature portrait after Jean-Frederick Schall, of a young woman cradling a dove. It brought $2,160. Rivaling it for bidders’ attention was Lot 286, portrait of a gentleman signed B. Melli. Going off over estimate, the lot went for $1,200.

Lot 290

In a collection of magnificent jewels, diamonds and colored stones held sway. Lot 320, a sparkling diamond and sapphire necklace set in 18K white gold and featuring a central oval cut sapphire surrounded by diamond rounds and baguettes, went to a lucky buyer for $6,300. Lot 328, a diamond and sapphire ring, also set in white gold, commanded $3,600. Rubies ran a close favorite, with Lot 319, a diamond and ruby suite of necklace and earrings, fetching $3,300. Lot 326, pave diamond button earrings, and Lot 334, a cinnamon diamond and gold ring, each brought $2,700.

Lot 320

After all was said and done, the sale topped a half-million dollars, with many unexpected bidding wars. Among the day’s surprises were the following: Lot 203, a pair of Han Dynasty bronze swords, cast with mask designs to the hilts and inlaid with gilt design, went to a tenacious bidder for $9,600; Lot 86, a cameo agate snuff bottle of naturalistic form with lotus leaves and pots, was hammered down for $2750; Lot 47, a pair of antique jade hairpins, went for double its estimate at $840; Lot 312, a Wedgewood dinner set in the Ulander Powder Ruby pattern drew $1800; a pair of sterling silver candelabra, Lot 316, by Mueck-Carey Co., NY, brought $960.

Lot 203

Finally, the oldest object in the auction, Lot 166, a Neolithic pottery vessel in the shape of a head, went for $1,800.

Lot 166

I.M. Chait’s next scheduled International and Asian Art Auction is September 23. It will feature several highly important and large Early Chinese pottery figures and animals. The sale also features numerous jade carvings, many important Qing porcelains and a small collection of American and European antiques including a lovely antique French cameo glass chandelier by Galle. I.M. Chait Gallery/Auctioneers is located at 9330 Civic Center Drive, Beverly Hills, California, 90210. For more information, please call (310) 285-0182, toll free (800) 775-5020 or email us.