Fine Asian Art Summer Sale

Lot 1 - A PAIR OF SILVER-INLAID IRON STIRRUPS, YOB CHA, 17TH-18TH CENTURY - A PAIR OF SILVER-INLAID IRON STIRRUPS, YOB CHA, 17TH-18TH CENTURY Tibet. Heavily cast, the bases of oval form with a shallow recess rising to vertical arches with an oval aperture at the top for suspension from the saddle. The exterior worked with silver-wire inlays depicting a key-fret band and a wan ground enclosing auspicious Buddhist emblems including the Dharma wheel, lotus blossom, and parasol. Provenance: Viennese private collection, acquired in the French antiques market. Condition: Good condition with wear, signs of weathering and corrosion, casting irregularities, small nicks, and rubbing to the silver inlays. Weight: 1,106 g and 1,112.5 g Dimensions: Height 15.3 cm and 16.1 cm Stirrups of this type continued to be used in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa into the 1940s and 1950s as a part of festivals and religious ceremonies when calvary were brought in for processional parades. The armor worn by the calvary was standardized by the central government of Tibet from the mid-seventeenth or eighteenth century onward. Their armor included a helmet, shirt of mail, set of four mirrors, armored belt, bow case and quiver, matchlock musket, bandoleer with gunpowder and bullets, and short spear for the rider, as well as a saddle, saddle rug, and tack for the horse. Armed and equipped in a similar fashion, Tibetan government officials periodically were required to demonstrate proficiency on horseback with musket, bow and arrow, and spear until as late as the mid-twentieth century. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related pair of stirrups, Tibet, dated 15th-18th century, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 2002.220a, b. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Galerie Zacke Vienna, 12 April 2024, lot 281 Price: EUR 4,940 Description: A parcel-gilt and silvered iron stirrup, Yob cha, 15th-18th century Expert remark: Compare the similar form albeit with different decorations. Note the size (13.6 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 29 September 2020, lot 3 Price: USD 4,000 or approx. EUR 4,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A pair of silver- and gilt-damascened iron stirrups, Tibet, 17th century or later Expert remark: Compare the related form albeit with Makala heads atop the stirrup arches.

Estim. 300 - 600 EUR

Lot 2 - A SILVER-DAMASCENED IRON BEER JUG WITH BRASS HANDLE AND SPOUT, 18TH-19TH CENTURY - A SILVER-DAMASCENED IRON BEER JUG WITH BRASS HANDLE AND SPOUT, 18TH-19TH CENTURY Eastern Tibet. The flattened spherical body supported on a tall splayed foot and rising to a narrow cylindrical neck surmounted by a bud-form cover connected to the dragon-form handle with a chain, opposite the elegantly curved spout issuing from the mouth of a makara. The jug finely decorated with flat-inlays of silver sheet, the body with a central recessed medallion enclosing two confronted dragons, encircled by dense lotus scroll as well as evenly spaced Shou characters, the neck similarly decorated with foliate designs and the foot with a band of ruyi-heads. Provenance: French trade. Acquired from a private family estate, where it has been for at least since the 1950s, by repute. Condition: Good condition with minor wear, small dents, few nicks, and light scratches. Fine, naturally grown patina. Weight: 3.6 kg Dimensions: Height 39 cm This vessel form, of central Asian origin, was probably adapted by Tibetan craftsmen from Chinese models. It combines typically Tibetan motifs, such as the dragon handle and makara spout, with Chinese design elements including Shou characters and ruyi heads. Expert’s note: Ewers this type were made until the start of the 20th century in Derge and Chamdo in eastern Tibet, an area renowned for its skilled silver- and ironsmiths. The technique was a specialty of the area. In the case of the present lot, the craftsman laid thin strips of silver sheet onto the surface of roughened iron and then gently hammered them down. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related iron jug damascened in gold, silver, and copper, dated 18th-19th century, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, accession number IM.22-1928. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Koller, Zurich, 4 June 2019, lot 134 Price: CHF 6,875 or approx. EUR 7,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A fine and large silver-damascened iron beer jug, Eastern Tibet, Kham [Chamdo], ca. 18th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, decoration, motifs, and materials. Note the size (42 cm).

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 3 - A RARE PARCEL-GILT SILVER REPOUSSÉ RITUAL CENSER, TIBET, 18TH-19TH CENTURY - A RARE PARCEL-GILT SILVER REPOUSSÉ RITUAL CENSER, TIBET, 18TH-19TH CENTURY The round censer fitted with a long silver handle, the body finely engraved and chased in openwork, surmounted by a dome cover with a bud finial. The body decorated with roundels enclosing the Eight Buddhist emblems (bajixiang) separated by scrolling vines and blossoms. The cover with a beaded rim and key-fret band, similarly decorated with bajixiang in offering bowls separated by an auspicious character. The base engraved with Kirtimukha. Provenance: Old Austrian private collection. Viennese private collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Very good condition with expected wear, traces of use, encrustations, and small dents. Weight: 313 g Dimensions: Length 34 cm (across handle) Expert’s note: This form of incense burner is rare as the majority were suspended from a chain or supported on tripod legs. It is possible the form was intended for processional use. Like many ritual objects, these forms can be found depicted in thangka from the 17th century. Museum comparison: Compare a related Tibetan silver- and gold-inlaid brass censer suspended by a chain, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, accession number IS.44-1965.

Estim. 400 - 800 EUR

Lot 4 - A LARGE PARCEL GILT-COPPER REPOUSSÉ BOX AND COVER, 18TH-19TH CENTURY - A LARGE PARCEL GILT-COPPER REPOUSSÉ BOX AND COVER, 18TH-19TH CENTURY Nepal. Of circular form, the sides decorated with sixteen pierced, embossed and chased roundels depicting dragons, interspersed with lotus scrolls, with a key-fret band at the center, the top with six roundels enclosing the letters ‘om mani padme hum’ in Lanydza script, the cover depicting the 18-armed Durga supported by her lion vahana (vehicle), the goddess slaying the buffalo demon Mahishasura, within a scrolling frame. The underside incised with a double vajra. Provenance: New York trade. Condition: Good condition with some wear, nicks, dents, scratches, and manufacturing flaws. Weight: 2.6 kg (incl. contents) Dimensions: Diameter 33 cm Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 29 June 2016, lot 9496 Price: USD 3,750 or approx. EUR 4,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt copper alloy and silver case, Nepal, 19th century Expert remark: Compare the related form, depiction of Durga, and size (33 cm).

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 5 - A PARCEL-GILT COPPER REPOUSSÉ RITUAL EWER, DUOMUHU, TIBET, 19TH CENTURY - A PARCEL-GILT COPPER REPOUSSÉ RITUAL EWER, DUOMUHU, TIBET, 19TH CENTURY Meticulously worked, the cylindrical teapot rising to a monk’s cap-shaped rim surmounted by a circular cover with lotus petals and a gilt bud finial, linked to the handle by a chain. The handle and spout cast in the form of a fierce Makara beast and a dragon with sharp fangs. The body is finely decorated in elaborate repoussé work with gilt detailing on a ring punched ground, depicting two rows of panels enclosing floral blossoms borne on leafy stems, dragons, bajixiang (Eight Buddhist emblems), and topped by a front facing Makara bearing a fierce expression. Provenance: Viennese private collection, acquired in the French antiques market. Condition: Good condition with wear, manufacturing flaws, minor nicks, dents, and small repairs at the handle. Weight: 1,611 g Dimensions: Height 33 cm The duomuhu shape is derived from the bey lep prototype, which was used for storing butter tea in Lamaist monasteries. Duomuhu, meaning ‘bucket for snow’ in Tibetan, were used in Tibet for storing butter and making the traditional buttered tea for Buddhist ceremonies. Originally made of wood with metal bands, they were occasionally depicted on 19th century Thangka alongside other vessels. The formerly wooden vessels became prestigious works of art under the Kangxi emperor, made out of silver, gold, porcelain or cloisonné, who did so as part of his campaign to display his utmost devotion and political commitment to the patronage of Tibetan Buddhism. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related brass and silver repoussé ewer in a similar form and with similar decorations, 31.5 cm high, dated to the 19th century, in the Vicotria & Albert Museum, accession number IM.4-1925.

Estim. 500 - 1 000 EUR

Lot 6 - A SILVER-APPLIED BRONZE RITUAL TEAPOT - A SILVER-APPLIED BRONZE RITUAL TEAPOT Tibet, 19th century. The tapering body supported on a flat base surmounted by a broad cylindrical neck and domed cover with bud finial, flanked by a curved spout issuing from the jaws of a horned makara and the handle in the form of a two-horned beast extending his long tongue, suspending a chain connected to the cover. Provenance: Viennese private collection, acquired in the French antiques market. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, traces of use, and casting flaws. Weight: 1,370 g Dimensions: Height 27.5 cm Elaborate teapots with handles in the form of dragons or lions and spouts issuing from the jaws of mythological water monsters ('makara') were found throughout the Tibetan cultural area in slightly differing styles. They were used only on special occasions such as weddings or other ceremonies, or for an important visitor. Literature comparison: Compare a related brass and silver teapot, 30.2 cm, Tibet, 19th century, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, accession number IM.113-1927. Compare a related brass and silver teapot with dragon handle and makara spout, 34.8 cm, Tibet, 19th century, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, accession number IM.154-1921. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Galerie Zacke, 10 March 2023, lot 525 Price: EUR 11,700 or approx. EUR 12,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A parcel-gilt and silver-applied brass ritual teapot, Tibet, late 18th to early 19th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, the body similarly left undecorated, with a beast-shape handle and spout issuing from the mouth of a makara. Note the size (31.3 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Galerie Zacke, 11 April 2024, lot 7 Price: EUR 14,300 Description: A parcel-gilt and silver-applied copper ritual teapot, Tibet, 19th century Expert remark: Compare the related form with a similar beast-shape handle and a spout issuing from a makara mouth.

Estim. 500 - 1 000 EUR

Lot 7 - A HARDWOOD ‘ZODIAC’ BOX AND COVER WITH SILVER REPOUSSÉ AND SEMI-PRECIOUS STONE INLAYS - A HARDWOOD ‘ZODIAC’ BOX AND COVER WITH SILVER REPOUSSÉ AND SEMI-PRECIOUS STONE INLAYS Tibet, 1900s. Finely carved, the box supported on a silver repoussé foot rising to a rounded shoulder with a short neck, fitted with a silver ring, surmounted by a lid. The base of the box chased with a wan diaper, decorated with the twelve animals of the zodiac. The rim of the cover is decorated with foliage, beaded rims, and turquoise and coral inlays while the finial is decorated with crashing waves, a snake, rooster, and pig, with a central agate inlay. Provenance: Viennese private collection, acquired in the French antiques market. Condition: Good condition with minor wear, traces of use along the interior, small nicks and dents to the silver repoussé, remnants of adhesive to the cover, and the recessed base showing minuscule signs of insect activity. Presenting very well. Weight: 1.368 g Dimensions: Diameter 21.3 cm Literature comparison: Compare a closely related burlwood box from Tibet, 10.6 cm wide, dated to the late 19th century, in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, accession number 98.119.1a,b. Compare a related wood box and cover from Tibet in the same form albeit with lacquer decorations, undated, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, accession number IM.201:1, 2-1927. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams Paris, 16 December 2022, lot 256 Price: EUR 6,375 or approx. EUR 6,800 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A silver mounted circular box with Kurukulla, Tibet, 19th century Expert remark: Compare the related form with silver repoussé decorations. Note the lacquer decorations to the cover.

Estim. 500 - 1 000 EUR

Lot 8 - † AN IRON AND SILVER REPOUSSÉ CEREMONIAL SWORD AND SCABBARD - † AN IRON AND SILVER REPOUSSÉ CEREMONIAL SWORD AND SCABBARD Tibet, 1900s. The sword with an iron blade and a coral inlaid hilt incised with scrolling foliage, wrapped with silver wire forming the grip. The scabbard with inset silver repoussé panels decorated with lions amid foliate scrolls, centered by inlays of hardstone, coral, and turquoise, and the reverse with a horse, phoenix, and elephant incised amid foliate scrolls, with damascened floral scrolls around the tip, all below a band of scrolling foliage with a sinuous dragon. The verso of the scabbard applied with a hook suspending a leather cord with beads and a bell. Inscriptions: Inscribed to the iron blade, ‘Serchenling, 1975’. Provenance: Property of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, deaccessioned in 2003. Christie’s New York, Indian and Southeast Asian Art, 27 March 2003, lot 132. French private collection, acquired from the above in the After Sale. Condition: Good condition with old wear, manufacturing flaws, small nicks, light scratches, minor dents, some chips to inlays, and rust to the iron, all as expected. Weight: 1,346 g Dimensions: Length 64.3 cm Literature comparison: Compare a related short sword and scabbard, 18th-19th century, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 36.25.1462a, b. 13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.

Estim. 1 500 - 3 000 EUR

Lot 9 - A POLYCHROME AND GILT WOOD APPLIQUÉ FIVE-LEAF RITUAL CROWN, TIBET, 18TH – 19th CENTURY - A POLYCHROME AND GILT WOOD APPLIQUÉ FIVE-LEAF RITUAL CROWN, TIBET, 18TH – 19th CENTURY Crown in the form of a five-leaved Tathagata crown, worn for ceremonial events. Set inside a vintage frame, behind glass. Each leaf has an image of one of the five Tathagata Buddhas painted on paper in polychrome and gold paint, enclosed in a reticulated and lobed wood petal, decorated with a blossoming lotus and scrolling foliage, and strung on leather bands. From left to right: Amitabha, Vairocana, Akshobhya, Ratnasaṃbhava, and Amoghasiddhi. Provenance: New York trade. The verso with the label from the framing company, ‘Sutton Place Frame Shop Inc., New York’ with a stamped dated ‘January 7 2000’. Condition: Good condition with expected wear, commensurate with age. Tiny losses, some flaking, minor fraying to the leather bands, some losses to the gilt, the reticulated wood with signs of wear and use. Dimensions: Length 47 cm (together), 28.5 x 52 cm (frame) The Five Buddha Crown is worn during initiation empowerments and rituals. The five petal-like segments represent the Five Buddhas of the five directions, also known as the Five Symbolic Buddhas. The crown initiation symbolizes the transmutation of the initiate's five body-mind systems (mirroring, sensational, conceptual, emotional and cognitive) and the five positions (delusion, pride, lust, envy, and hate) into the five transcendental buddhas (Amitabha, Vairocana, Akshobhya, Ratnasambhava and Amoghasiddhi). This crown is worn after blessing, visualizing, and lustrating, as a symbolic seal of the initiate's abandoning the notion of oneself as an ordinary, perfect being, and that adoption of the buddha-pride, the sense of oneself as a purified, enlightened Buddha, every atom itself becomes wisdom. Museum comparison: Compare a related metal vajra crown, Tibet, 19th century, in the collection of the Royal Ontario Museum, Himalayan Art Resources number 77528. Compare a related Lama’s headdress or crown, Tibet, in the collection of the Horniman Museum, object number 1979.14.

Estim. 400 - 800 EUR

Lot 10 - A BONE PLAQUE FROM A TANTRIC SHANMUDRA (APRON) DEPICTING MAHAKALA, TIBET, 17TH-18TH CENTURY - A BONE PLAQUE FROM A TANTRIC SHANMUDRA (APRON) DEPICTING MAHAKALA, TIBET, 17TH-18TH CENTURY Finely carved from an elongated section of bone, the central figure standing in ardhaparayanka on a beaded lotus pedestal, his left hand held in karana mudra and his right hand cradling a kapala. His face with a stern expression, brows furrowed, wearing a skull tiara backed by a radiating aureole, and adorned in elaborate beaded jewelry and a diaphanous dhoti. The upper and lower sections carved with scrolling vines; the verso pierced horizontally for mounting. Provenance: From the collection of Onno Janssens, Netherlands. Onno Janssens (born 1941) is an Olympiad bridge player and prominent collector of Tibetan and Southeast Asian art. He began assembling his impressive collection during the 1990s after studying Tibetology, and part of his collection has been sold at Christie’s in a legendary sale. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, natural flaws, age cracks, and a shallow chip to one end. Weight: 53.6 g Dimensions: 15.3 cm Literature comparison: Compare a closely related bone plaque depicting a tantric deity standing in ardhaparayanka, 15.9 cm long, dated ca. 16th century, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1980.528.1. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 2 October 2018, lot 197 Price: HKD 31,250 or approx. EUR 4,100 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A carved bone apron ornament with tantric deity, Nepal, 16th-18th century Expert remark: Compare the related form and style albeit with a depicting a different deity. Note the similar size (16 cm).

Estim. 400 - 800 EUR

Lot 11 - A COPPER REPOUSSÉ RITUAL MASK OF MAHAKALA, 19TH CENTURY - A COPPER REPOUSSÉ RITUAL MASK OF MAHAKALA, 19TH CENTURY Tibet. Well modeled with a wrathful expression marked by large bulging eyes below bushy brows, centered by a third eye, a wide nose above an open mouth revealing sharp teeth and fangs framed by a curly beard, the face flanked by pierced ears suspending fabric tassels and surmounted by five deviously smiling skulls. The verso fitted with a circular padded tube sized to fit the face of the wearer. Provenance: A private collection in Val de Loire, France. The private collection of Régis Gonnard, France. Condition: Good condition with minor wear and manufacturing flaws. Few dents, tiny losses, some warping. The copper with a naturally grown, dark patina. Weight: 959 g (excl. stand), 3,094 g (incl. stand) Dimensions: Height 30.5 cm (excl. stand), 48.5 cm (incl. stand) Literature comparison: Compare a related mask of Bhairava, Nepal, 17th-19th century, in the collection of the British Museum, museum number 1952,1101.9. Compare a related mask of Bhairava, Tibet, 20th century, in the collection of the Norton Simon Museum, accession number P.2006.02.09.

Estim. 400 - 800 EUR

Lot 12 - A BRONZE FIGURE OF PADMAPANI, WESTERN TIBET, PROBABLY LADAKH, 12TH TO EARLY 13TH CENTURY - A BRONZE FIGURE OF PADMAPANI, WESTERN TIBET, PROBABLY LADAKH, 12TH TO EARLY 13TH CENTURY Published: Friedrich Georg Zeleis, ‘Sacred and Secular from Gandhara to Lhasa and along the Silk Road’, 2004, p. 266-267, no. 95. Finely cast, standing in tribhanga on a circular base, holding a ghanta in his lowered right hand, placing his left hand on his hip while holding the stem of a lotus blossom. Wearing a diaphanous dhoti around his waist and a sash around his shoulder linked by an animal-head pendant, adorned with beaded jewelry, and wearing a stylized thatagata crown securing his tall chignon. His serene face with almond-shape eyes, full lips, and sinuous brows. Provenance: From the collection of Friedrich Zeileis, by repute acquired in the early 1980s. Private collection in Hungary, acquired in the German trade. Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age, with wear, small nicks, casting irregularities, remnants of silvering to the eyes, and the lotus blossoms on his shoulder lost prior to the publication of this piece. The bronze displaying a fine, naturally grown patina. Weight: 502 g (incl. stand) Dimensions: Height 15 cm (incl. stand), 14 cm (excl. stand) Mounted on a modern bronze stand. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related bronze figure of Padmapani similarly posed holding a ghanta, 8.7 cm high, dated 11th-12th century, in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford University, accession number EA1995.154. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 21 September 2022, lot 406 Price: USD 32,760 or approx. EUR 33,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A bronze figure of eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara, Western Tibet, Probably Guge, 11th-12th century Expert remark: Compare the related style of casting and similar modeling. Note the different manifestation of Avalokiteshvara. Note the similar size (12.7 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 17 December 2021, lot 3016 Price: HKD 100,800 or approx. EUR 12,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A small bronze figure of Avalokiteshvara, Tibet, circa 11th century Expert remark: Compare the similar ware and casting style albeit of a different manifestation of Avalokiteshvara seated. Note the smaller size (9 cm).

Estim. 3 000 - 6 000 EUR

Lot 13 - A BLACK STONE STELE OF VARUNI, THE GODDESS OF WINE, NEPAL, 13TH CENTURY - A BLACK STONE STELE OF VARUNI, THE GODDESS OF WINE, NEPAL, 13TH CENTURY Finely and deeply carved, the four-armed deity seated in dhyanasana on her vahana the makara. She is dressed in a short dhoti and adorned in beaded jewelry. Her sensitively carved face with a serene expression marked by almond-shaped eyes and full lips forming a calm smile flanked by circular earrings, her neatly incised hair secured by a floral tiara, backed by a flaming mandorla centered at the top by a kirtimukha, the upper arms holding accoutrements including a pot of wine, and flanked by two roundels enclosing a floral design. Provenance: From the private collection of Jean-Marc Andral, acquired at Galerie Carré des Antiques Versailles in the early 2000s. A copy of a provenance statement, written and signed by Jean-Marc Andral, dated 21 October 2023, confirming the above, accompanies this lot. Jean-Marc Andral is a Belgian manager based in Brussels and active in the healthcare industry for over 25 years. Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, repairs to the upper section, small chips, scratches, losses, touchups, and structural cracks. The stone covered in a rich, naturally grown patina with some ancient encrustations. Weight: 38.7 kg Dimensions: Height 61.5 cm Varuni is the name of multiple goddesses associated with the Hindu god Varuna — his wife (also known as Varunani), his daughter (the goddess of wine), and the personification of his shakti (A matrika or mother goddess). Sometimes, these goddesses are identified as one deity. In this context, she is the goddess of wine, who emerged during the Samudra Manthana (churning of the ocean) and chose Varuna as her consort. Literature comparison: Compare a related black stone stele depicting Simhavahini Durga, dated to the 13th century, in the National Museum of Nepal. Compare a related black stone stele depicting Varuni, 73 cm high, dated to the 13th century, in the National Museum, New Delhi, accession number 50.179.

Estim. 4 000 - 8 000 EUR

Lot 14 - AN INLAID BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, TIBET, 13TH-14TH CENTURY - AN INLAID BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, TIBET, 13TH-14TH CENTURY Expert’s note: This distinctive representation, with its tall ushnisha and prominent knop, belongs to an important group of 13th-14th century bronzes that show early Tibetan artists straying away from Indian and Nepalese prototypes and including their own aesthetic proclivities. Seated in dhyanasana atop a double-lotus base with a beaded upper rim, his right hand lowered in karana mudra and his left holding an alms bowl. The body clad in a close-fitting sanghati draped over his left shoulder, the robe bordered with incised and beaded hems. The face with a meditative expression marked by heavy-lidded eyes, finely incised curved brows centered by a gently raised urna, flanked by a pair of long pendulous ears. The hair arranged in tight curls over the high ushnisha surmounted by a tall conical knop. Provenance: The Moke Mokotoff Collection, New York. The interior with an old label, ‘6’. John ‘Moke’ Mokotoff (1950-2022) was a devoted Buddhist practitioner, passionate collector, and esteemed dealer of Asian art. After studying expressive art and photography in school, he moved to New York, where he began to deal in the nascent market for Chinese, Indian, and Himalayan art. In 1980, Moke opened his first gallery, Mokotoff Asian Arts, and actively sold important works to some of the most prominent collections in New York and globally, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Rubin Museum of Art. Revered for his knowledge of Chinese and Indian textiles, Moke was also a compassionate teacher and lifelong patron of Buddhist monasteries and nunneries. Condition: Good condition with old wear and casting flaws, few minor dents and tiny nicks, light surface scratches, small losses. Old remnants of lacquer-gilding to the sides of the face. The base unsealed and the interior filled with sacred scriptures, probably of a later date. Weight: 676.5 g Dimensions: Height 19.7 cm The figure is meticulously inlaid with small silvered-metal plaques of rectangular shape, including one to the chest, another to the forehead, and two more on his legs. These plaques have a ritual purpose and are frequently found in Buddhist sculpture. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 7 October 2019, lot 926 Estimate: HKD 600,000 or approx. EUR 77,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A copper alloy figure of Buddha, Tibet, circa 13th century Expert remark: Compare the idiosyncratic modeling, especially the tall ushnisha, with the figure’s hair being of around the same height as the face, much like the present lot. Note the small rectangular copper plaques found on this figure, which resemble the plaques on the present lot. Note the size (25.5 cm).

Estim. 4 000 - 8 000 EUR

Lot 15 - A SILVER- AND COPPER-INLAID BRONZE FIGURE OF GURU RINPOCHE, TIBET, 14TH-15TH CENTURY - A SILVER- AND COPPER-INLAID BRONZE FIGURE OF GURU RINPOCHE, TIBET, 14TH-15TH CENTURY Finely cast, Padmasambhava is seated on a double lotus pedestal in dhyanasana, his right hand held in gyan mudra with a lotus stem which comes to full bloom at his shoulder, the blossom bearing a flaming sword, cradling a book in his left hand, the stem of a second lotus blossom rising to his left shoulder from beneath his arm bearing scriptures and a jewel. Wearing elaborate monastic robes, the hems decorated with floral blossoms of inlaid silver and copper, falling in elegant folds and pooling around him. His serene face with eyes wide open, full lips forming a calm smile, and a visible hairline beneath his pema hat. Provenance: Hungarian private collection. Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age, with wear, minor casting irregularities, small nicks, and minor dents. Weight: 637 g Dimensions: Height 13.4 cm Literature comparison: Compare a related bronze figure of the Lama Namgyal Dragpa Zangpo, 13.9 cm high, dated to the 15th century, in the Walters Art Museum, accession number 54.3096. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2 October 2017, lot 3110 Price: HKD 1,437,500 or approx. EUR 190,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: An inscribed bronze figure of Lama Choje Sengge, Tibet, 15th century Expert remark: Compare the related style of casting with ornate robes. Note the different lama depicted and the more elaborate decorations.

Estim. 1 500 - 3 000 EUR

Lot 16 - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF TARA, NEPAL, 14TH-15TH CENTURY - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF TARA, NEPAL, 14TH-15TH CENTURY Finely cast and well worn, seated in lalitasana atop a double lotus dais, her left foot resting on a small lotus platform issuing from the base, her right hand lowered in varada mudra and her left in vitarka mudra holding a lotus stem. Dressed in a diaphanous dhoti engraved with folds and geometric patterns, and richly adorned in fine jewelry with two inlays still preserved. Her hair tightly arranged in a jewel-topped chignon behind a foliate tiara. Provenance: From an old private collection in France. Viennese private collection, acquired from the above. The interior of the base with an old collector’s label, ‘Tara-bronzé doré. XIVsec Nepal.’ Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age, with extensive wear predominantly from centuries of worship within the culture. Expected casting flaws, minor nicks, few scratches, rubbing to gilt, and minor losses. Weight: 405 g Dimensions: Height 11.9 cm Literature comparison: Compare a related Nepalese standing figure of Tara wearing similar jewelry, 10.3 cm high, dated to the 14th century, in the Cleveland Museum of Art, accession number 1972.364. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 28 March 2024, lot 8 Price: USD 12,600 or approx. EUR 11,500 converted at the time of writing Description: A gilt-bronze figure of Tara, Nepal, 15th century Expert remark: Compare the related style, manner of casting, and inlays. Note the larger size (17.5 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 21 March 2024, lot 846 Price: USD 8,255 or approx. EUR 7,700 converted at the time of writing Description: A gilt-bronze figure of Green Tara, Tibet or Nepal, 15th/16th century Expert remark: Compare the related modeling, pose, jewelry, and base. Note the smaller size (9.5 cm).

Estim. 2 000 - 4 000 EUR

Lot 17 - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA, TIBET, 15TH – 16th CENTURY - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA, TIBET, 15TH – 16th CENTURY Finely cast, seated in dhyanasana on an ornate double-lotus pedestal with a finely beaded rim and holding his hands in dharmachakra mudra. Wearing the simple robes of a monk, his face bearing a serene expression with heavy-lidded downcast eyes, slender lips forming a calm smile, a dimpled chin, and a central urna beneath his hairline, neatly arranged tight curled nodes with remnants of blue pigment encompassing a raised ushnisha. The base is sealed and engraved with a double-vajra symbol. Provenance: Viennese private collection. Condition: Very good condition with wear, minor casting flaws, small nicks, minuscule dents, and remnants of pigment. The gilding was renewed, presumably in the 19th century. Weight: 851 g Dimensions: Height 15.3 cm Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 23 March 2022, lot 420 Price: USD 11,340 or approx. EUR 11,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt-bronze figure of a Buddha, Tibet, 15th-16th century Expert remark: Compare the related subject and mudra. Note the size (17.8 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 18 September 2023, lot 102 Price: USD 27,940 or approx. EUR 27,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt-copper alloy figure of Shakyamuni Buddha, Tibet, 15th century Expert remark: Compare the related double-lotus base and the modeling of the figure, who wears similarly simplistic monastic robes. Note the different pose. Note the size (22 cm).

Estim. 1 500 - 3 000 EUR

Lot 18 - AN INSCRIBED AND INLAID SILVERED BRONZE FIGURE OF PADMASAMBHAVA, TIBET, 17TH-18TH CENTURY - AN INSCRIBED AND INLAID SILVERED BRONZE FIGURE OF PADMASAMBHAVA, TIBET, 17TH-18TH CENTURY Finely cast, seated in dhyanasana on a sealed double-lotus pedestal, holding a vajra in his right hand and a vessel in his left. Wearing heavy monastic robes with neatly engraved hems decorated with floral designs, the gilt face bearing a benevolent expression with full red lips, downcast eyes highlighted with gouache pigments beneath sinuous brows, centered by a raised urna, wearing a pema hat with double vajra on the front. His earrings and the double vajra inlaid with turquoise stones. The base is sealed and engraved with the Eight Buddhist emblems (bajixiang). Inscriptions: Incised at the back of the base in Tibetan script ‘Aeh Mah Ho Thangpo Guru Tsam Geh Bohontsul Ne Kahm Tsum, Semchen Deh la Koh Guru Pedma Jugne Yin (Padmasambhava): Om ha hum vajra guru Padma siddhi hum.’ Provenance: From an old German private collection. Collection of Carlos Cruañas Dalmau, Barcelona, Spain, acquired from the above. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, some casting irregularities, light tarnishing, and rubbing to the gilt and silvering. Scepter lost. Weight: 1,482 g Dimensions: Height 19.2 cm Literature comparison: Compare a gilt- and silvered-bronze figure of Padmasambhava with coral and turquoise inlays, similarly modeled, 16.5 cm high, dated to the 15th century, in the Rubin Museum of Art, accession number C2005.16.36. The mantra of Padmasambhava is inscribed after the name of the great Lama on the present lot. His mantra begins ‘Om ha hum,’ the seed syllables of the three vajras (of body, speech, and mind). According to Jamyang Wangpo, ‘Vajra’ within the mantra signifies the dharmakaya since it cannot be ‘cut’ or destroyed by the elaborations of conceptual thought. ‘Guru’ signifies the sambhogakaya, which is ‘heavily’ laden with the qualities of the seven aspects of union. ‘Padma’ refers to the nirmanakaya, the radiant awareness of the wisdom of discernment arising from the lotus family of enlightened speech. ‘Siddhi’ recalls the qualities of the great Guru of Oḍdiyana, who was freed from conceptual thought and achieved ‘Siddhi,’ all the supreme accomplishments, through the power of this prayer and meditation. Padmasambhava (literally ‘lotus-born’ in Sanskrit), also known as Guru Rinpoche among Tibetans, is believed to be one of the principal masters to bring Buddhism to Tibet and to teach the tantras in the 8th century. He is depicted in numerous forms with different names representing outer, inner and secret aspects of his spiritual being, with the change of names following the chronology of his life story. In the 5th century BC, Buddha Shakyamuni arrived as the founder of Buddhism. His teachings were subsumed by the Sutrayana and the Tantryana. In the 8th century, Padmasambhava personified the guru principle, the ritualistic path of Buddhism and the heart of Vajrayana Buddhism. They are exemplified in its flourishing after it was introduced into Tibet and the Himalayas between the 7th and 11th centuries. Because of Padmasambhava's teachings and contribution, he is known as the ‘Second Buddha.’ Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams London, 12 November 2015, lot 75 Price: GBP 21,250 or approx. EUR 37,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt-copper figure of Padmasambhava, Tibet, 17th/18th century Expert remark: Compare the related modeling and subject with turquoise inlays. Note the lack of silvering. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s Paris, 13 December 2017, lot 174 Price: EUR 18,750 or approx. EUR EUR 22,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A bronze figure of Padmasambhava, Tibet, 18th century Expert remark: Compare the related form and modeling. Note the different base. Note the size (18.5 cm).

Estim. 3 000 - 6 000 EUR

Lot 19 - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF GARWA NAGPO DAMCHEN, TIBET, 17TH-18TH CENTURY - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF GARWA NAGPO DAMCHEN, TIBET, 17TH-18TH CENTURY Finely cast, the protector deity sitting in lalitasana on a separately cast lotus pedestal, his arms outstretched in the dynamic pose of the karana mudra. Wearing felt boots and long silk robes, his sleeves flying upward, the hems finely chased with scrolling vines and stylized geometric designs. His fierce face drawn up into a snarl, his mouth open to reveal sharp fangs, his brows furrowed, eyes bulging, and his hair neatly arranged into tight strands with a smooth area on top. The base resealed. Provenance: Viennese private collection, acquired in the French antiques market. Condition: Good condition with wear, minor casting flaws, small dents, minor nicks, and remnants of pigment. The smoothened area atop the head once bearing a hat, as evidence by the small nail to the back of the head. The base is not original but made during the same period as the figure. Weight: 595 g Dimensions: Height 13.7 cm Garwa Nagpo, Damchen ('the Blacksmith'), is the main attendant deity to the protector deity Dorje Legpa and is found as a standard protector deity in the Karma Kagyu and Nyingma traditions. The two deities were adopted into the Tibetan Buddhist canon after its earliest introduction under Padmasambhava. They are tasked with protecting the Revealed Treasure texts of the Nyingma tradition. Literature comparison: Compare a related gilt-bronze figure of Garwa Nagpo Damchen similarly posed, riding a goat, dated to the 18th century, in the Rubin Museum of Art, illustrated in Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 65488. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s London, 10 November 2017, lot 270 Price: GBP 9,375 or approx. EUR 16,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt-bronze figure of Garwa Nagpo Damchen, Qing dynasty, 18th century Expert remark: Compare the related modeling and the similar pose. Note the ungilt face, missing arm, and the original goat base. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 16 September 2014, lot 259 Price: USD 27,500 or approx. EUR 34,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt bronze figure of Garwa Nagpo, Tibet, circa 18th century Expert remark: Compare the related pose albeit holding a vajra and scriptures. Note the goat mount and the hat. Note the size (17 cm).

Estim. 500 - 1 000 EUR

Lot 20 - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF MAHAKALA, 18TH CENTURY - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF MAHAKALA, 18TH CENTURY Tibetan-Chinese. Finely, heavily cast striding in alidhasana with his right hand raised holding a vajra chopper (kartri) and his left holding a skull cup (kapala), wearing a tiger skin tied below his bulging belly, incised to the tiger’s forehead on the back with the Chinese character ‘wang’ (meaning ‘king’), adorned with a garland of severed heads as well as beaded festoons, sashes, and a snake, the ferocious face with open mouth and bulging eyes surmounted by a skull tiara, the hair rising in flames. Provenance: Canadian trade. Acquired from an old private collection. Condition: Good condition with some wear, casting irregularities, losses, small nicks, light scratches, casting flaws, and remnants of pigments. The associated wood stand with wear and natural age cracks. Weight: 1,2 kg (excl. base), 1.4 kg (incl. base) Dimensions: Height 17.5 cm (excl. base), 19.3 cm (incl. base) Mounted to a modern wood stand. (2) Expert’s note: The open mouth displays a small aperture where one fang was once attached. Smaller details, such as this fang, were separately cast and added to the figure, which showcases the effort and craftsmanship that went into manufacturing these casts. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 21 March 2012, lot 798 Price: USD 12,500 or approx. EUR 15,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt bronze figure of Vajrapani, Tibet or Tibeto-Chinese, 17th/18th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling with similar pose, face, sashes, and jewelry. Note the size (14.6 cm) and missing base. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 16 September 2014, lot 266 Price: USD 17,500 or approx. EUR 20,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt bronze figure of Mahakala, Tibeto-Chinese, 18th century Expert remark: Compare the related pose and fine details, note the related size (17 cm) and missing base.

Estim. 1 500 - 3 000 EUR

Lot 21 - † A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI, TIBET, 18TH – 19th CENTURY - † A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI, TIBET, 18TH – 19th CENTURY Heavily cast, seated in dhyanasana atop a double lotus throne with a beaded edge, his right hand lowered in bhumisparsha mudra, and his left held above the lap in dhyana mudra with an alms bowl. He is wearing a diaphanous sanghati draped over the left shoulder with neatly incised geometric hems, gathering at the shoulder and at the top of the base. His serene face with sinuously lidded downcast eyes below arched brows, his full bow-shaped lips forming a calm smile, flanked by elongated lobes. The hair arranged in tight curls over the ushinsha topped by a jewel. The base sealed with a copper plate incised with a double vajra. Provenance: Galerie Peter Hardt, Radevormwald, Germany, 2006. Collection of Dino Pionzio, Barcelona, acquired from the above. A copy of the signed warranty, which accompanied the invoice from Galerie Peter Hardt, dated March 2006, guaranteeing the authenticity of the object, and valuing it to EUR 11,000 or approx. EUR 15,500 (adjusted for inflation at the time of writing), accompanies this lot. Peter Hardt is a notable German expert, collector, and dealer for Asian art. During his long career, which spanned more than 35 years, Hardt built a substantial collection that is now housed in a private museum he founded in 2014, the Museum für Asiatische Kunst in Radevormwald. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and casting irregularities. Tiny nicks, small scratches, and minor dents. Remnants of blue pigment. The alms bowl reattached, the base plate appears to be a later addition. Weight: 1,712.9 g Dimensions: Height 19 cm 13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.

Estim. 3 000 - 6 000 EUR

Lot 22 - A COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF GREEN TARA, NEPAL, 18TH - 19TH CENTURY - A COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF GREEN TARA, NEPAL, 18TH - 19TH CENTURY Seated in lalitasana with each hand holding a lotus stem coming to full bloom at the shoulder. Wearing a sheer dhoti secured by a floral belt and richly adorned with beaded jewelry. Her serene face with downcast eyes and bow-shaped lips forming a benevolent smile. The hair arranged in a high chignon topped by a foliate finial behind the five-leaf tiara. Provenance: From a private collection in Belgium. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, casting flaws, and few small nicks. Fine, naturally grown, dark patina. Weight: 195.6 g Dimensions: Height 8.4 cm Green Tara, also known as Shyamatara, is venerated as a savior and liberator from samsara, the earthly realm of birth and rebirth. According to Buddhist mythology, Green Tara emerged from a lotus bud rising from a lake of the tears of Avalokiteshvara, shed for the suffering of all sentient beings. She embodies compassion in a dynamic form, hence the usual depiction of the goddess with right leg outstretched, ready to leap out to ease suffering. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related bronze figure in the National Museum, Wroclaw, illustrated in a statement on new acquisitions by the museum in 2017. Note that this lot is dated 15th-16th century.

Estim. 200 - 400 EUR

Lot 23 - A BRONZE FIGURE OF PADMASAMBHAVA, TIBET, 18TH – 19th CENTURY - A BRONZE FIGURE OF PADMASAMBHAVA, TIBET, 18TH – 19th CENTURY Finely cast, the Great Master is seated in dhyanasana on a double-lotus throne, his hands holding a vajra and kapala, flanked by a repoussé double aureole of flames. Wearing voluminous robes falling in elegant folds that pool around the figure, his elongated earlobes with large earrings, and wearing a pema hat. His serene face with almond shape eyes, a flattened urna, and gently arched brows, his lips forming a calm smile. The base is sealed, and the seal plate is prominently embossed with a double vajra. The back cast with rings for mounting. Provenance: German private collection. Galerie Zacke, 22 November 2014, lot 254. Viennese private collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Good condition with wear, minor casting flaws, small nicks, minor dents, remnants of pigment on the aureole, and a repair to the double aureole. Weight: 1,336 g Dimensions: Height 22.5 cm Literature comparison: Compare a related gilt-bronze figure of Padmasambhava from Tibet, 38 cm high, dated to the 18th century, in the British Museum, accession number 1942,0416.1. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s Paris, 9 June 2021, lot 59 Price: EUR 13,750 or approx. EUR 15,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt-bronze figure of Padmasambhava, Tibet or Bhutan, 18th century Expert remark: Compare the related figure and base. Note this lot does not have a double aureole. Note the smaller size (17.5 cm).

Estim. 2 000 - 4 000 EUR

Lot 24 - A CORAL AND TURQUOISE-INLAID BRONZE FIGURE OF INDRA, NEPAL, 19TH CENTURY - A CORAL AND TURQUOISE-INLAID BRONZE FIGURE OF INDRA, NEPAL, 19TH CENTURY Seated in lalitasana supporting himself on his left hand while the right rests on his knee, the soles of his feet with floral medallions. His dhoti densely incised with scrolling vines on a ring-punched ground, secured at the waist by a sash with a floral buckle, a single strap draped across his bare chest. His serene face with heavy-lidded eyes, elegantly arched brows, and a central urna beneath an elaborate tiara with his curling hair falling down his shoulders. The elaborate foliate jewelry finely inlaid with coral and turquoise. The tiara is secured to the head by a crossbar along the back. The hair is pulled up into a high chignon with a single glass inlay. Provenance: French trade. Condition: Good condition with minor wear, casting flaws, few inlays lost, rubbing, small nicks, and minor old soldering repairs. The bronze with a naturally grown, dark patina. Weight: 4,156 g Dimensions: Height 26.1 cm Indra is a Vedic god known as the king of all other gods, as well as the deity of war, and of the sky, adopted into the Newar Hindu pantheon and exalted as the giver of rain. As such, images like this are rarely found in India, but common in Nepal. His horizontal third eye distinguishes him from other Hindu deities, as does his distinctive single-crested crown.

Estim. 500 - 1 000 EUR

Lot 25 - A GILT REPOUSSÉ BRONZE RELIEF DEPICTING CHANDI, DATED 1892 - A GILT REPOUSSÉ BRONZE RELIEF DEPICTING CHANDI, DATED 1892 Nepal. Finely cast, the four-armed wrathful goddess standing in alidabhanga on a lotus pedestal, her right foot resting atop her lion mount, her principle hands holding a kapala and gesturing in karana mudra, her secondary hands holding a large sword and shield. Wearing a garland of skulls and a diaphanous dhoti, her wide eyes centered by a large urna, her hair secured by a large skull crown. The Hindu goddess enveloped in a flaming aureole. Inscriptions: The back with a lengthy dedicatory inscription written in Nepali, and dated ‘Vikram Samvat 949’ (corresponding to 1892). Provenance: Viennese private collection. Condition: Good condition with wear, casting flaws, rubbing, abrasions to gilding, small nicks, and minor losses. Weight: 1,373 g (incl. stand) Dimensions: Height 27.6 cm (incl. stand), 24.3 cm (excl. stand) Mounted on a metal stand. Chandi is a Hindu goddess and is an avatar of Durga, who slayed the demon Mahishasura. She has been affiliated with and also considered as Katyayini, Kaushiki or Ambika who killed Shumbha, Nishumbha and their fellow demons. Chandi is one of the most popular folk deities, and a number of poems and literary compositions called Chandi Mangala Kavyas were written regarding the goddess from the 13th century to the early 19th century. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams Paris, 10 June 2021, lot 15 Price: EUR 4,080 or approx. EUR 4,600 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt copper alloy repoussé plaque of Durga Mahishasuramardini, Nepal, 17th/18th century Expert remark: Compare the related style and form depicting the goddess Durga of whom Chandi is a manifestation. Note the size (33 cm).

Estim. 1 500 - 3 000 EUR

Lot 26 - A SILVERED METAL FIGURE OF MARPA LOTSAWA - A SILVERED METAL FIGURE OF MARPA LOTSAWA Tibet, 19th century. Finely cast, seated in dhyanasana atop an animal hide laid over a rectangular pedestal, wearing voluminous robes incised to the hems with geometric motifs. His serene face with arched brows above a gentle smile and long goatee, flanked by pendulous ears with earrings; the hair partially pulled to the top in a high chignon while the rest falls straight down the back. The base sealed and incised with a vajra. Inscriptions: Inscribed to the back in Tibetan, ‘om mani padme hum’ [praise to the jewel in the lotus]. Provenance: From the collection of Taoufik Bendahou, Paris, according to the current owner. LP Collection Paris, France. Taoufik Bendahou (1935-2015) was a Moroccan social security administrator. He studied in Paris, France, and from 1966 to 1987 was the Inspector-General of the National Social Security Fund of Morocco. He later worked in various high functions for the International Labor Organization in Geneva. After his retirement, he lived in France. Condition: Good condition with minor wear and casting flaws. Some rubbing, tiny nicks, minor losses, and light scratches. The base resealed with a tiny section of red fabric poking out. Weight: 96.6 g Dimensions: Height 6.1 cm The present figure displays the stoic expression of a seasoned elder. Resting his hands on his knees, poised like a mountain, with the sumptuous folds of his garment hint at the robust body underneath. Marpa Lotsawa Chokyi Lodoe (1012-1096) was a founder of one of the two Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He is credited with the transmission of many Vajrayana teachings from India, including the teachings and lineages of Mahamudra.

Estim. 500 - 1 000 EUR

Lot 27 - A BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA AMITAYUS, TIBET, 19TH CENTURY - A BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA AMITAYUS, TIBET, 19TH CENTURY Finely cast, seated in dhyanasana on a double-lotus throne with his hands lowered in dhyana mudra. Dressed in a dhoti arranged in tight folds beneath his legs, a long shawl which flares out from the sides, and adorned with fine jewelry. The figure’s face with a serene expression, the hair arranged in a high chignon behind the foliate tiara. Provenance: Old Austrian private collection. Viennese private collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, casting flaws, and the water vessel lost. The bronze is covered in a rich, chocolate patina which darkens in the recesses. Weight: 649 g Dimensions: Height 14.2 cm Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 22 September 2021, lot 404 Price: USD 32,500 or approx. EUR 36,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A group of three bronze ‘Pala revival’-style Buddhist figures, TIbeto-Chinese, 18th century Expert remark: Compare the related form and style. Note this lot is comprised of three figures. Note the size (17.5 cm).

Estim. 700 - 1 400 EUR

Lot 28 - A RARE THANGKA OF SAKYA PANDITA, TIBET, 14TH-15TH CENTURY - A RARE THANGKA OF SAKYA PANDITA, TIBET, 14TH-15TH CENTURY Distemper and gold on cloth. Finely painted, the central figure seated in dhyanasana atop a multicolored lotus throne, holding his hands in dharmachakra mudra, wearing a loose-fitting monastic robe and a pandita cap, his serene face with smiling lips and a prominent chin. He is backed by a minutely detailed, layered mandorla painted with foliate scroll and gold flames with small precious stones, flanked by two stylized lotus stems rising from vases and supporting makaras. The upper register with smaller images of Buddhas and monks. The reverse with a pair of handprints in red pigment. Provenance: From an important Hungarian private collection. Condition: Extensive wear, fading, some soiling, and creasing. Dimensions: Image Size 62.5 x 47.2 cm, Size incl. frame 78.2 x 68.8 cm Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen (1182-1251), a spiritual ancestor of the Panchen Lama, is perhaps the most important master of the Sakyapa school. Following a visit to China, he became viceroy of Tibet in 1249. He is generally known simply as Sakya Pandita (or Sapan for short), a title given to him in recognition of his scholarly achievements and knowledge of Sanskrit. He is held in the tradition to have been an emanation of Manjusri, the embodiment of the wisdom of all the Buddhas. Expert’s note: The handprints on the reverse serve two overlapping purposes. The first is a form of signature or seal. The tradition of an artist ‘signing’ a thangka was prevalent in Tibet, with the earliest known thangka bearing fingerprints dating to the 9th century. Handprints on the back of a thangka may also represent blessings from a venerated teacher. Outside their appearance in thangkas, handprints were used to mark significant documents such as treaties and decrees, like the prints of the Fifth Dalai Lama Ngawang Losang Gyatso (1617-1682) which appear at the bottom of a proclamation in 1679 entrusting his authority to his regent Sangye Gyatso (1652-1703). Literature comparison: Compare a closely related thangka with a similar mandorla and gold-painted scrolling foliage, dated ca. 14th century, in the Walters Art Museum, accession number 35.326. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s Paris, 15 December 2022, lot 5 Price: EUR 52,920 or approx. EUR 56,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A rare thangka depicting Gayadhara and drokmi, Tibet, 16th century Expert remark: Compare the related manner of painting with similarly gold-decorated robes. Note this thangka depicts two main figures and dates slightly later than the present lot. Note the size (65 x 54 cm).

Estim. 6 000 - 12 000 EUR

Lot 29 - A FINE THANGKA OF THE SEVENTEEN-DEITY TARA MANDALA, CENTRAL TIBET, C. 1535-1550 - A FINE THANGKA OF THE SEVENTEEN-DEITY TARA MANDALA, CENTRAL TIBET, C. 1535-1550 Distemper and gold on cloth. Mounted as a hanging scroll on a fine Chinese silk brocade frame dating from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The central palace houses the goddess Green Tara in union with the Cosmic Buddha Amoghasiddhi, seated above a white moon disk and lotus plinth. They are accompanied by a retinue of seventeen other Taras bearing the colors of the Five Buddha Families. The upper and lower registers with bodhisattvas, Lamas, and wrathful protectors. Superbly painted with meticulous attention to detail and skillfully orchestrated patterns of multi-colored flame and foliate scroll designs. Inscriptions: An inscription below the lower register of the composition identifies the two figures depicted in the corners: Lower left, ‘Homage to the Precious (Lama) Konchog Lhundrub (1497-1557), the 10th Abbot of Ngor monastery (in office 1534-1557)’. Lower right, ‘Hail to the religious teacher Choje Kunga Lhundrub (dates unknown)’. Further inscriptions in gold ink to the upper and lower registers identify several of the portrayed deities and Lamas, including the progenitor of the Seventeen Deity Tara Mandala, Ravigupta (c. 7th-8th century), second from left in the upper register, flanked by Green Tara and Chandragarbha (Atisha), the lower register with Kamaraja, Kurukulla, Ganapati, Yellow Jambhala, and Black Jambhala. The verso with the mantra ‘Om Ah Hum’ inscribed numerous times. Provenance: From the private collection of Norman Blount (1875-1930), and thence by descent in the same family. Norman Blount was a British merchant active in Calcutta as a jute broker and senior partner of the firm Sinclair Murray & Co. In Calcutta, he co-founded and served as a secretary of the Indian Society of Oriental Art. The Society met monthly and organized art exhibitions, taught students, and published high-quality reproductions and illustrated journals. Horatio Herbert Kitchener (Lord Kitchener) was the Society’s first President. Condition: Superb condition with expected old wear, some creasing, minor soiling, very little fading to colors, few loose threads, and tiny losses. The mounting with wear and traces of use, some tears, minor losses, loose threads, fading. Dimensions: Image size 50 x 37 cm, Size incl. frame 83 x 54 cm Expert’s note: There are two variations of the Seventeen-Deity Tara mandala, both with Tara and Amoghasiddhi in the center: one shows the female deity looking straight ahead, such as the example illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item number 779; while the other shows the Cosmic Buddha in this position, like in the present lot and a thangka illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 30524. Note that this closely related thangka has an inscription dedicating the painting to Konchog Pelwa (1445-1514), the 7th Abbott of Ngor monastery and a teacher of Konchog Lhundrub, who is depicted on the present lot. Furthermore, it has to be noted that the present thangka is in absolutely original, magnificent condition. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related Seventeen Deity Tara mandala, with an inscription dedicating the painting to Konchog Pelwa (1445-1514), the 7th Abbot of Ngor monastery, dated 16th century, from a private collection, illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 30524. Compare a closely related Seventeen Deity Tara mandala, dated 15th century, in the Rubin Museum, accession number P1998.4.13, illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 779. Compare a closely related Seventeen Deity Tara mandala, dated 16th century, from the Jucker Collection, sold at Sotheby’s New York, 28 March 2006, illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 12415. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 1 December 2023, lot 1816 Price: HKD 1,147,000 or approx. EUR 137,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A Seventeen Deity Tara mandala, Tibet, circa 15th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject with Tara and Amoghasiddhi, albeit in reversed positions, surrounded by a retinue of seventeen Taras. Note the similar size (50 x 43.2 cm). Observe the lack of inscriptions and earlier dating. Due to length restriction on Drouot this entry is shortened. For full description please visit www.zacke.at.

Estim. 8 000 - 16 000 EUR

Lot 30 - A THANGKA OF KALACHAKRA IN YABYUM, 16TH CENTURY - A THANGKA OF KALACHAKRA IN YABYUM, 16TH CENTURY Tibet. Distemper on cloth, mounted in a frame. The yidam depicted with four faces in blue, red, white, and yellow, twenty-four arms in blue, red, and white, each hand with multi-colored fingers, held in karana mudra and holding various weapons and attributes, as well as a red and a white leg. His principal arms are crossed around his two-headed, eight-armed consort Visvamata firmly in front of his body while holding two vajras. They are richly adorned with fine jewelry, and Kalachakra wears a tiger skin. Inscriptions: The reverse with the Kalachakra symbol and a Tibetan inscription about the colors of the five elements. Provenance: From the personal collection of Paul Rutten, Amsterdam, and thence by descent in the same family. Paul Rutten was a Dutch dealer and expert of both East Asian and tribal art, who owned and ran the Amsterdam gallery Asiatic & Tribal Art. Condition: Good condition with some wear, staining, soiling, water marks, small losses, tears, creasing, and minor touchups. The frame with few nicks and scratches. Dimensions: Image size 55 x 51 cm, Size including frame 81.3 x 78 cm The pair are trampling on prostrate figures, the red Kamadeva and white Rudra, accompanies by their respective consorts. They are backed by a multi-colored flaming mandorla and surrounded by numerous tantric gods and teachers. The meditation practices of the Kalachakra tantra belong to the highest of the four tantra classes of Tibetan Buddhism: Anuttarayoga. By practicing it, it is said to be possible to achieve enlightenment in one lifetime. This spiritual promise led to the spread of the tantra, with some variations, to all the major schools in Tibet. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Koller Auctions Zurich, 3 December 2020, lot 261 Price: CHF 36,900 or approx. EUR 41,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A thangka of Kalacakra in yab-yum, Tibet, 16th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and manner of painting. Note the size (66 x 43.5 cm).

Estim. 5 000 - 10 000 EUR

Lot 31 - A THANGKA OF VAJRABHAIRAVA WITH HIS CONSORT VAJRAVETALI, 18TH CENTURY - A THANGKA OF VAJRABHAIRAVA WITH HIS CONSORT VAJRAVETALI, 18TH CENTURY Tibet. Distemper and gold on cloth. Finely painted, the central figures standing in alidhasana atop a lotus pedistal enveloped in a flaming mandorla with bright gilt detailing, all set within a mountainous landscape with colorful swirling clouds in a dark sky. The upper register with Tsongkhapa seated in the center flanked by the fourth Panchen Lama Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen and the fifth Panchen Lama Lobsang Yeshe, above two wrathful deities. The lower register with Palden Lhamo, Mahakala, Yama in union with Yami, and Vaisravana. Provenance: From a European private collection. Condition: Good condition with old wear, light soiling, fading, and minor creasing. Dimensions: 44.4 x 29 cm The wrathful Vajrabhairava is a yidam, a deity that presides over the great tantras of the highest yoga in Tibetan Buddhism. A guardian and destroyer of death, he is represented here with thirty-four arms brandishing an array of weapons, while his sixteen legs trample birds, dogs, and Hindu gods including the elephant-headed Ganesha. He embraces his consort Vajravetali, an animated corpse, in a yab-yum sexual embrace that alludes to a dualistic totality encompassing compassion and wisdom. Vajrabhairava is the wrathful form of Manjushri and a revered meditational deity in the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, the dominant religious power in Tibet in the seventeenth century. Vajrabhairava also became a prominent Buddhist icon in China under the Qing emperors, who maintained direct links with the dignitaries of the Gelugpa sect, including the Dalai and Panchen Lamas. He is worshipped for frightening away egotism and selfishness—the root of suffering—and in this true form reveals the awesome and terrifying nature of enlightenment. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related thangka depicting Vajrabhairava in union with Vajravetali on a dark ground surrounded by the same retinue as in the present lot, 38.5 x 15.1 cm, dated ca.1750-1800, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, accession number IS.13-1969. Compare a related Chinese thangka depicting the same subject, dated to the 18th century, in the Field Museum of Natural History, illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 54486.

Estim. 500 - 1 000 EUR

Lot 32 - A THANGKA OF RED AMITAYUS, TIBET, 18TH CENTURY - A THANGKA OF RED AMITAYUS, TIBET, 18TH CENTURY Distemper and gold on cloth, with a silk brocade mounting. The red-skinned deity seated in dhyanasana on a lotus throne with his hands lowered in dhyanamudra holding a long life vessel, backed by a halo and surrounded by a flaming mandorla, flanked to his right by White Tara and to his left by the six-armed Ushnishavijaya holding a jewel, vajra, an arrow, and an inscribed plaque. The bodhisattvas backed by red halos and deep blue mandorlas, all above three sets of three flaming pearls and within a verdant landscape with leafy lotus, rolling hills, and swirling clouds below the sun and moon. Provenance: From a German private collection. Condition: The upper area of the painting with minor old touchups, otherwise in good condition with some old wear, soiling, few small losses, and minor creasing. Dimensions: Image size 24.8 x 19.4 cm, Size incl. mounting 54.5 x 34 cm Literature comparison:Compare a related thangka depicting red Amitayus, dated to the 18th century, in the Ferenc Hopp Museum of Eastern Asiatic Arts, illustrated in Béla Kelényi and Judit Vinkovics, Tibetan and Mongolian Buddhist Painted Scrolls, Budapest, 1995, cat. no. 46, and illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 99154. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 20 September 2006, lot 100 Price: USD 10,200 or approx. EUR 14,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A thangka of red Amitayus, Tibeto-Chinese, 18th century Expert remark: Note the size (40 x 76 cm).

Estim. 600 - 1 200 EUR

Lot 33 - A THANKGA OF GREEN TARA OF THE SANDALWOOD FOREST, YURLOD KURPA, TIBET, 18TH - 19TH CENTURY - A THANKGA OF GREEN TARA OF THE SANDALWOOD FOREST, YURLOD KURPA, TIBET, 18TH - 19TH CENTURY Gold and distemper on canvas. Depicting the Green Tara in her Pure Land, seated on a white and green cushion at the center of her palace in the Sandalwood Forest, bestowing the gestures of teaching and wish-granting, holding in her left hand a lotus flower, flanked by the blue-black Ekajati and the yellow Marichi, with celestial musicians and dancers performing in the foreground, and other deities and mythical creatures in the sky. Inscriptions: To reverse, several verses of ‘Om ma hum’ Provenance: British trade. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear to the pigments and little creasing and flaking. The mount with some tears, loose threads, and minor soiling. The scroll handles lost. Dimensions: Size incl. mounting 126.5 x 79 cm, image size 61 x 42.5 cm The pure land of Green Tara, also known as Yurlod Kurpa, is part of Amothaba’s Sukhavati or Western Pure Land. The silk brocade mounting is of Chinese origin, 19th century, and depicts an Imperial confronting dragon with five claws, amid flames and scrolling clouds, chasing the flaming pearl. Literature comparison: Compare a related thangka of White Tara, 19th century, in the Rubin Museum of Art, object number F1996.32.5. Compare a related thangka of Green Tara in the Pure Land, 19th century, in the Rubin Museum of Art, object number P1996.8.1, illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 239. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams New York, 12 March 2021, lot 376 Price: USD 8,925 or approx. EUR 9,300 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A thangka of Green Tara of the sandalwood forest, Tibet, 18th/19th century Expert remark: Compare the related motif and colors. Note the slightly smaller size (120 x 72.7 cm, the mount).

Estim. 800 - 1 600 EUR

Lot 34 - A THANGKA DEPICTING WHITE TARA, TIBET, 18TH-19TH CENTURY - A THANGKA DEPICTING WHITE TARA, TIBET, 18TH-19TH CENTURY Distemper and gold on cloth. Mounted as a hanging scroll with a silk frame. Finely painted with the central deity standing on a lotus dais surrounded by 251 emanations of Tara. Her right hand is lowered while the left is raised at her chest, each holding a lotus stem coming to full bloom at her shoulder, one supporting a water vessel to her right. She is wearing voluminous robes and richly adorned with elaborate jewelry. Her serene face with almond-shaped eyes and smiling red lips. The hair arranged in a high chignon secured by a red band and gold tiara. Backed by a mandorla and halo. Provenance: From an Austrian private collection. Condition: Good condition with wear, minor creasing, light fading, minor soiling, folds, and small losses. Dimensions: Image size 62 x 44 cm, Size incl. frame 101 x 60 cm Literature comparison: Compare a related thangka of White Tara seated and encompassed by similar deities, 81.2 x 64.7 cm, dated to the 18th century, in the Rubin Museum of Art, accession number P1998.5.8, illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 658. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 19 March 2016, lot 1332 Price: USD 12,500 or approx. EUR 15,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A thangka depicting Shyamatara, Tibeto-Chinese, 17th/18th century Expert remark: Compare the related subject and manner of painting, the central deity also surrounded by a multitude of emanations of Tara.

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 35 - A THANGKA OF CHATURBHUJA AVALOKITESHVARA, TIBET, 18TH - 19TH CENTURY - A THANGKA OF CHATURBHUJA AVALOKITESHVARA, TIBET, 18TH - 19TH CENTURY Distemper and gold on cloth, mounted as a hanging scroll. Seated in dhyanasana on a lotus throne atop a stepped square base with snow lions and scroll designs, the principal hands holding a vase before the chest and the upper hands holding a mala and a lotus blossom. Clad in a colorful dhoti and billowing sashes, richly adorned with fine jewelry. The serene face with heavy-lidded eyes below gently arched brows, flanked by elongated earlobes. The hair tied neatly in a double topknot secured by a foliate tiara with lotus emblems below each leaf. Inscriptions: The back inscribed in Tibetan with the teachings of Sange (Shakyamuni) and Chenresi (Avalokiteshvara). ‘Om Ah Hum. Om Mani Padme Hum. Sange Hoepak Meh gi Shingkham Nubchok Dewa Chen du Kepar Shok. Chenresi gi Shingkham Sa Potata la Thang Sange Mengi Lawe shingkham Sharchok Lhana Dukpe Shing du Gewar Shok.’ Provenance: German trade. Condition: Good condition with minor wear, soiling, creasing, minor losses, and stains. Dimensions: Image size 65 x 46 cm, Size incl. mounting 137 x 75.5 cm The bodhisattva surrounded by Buddhas seated in dhyanasana atop lotus cushions, their hands held in various mudras. The top register centered by an image of Tsongkhapa holding lotus stems coming to full bloom at his shoulders supporting a sword and book, all set within a verdant landscape with pierced rockwork and thick swirling clouds. The figures have identifying inscriptions in gold letters. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 18 September 2013, lot 277 Price: USD 11,875 or approx. EUR 14,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A painting of Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara, Tibet, 18th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, manner of painting, and size (64.1 x 43.2 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 14 September 2010, lot 154 Price: USD 6,250 or approx. EUR 8,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A thangka of Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara, Central Tibet, Menri style, 19th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, manner of painting, and size (65.5 x 44.5 cm).

Estim. 800 - 1 600 EUR

Lot 36 - A THANGKA OF CHATURBHUJA AVALOKITESHVARA, TIBET, 18TH-19TH CENTURY - A THANGKA OF CHATURBHUJA AVALOKITESHVARA, TIBET, 18TH-19TH CENTURY Distemper on cloth. Seated on a lotus pedestal in dhyanasana with his primary hands holding a jewel at his chest while his secondary hands hold a lotus blossom and mala beads. Clothed in a blue and red dhoti and wearing a billowing green scarf. His serene face with sinuously lidded eyes below elegantly arched brows, a broad nose, and full lips forming a calm smile. His hair arranged in a high chignon topped by the red-skinned head of the Buddha Amitabha behind the five-leaf tiara, backed by a radiating mandorla and green halo. Provenance: From the collection of Dr. Wou Kiuan. Wou Lien-Pai Museum, coll. no. P.46. Dr. Wou Kiuan (1910-1997) was a Chinese diplomat and noted scholar of Chinese art. His father, Wou Lien-Pai (1873-1944), was one the leading political figures of early 20th century China, remembered for his role as speaker and leader of parliament during the turbulent years of the Republican era. Dr. Wou himself embarked on an illustrious career in diplomacy until his retirement in 1952, when he settled in London and devoted the rest of his life to the study of Chinese art. It was no doubt fortuitous that Dr. Wou’s years of collecting coincided with an abundant availability of exceptional Chinese art on the London market. From the mid-1950s to the late 1960s he was able to form a collection of well over 1,000 works that together represented virtually every category of Chinese art. At the heart of Dr. Wou’s drive to collect was a burning desire to preserve the relics of China’s rich historical past scattered across Europe, and to promote Chinese art and culture. It is unclear when Dr. Wou conceived of the idea to create a place to house his collection, but in 1968 he opened the doors to the Wou Lien-Pai Museum, named in honor of his father. Over the years the Museum became a ‘must see’ destination for collectors, academics, and visiting dignitaries, and Dr. Wou would delight in leading his visitors through the galleries, recounting stories of China’s glorious history. Condition: Good condition with minor wear, minimal soiling, creasing, few small losses. Dimensions: Image size 44 x 29.5 cm, Size incl. frame 65.9 x 51.9 cm The lower register with Manjusri seated in dhyanasana on a lotus throne, wielding his sword with his right hand and holding a lotus in his left coming to full bloom at the shoulder supporting a book, and Mahakala striding in alidhasana, wearing a tiger skin, engulfed in flames. All within a verdant landscape with fruiting leafy peach branches below the sun and moon. Literature comparison:Compare a related thangka of Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara, dated to the 19th century, in the Tibet House Museum in New Delhi, illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 72057. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 14 September 2010, lot 154 Price: USD 6,250 or approx. EUR 8,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A thangka of Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara, central Tibet, Menri style, 19th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and manner of painting. Note the size (65.5 x 44.5 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 18 September 2013, lot 277 Price: USD 11,875 or approx. EUR 14,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A painting of Chaturbhuja Avalokiteshvara, Tibet, 18th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and manner of painting. Note the different mandorla and the size (64.1 x 43.2 cm).

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 37 - † A LARGE THANGKA OF CHAKRASAMVARA WITH VAJRAYOGINI, 19TH CENTURY - † A LARGE THANGKA OF CHAKRASAMVARA WITH VAJRAYOGINI, 19TH CENTURY Tibet. Distemper and gold paint on cloth. Finely painted, the central deity in union with his consort and standing in alidhasana on a pedestal, framed by a mandorla, trampling supine figures underfoot. The yidam with four heads and twelve arms rendered in blue, red, white, and yellow, holds a vajra and bell in his primary hands, crossing and embracing Vajrayogini, the secondary arms with weapons and ritual instruments radiate evenly around the couple. Multicolored jewels are offered to the deities by monks, depicted in the bottom-center, all surrounded by multicolored dancing dakinis to the top register, and kings and wrathful deities to the bottom register. Provenance: Acquired by the father of the present owner in Tibet around 1970 and thence by descent. Condition: Good condition with old wear, some soiling, fading, and few creases and folds. Two parts stitched together. Size: 119 x 119 cm This powerful depiction of Chakrasamvara embracing his yogini consort Vajrayogini or Vajravarahi is a highly energized visualization, such as would have been experienced by an advanced tantric master. These are key deities in the Vajrayana system, uniting two of the most powerful ideas in esoteric Buddhism, wisdom, embodied in Vajravarahi, and compassion, the essence of Chakrasamvara. His name, which translates as Circle of Bliss, embodies the powerful union of these two fundamental tenets of Buddhism. During Tantric meditation the union of these two principles is used to generate enlightened states of mind. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 23 March 1999, lot 172 Price: USD 4,370 or approx. EUR 7,700 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A large thanka of Chakrasamvara, Central Tibet, 18th century Expert remark: Compare the related manner of painting, similar subject, and dancing dakinis. Note the smaller size (96 x 65 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 20 March 2013, lot 251 Price: USD 3,750 or approx. EUR 4,700 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A thangka depicting Chakrasamvara Expert remark: Compare the related manner of painting and subject. 13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 38 - A THANKGA WITH THE 21 TARAS, 19TH CENTURY - A THANKGA WITH THE 21 TARAS, 19TH CENTURY Tibet, 19th century. Gold and distemper on cloth. Depicting Green Tara seated on a lotus cushion at the center, bestowing the gestures of teaching and wish-granting, surrounded by the Twenty-One Taras. Condition: With some wear, little creasing, soiling and losses, overall presenting well. Provenance: Austrian private collection. Dimensions: Size 78 x 43 cm

Estim. 300 - 600 EUR

Lot 39 - A THANGKA OF BUDDHA AND JATAKA TALES - A THANGKA OF BUDDHA AND JATAKA TALES Tibet, 19th century. Distemper and gold on cloth. Painted in vibrant colors with Buddha seated in dhyanasana on a lotus throne, his hands lowered in dhyana mudra and holding an alms bowl, wearing loose-fitting patchwork robes, his serene face with downcast eyes and benevolent smile, surrounded by temples and monastery scenes with teachers and worshippers, detailing episodes in the Buddha’s previous lives, all in a verdant mountainous landscape. Inscriptions: To the back, ‘Om Ah Hum’. Provenance: From an old German private collection, acquired before 2007. Condition: Good condition with minor wear, creasing, and little soiling. Dimensions: Image size 84 x 56.5 cm, Size incl. frame 115.5 x 80.5 cm With a silk brocade mounting and gold-lacquered wood frame. The present painting depicts Buddha Shakyamuni surrounded by vignettes depicting various Jataka tales from the compendium of tales authored by the Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339). The present work was likely part of a larger set depicting the hundred Jataka tales, with each painting centered by an image of Buddha Shakyamuni. The rich palette of greens and blues, evocative of Chinese landscape paintings, indicates the work is a product of the eighteenth or nineteenth century, when diffusion of artistic styles between Tibetan and Chinese culture was at its zenith. Literature comparison: Compare a related thangka depicting Buddha Shakyamuni and scenes from his life, dated to the 19th century, in the Rubin Museum of Art, object number C2006.66.222. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Sotheby’s London, 14 May 2014, lot 378 Price: GBP 31,250 or approx. EUR 53,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A large painted tangka of buddha and jataka tales, Tibet, 18th/early 19th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and manner of painting.

Estim. 800 - 1 600 EUR

Lot 40 - A THANGKA DEPICTING SUBINDA, THE RAISED PAGODA LUOHAN, 19TH CENTURY - A THANGKA DEPICTING SUBINDA, THE RAISED PAGODA LUOHAN, 19TH CENTURY Sino-Tibetan. Finely painted with the arhat seated on a cushion and holding up a tray from which a pagoda rises, under a blossoming prunus tree, by a table altar with offerings attended to by two monks below an overhanging craggy rock, his shoes on a low table before him. All below Samantabhadra seated on his elephant mount flanked by blue- and white-skinned attendants and a devotee as well as Buddha standing beneath a rainbow surrounded by attendant deities and a monk, amid swirling clouds. Within a verdant landscape with a meandering river, flanked to one side by blue Mahakala and to the other by three seated monks. Provenance: German trade, acquired from a private estate in Berlin. The reverse of the frame with an old label, reading ‘Koheji’s Arabesque Gallery. Picture Framing. Manama, Bahrain’. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, minimal soiling, minute creasing, and light flaking. Dimensions: Image size76.9 x 51.2 cm, Size incl. frame 78.8 x 54 cm Distemper and gold on cloth. Framed behind glass. Expert’s note: The present thangka stems from a set of sixteen or eighteen depicting arhats. One such set, following an original composition tracing back to the Yongle period, is held within the Palace Museum, Beijing, see Zangchuan Fojiao Tangka-Gugong Bowuyuan Cang Wenwu Zhenpin Quanji, Hong Kong, 2006, p. 189, no. 175. Literature comparison: Compare two related thangkas of Arhats, dated to the 19th century, in the Rubin Museum of Art, accession numbers C2002.16.2 and C2002.16.3, each illustrated in Himalayan Art Resources, item numbers 65102 and 65103. Note the rockwork on these thangkas, which despite being less colorful is still quite similar as that found on the present lot.

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 41 - † A LARGE THANGKA OF NYINGMA PROTECTOR RAHULA AND HIS FIFTEEN-DEITY ASSEMBLY, 19TH CENTURY - † A LARGE THANGKA OF NYINGMA PROTECTOR RAHULA AND HIS FIFTEEN-DEITY ASSEMBLY, 19TH CENTURY Tibet. Distemper and gold paint on cloth. Finely painted, the central figure depicted with his lower body in the form of a serpent with lion hide tied around its waist, open eyes covering torso and arms, nine wrathful faces arranged in three tiers above his shoulders surmounted by a bird's head, aiming to shoot in the distance with his bow and arrow, the figure ablaze and appearing to emerge out of tumultuous waters. The figure is surrounded by fifteen multi-armed wrathful deities, all ablaze, and set within a mountainous landscape. Provenance: Acquired by the father of the present owner in Tibet around 1970 and thence by descent. Condition: Fair condition with wear, soiling, fading, losses, some creasing, and abrasions, overall still presenting rather well. Dimensions: 101.5 x 121.5 cm Rahula, shown at the center of a fifteen-deity assembly, is a wrathful protector of the “revealed treasure” (terma) tradition of the Nyingma School, which was eventually practiced in other Tibetan Buddhist traditions as well. In Buddhist depictions he is portrayed with the lower body of a coiled serpent spirit (naga) and the upper body with four arms, nine heads, adorned with a thousand eyes. The nine stacked heads depicted above are the nine planets that Rahula has eclipsed, or rather literally swallowed, eaten and now symbolically appear on top of his own face and insatiable mouth. At the crown of the stack of all the heads is the head of a black raven. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related thangka of Rahula and his fifteen-deity assembly, 19th century, in the collection of the Rubin Museum of Art, object number C2010.13. 13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 42 - A BLACK-GROUND THANGKA DEPICTING MARICI, 19TH-20TH CENTURY - A BLACK-GROUND THANGKA DEPICTING MARICI, 19TH-20TH CENTURY Nepal. Distemper and gold on cloth. Mounted as a hanging scroll on a silk brocade frame. The fierce, three-headed goddess of the dawn in a dancing pose atop a lotus pedestal, holding various implements in her fourteen hands, dressed in a tiger-skin dhoti and billowing scarves, richly adorned with fine jewelry. She is surrounded by female wrathful and peaceful deities, centered at the top by Buddha Shakyamuni. The reverse is inscribed, ‘Om Ah Hum’. Condition: Fair condition with some wear, minor fading and losses to pigments, creasing, and soiling. The brocade frame in good condition with wear and some discoloration. Provenance: From an Austrian private collection. Dimensions: Image size 53.2 x 76.9 cm, Size incl. frame 82 x 140.5 cm

Estim. 400 - 800 EUR

Lot 43 - A BLACK-GROUND THANGKA OF YAMANTAKA, 19TH-20TH CENTURY - A BLACK-GROUND THANGKA OF YAMANTAKA, 19TH-20TH CENTURY Tibet. Distemper and gold on cloth. Mounted and framed behind glass. Yamantaka is standing in pratyalidhasana on various divinities and animals atop a lotus base with incised scroll, a flaming mandorla behind him. He embraces his consort with his main hands, each holding a karttrika and kapala. His other thirty-two hands radiate around his body holding various attributes. He wears a mala of severed heads and jewelry. His bullhead displays a ferocious facial expression, six other heads frame the central one and are topped with two more heads surrounded by his flaming hairdo. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and minimal creasing. The frame in excellent condition. Provenance: From a private collection in Hungary. Dimensions: Image size 23.4 x 29.5 cm, Size incl. frame 35.5 x 44.5 cm Yamantaka (Sanskrit) or Vajrabhairava (Tibetan) is the "destroyer of death" in Vajrayana Buddhism. Of the several deities in this Buddhist pantheon that are named Yamantaka, the most well-known belongs to the Anuttarayoga Tantra class of deities popular within the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Estim. 500 - 1 000 EUR

Lot 44 - A PAINTING DEPICTING THE BUDDHA’S PARINIRVANA, QING DYNASTY - A PAINTING DEPICTING THE BUDDHA’S PARINIRVANA, QING DYNASTY Tibetan-Chinese, 18th-19th century. Distemper and gold on cloth. Lying on a raised bed surrounded by a crowd of mourners consisting of celestial beings, bodhisattva, dignitaries and animals lamenting his death. Buddha’s expression is peaceful and serene, his arms slack to his side, his head resting on a pillow. Young magnolia trees shade the buddha with their multi-colored leaves bearing blossoms. The uppermost register depicts a blue and red celestial landscape with a single deity above a river valley. All enclosed with a blue floral border mounted on a silk frame. Provenance: Koller, Zurich, 29 November 2022, lot 179, estimated at CHF 10,000 – CHF 15,000 or approx. EUR 11,500 – 17,250 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing. Condition: Good condition with wear, minor soiling, light fading, creasing, and minor losses to gilding. The silk brocade in fair condition with extensive wear, soiling, loose threads, and small tears. Dimensions: Image size 30.6 x 32.6 cm, Size incl. frame 46 x 49 cm The death of the Buddha, also known as the Buddha’s Parinirvana referring to the Buddha’s enlightenment after death, has been depicted widely in Buddhist iconography and is recounted in the Mahaparinirvana sutra. According to Buddhist tradition, the Buddha died in Kushinagara, Northern India, with the traditional dates of Buddha's life from 566-486 BC. After his death, the Buddha’s body was cremated and distributed among his followers. The stupas that guarded his remains became important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists. The Mahaparinirvana sutra is one of the most important Buddhist scriptures, and it relates the events surrounding the Buddha’s death. The precise date of origin of this text is uncertain, but its early form may have developed in or by the second century CE. The original Sanskrit text is not extant except for a small number of fragments, but it survives in Chinese and Tibetan translation. Expert’s note: The present painting depicts an interesting variation of the popular Parinirvana motif, clearly executed by a Chinese or Tibetan painter as evidenced by the colors, manner of painting, and brocade mounting. Compare with a much earlier version of the same subject, from Japan, dated to the Heian period, 267.6 x 271.2 cm, located at Kongōbu-ji, Mt. Kōya, Wakayama, Japan.

Estim. 3 000 - 6 000 EUR

Lot 45 - A GROUP OF TWO PAINTINGS OF KALI AND BHUVANESHVARI, NEPAL, 19TH CENTURY - A GROUP OF TWO PAINTINGS OF KALI AND BHUVANESHVARI, NEPAL, 19TH CENTURY Mineral pigments, gold paint, and gouache on paper. Each painted in vivid colors, the first depicting Shiva as Kali, standing on a corpse over a blooming lotus, her four radiating arms holding a sword, trishula, kapala, and a severed head, the second depicting Bhuvaneshvari rising from a yantra, her four arms offering gestures (mudras) of charity and protection while holding a lasso and weapon. The verso of each pata (leaf) is inscribed in Newari with lines of mantras associated with each deity, all within foliate borders. Provenance: A private collection in France, acquired in 1982. Christie’s Paris, 11 June 2014, lot 372 (Five paintings depicting representations of Shiva and Kali), sold for EUR 6,250 or approx. EUR 7,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Collection of Carlos Cruañas Dalmau, Barcelona, Spain, acquired from the above. Collection of Carlos Cruañas Dalmau, Barcelona, Spain, acquired from the above. Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Some creasing, minor flaking, light scratches, tiny stains, and minor losses to the outer edges. Dimensions: Size 43.2 x 30 cm and 29.5 x 42.7 cm Nepalese ritual paintings offer glimpses into rarely seen esoteric iconography. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related painting of a Hindu goddess, Nepal, 18th century, in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number M.81.206.8 Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams New York, 19 March 2019, lot 940 Estimate: USD 6,000 or approx. EUR 6,800 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: Two patas of Shiva and Bhuvaneshvari, Nepal, 18th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject and similar technique and rendition of the subjects. Note the size (39.5 x 25.8 cm).

Estim. 1 500 - 3 000 EUR

Lot 46 - A PAINTED WOOD TORGAM CABINET DOOR DEPICTING A TANTRIC DEITY, TIBET, 19TH CENTURY - A PAINTED WOOD TORGAM CABINET DOOR DEPICTING A TANTRIC DEITY, TIBET, 19TH CENTURY Distemper on wood. Painted in green and yellow pigments, depicting a central tantric deity holding a damaru drum and a bone flute with vultures flying above. Several vultures are perched on the ground picking at a rotting corps next to a pair of lions eating a second body, while a pair of wild dogs pursue two goats. Provenance: From the collection of Onno Janssens, Netherlands. Onno Janssens (born 1941) is an Olympiad bridge player and prominent collector of Tibetan and Southeast Asian art. He began assembling his impressive collection during the 1990s after studying Tibetology, and part of his collection has been sold at Christie’s in a legendary sale. Condition: Good condition with wear, tarnishing, nicks, slight warping, and chips to the back. Weight: 1,220 g Dimensions: 57 x 29 cm Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams Paris, 16 December 2022, lot 577 Price: EUR 5,355 or approx. EUR 5,700 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A pair of painted wood torgam doors of sense offerings, Tibet, 19th century Expert remark: Compare the related form and style of painting. Note the size (67.5 x 40.5 cm each).

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 47 - A PAINTED WOOD ‘GARUDA’ DOOR, TIBET, 19TH CENTURY - A PAINTED WOOD ‘GARUDA’ DOOR, TIBET, 19TH CENTURY Finely painted with color pigments on cloth over joined wood planks. Depicting Garuda in mid-flight with hands raised as he wrestles a slithering naga attempting to wrap itself around his neck, the deity with a bird’s lower body and a mostly human upper body and head save for the requisite beak, framed by bands of quadrilobed cartouches enclosing scrolling foliage centered by stylized lotus flowerheads. Provenance: From a private collection in England. Condition: Extensive old wear and signs of use, natural age cracks, flaking and losses to pigment, scratches, nicks, stains, and tears. Minor touchups. Dimensions: Length 168 cm, Width 72 cm According to Hindu and Buddhist stories, the giant, birdlike Garuda spends eternity killing snakelike Nagas. The feud started when both Garuda's mother and the Nagas' mother married the same husband. The husband then gave each wife one wish. The Nagas' mother asked for a thousand children. Garuda's mother wished for just two children who were superior to all of the Nagas. Their rivalry continued until Garuda's mother lost a bet and became the servant and prisoner of the Nagas' mother. Garuda was able to free his mother by stealing the nectar of immortality from the gods. But he swore vengeance for his mother's treatment and has been fighting Nagas ever since. Literature comparison: Compare a related door of a protector deity's shrine (mgon khang), Tibet, c. 1800, exhibited in the Ethnological Museum, Berlin.

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 48 - A LACQUERED WOOD PANEL DEPICTING MAHAKALA, TIBET, 19TH CENTURY - A LACQUERED WOOD PANEL DEPICTING MAHAKALA, TIBET, 19TH CENTURY Painted in polychrome lacquer pigments with details in gesso relief. Depicting the fierce head of Mahakala, his mouth open in a snarl, revealing his pointed tongue and sharp fangs framed by his blood-red lips. His eyes furrowed beneath bushy brows; his forehead centered by a third eye beneath a skull tiara securing his flaming hair. The upper right- and left-hand registers painted with entrails suspending a dismembered arm, foot, and eye. Provenance: Drouot, Paris, 2013. French private collection, acquired from the above. Viennese private collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Good condition with typical wear, tarnishing, small nicks, and expected age cracks. Weight: 9614 g Dimensions: 47 x 30 cm Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams Paris, 16 December 2022, lot 577 Price: EUR 5,355 or approx. EUR 5,800 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A pair of wood Torgam doors of sense offerings, Tibet, 19th century Expert remark: Compare the related style of painting. Note this lot is comprised of a pair. Note the size (67.5 x 40.5 cm each).

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 49 - A TIBETAN IRON AND COPPER REPOUSSÉ ‘DRAGON’ SADDLE, 18TH-19TH CENTURY - A TIBETAN IRON AND COPPER REPOUSSÉ ‘DRAGON’ SADDLE, 18TH-19TH CENTURY The carved wood pieces joined by ropes, leather straps, sharkskin covers and metal mounts. The pommel finely worked with a central front-facing dragon head flanked by two writhing dragons emerging from crashing waves and surrounded by swirling clouds, below the Triratna (Three Jewels). The silk brocade saddle cover lined with red fabric stamped with two seals. Provenance: From the private collection of Annick and Alain Cical. Annick and Alain Cical were Parisian art dealers who together and individually ran several galleries, including Galerie Cical-Goas established in 1989 and Galerie L’Asie Animiste. The couple traveled extensively across Tibet, Nepal, India, and Southeast Asia. Over four decades, they built an impressive and eclectic collection of sculptures, masks, jewelry, and works of art. Condition: Good condition with expected wear, manufacturing flaws, traces of use, minuscule nicks, light scratches, small dents and losses. Weight: 5,056 g Dimensions: Length 54 cm (the saddle), Size 62 x 38 cm (the saddle cover) Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 19 September 2015, lot 712 Price: USD 32,500 or approx. EUR 39,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A leather and iron saddle, Tibet, 18th / 19th century Expert remark: Compare the related form and dragon motif. Note the damascened metalwork and that the lot includes two stirrups.

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 50 - A LACQUERED WOOD SADDLE, QING DYNASTY - A LACQUERED WOOD SADDLE, QING DYNASTY South China, Yunnan Province, 19th century. The wood lacquered black, crimson red and ochre yellow with stylized floral ornaments, various emblems, as well as dotted and linear designs, tied to a leather base. This saddle is from the Yi ethnic minority in Yunnan Province. Provenance: Michel Paciello, Venice. Collection of Dr. Koos de Jong, acquired from the above in 2013. Dr. de Jong is a Dutch art historian and has been privately collecting Chinese art over decades. He has authored hundreds of articles and several books on Dutch fine and decorative arts spanning from the Middle Ages to the modern era and published an extensive study of saddle rugs in Dragon & Horse. Saddle Rugs and Other Horse Tack from China and Beyond. Between 1976 and 2009 he worked for numerous museums across the Netherlands and was director of the European Ceramic Work Center in Den Bosch. Condition: The wood with extensive wear, age cracks, chips and small losses. Some losses and wear to the lacquer with weathering in some areas. Some losses and minor cracks to the mother-of-pearl. The leather with extensive wear, creasing, and stains. Weight: 1,800 g Dimensions: Length 41 cm The Yi or Nuosuo people (historically known as Lolo) are an ethnic group in China, Vietnam, and Thailand. Numbering nine million people, they are the seventh largest of the 55 ethnic minority groups officially recognized by the People’s Republic of China. They live primarily in rural areas of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi, usually in mountainous regions. With an associated metal stand. (2) Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 15 September 2018, lot 1310 Estimate: USD 6,000 or approx. EUR 6,900 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A pair of black-ground polychrome lacquer ceremonial saddles, Qing dynasty Expert remark: Compare the related black lacquer ground and similar polychrome decoration. Note the larger size (50.8 cm) and that the lot comprises a pair.

Estim. 500 - 1 000 EUR

Lot 51 - A RARE LIAO DYNASTY LACQUERED WOOD SADDLE WITH GILT COPPER APPLICATIONS - A RARE LIAO DYNASTY LACQUERED WOOD SADDLE WITH GILT COPPER APPLICATIONS Published: Dr. Koos de Jong, Dragon & Horse. Saddle Rugs and Other Horse Tack from China and Beyond, Amsterdam - Hong Kong 2013, ill. 3.02, p. 35. Northwestern China, 916-1125. The gilt copper appliques shaped as dragons chasing the flaming jewel on the pommel as well as the cantle and as lotus flowers on the ledgers, on one side with blossoms in the form of pierced mythical beast masks. Provenance: Formerly in an American private collection. Collection of Dr. Koos de Jong, acquired from the above in 2007. Dr. de Jong is a Dutch art historian and has been privately collecting Chinese art over decades. He has authored hundreds of articles and several books on Dutch fine and decorative arts spanning from the Middle Ages to the modern era. In 2013, he published an extensive study of Chinese riding gear in “Dragon & Horse, Saddle Rugs and Other Horse Tack from China and Beyond”. Between 1976 and 2009 he worked for numerous museums across the Netherlands and was the director of the European Ceramic Work Center in Den Bosch. Condition: Original, unrestored condition and very impressive considering the age of this saddle! Extensive losses to the lacquer only, along with cracks, scratches and other traces of use. The wood with age cracks and some small chips as well as a fine dark patina. The copper applications have lost much of the gilt and show small dents, dings, and a fine malachite green and copper red patina. Weight: 2.6 kg Dimensions: Length 49 cm It is extremely rare to find surviving Liao dynasty lacquered horse saddles, and the present example appears to be unique. The use of lacquer and copper decorations suggest it was made for a member of the elite, who enjoyed sophisticated tastes as well as high rank. With an associated metal stand. (2)

Estim. 5 000 - 10 000 EUR

Lot 52 - A LACQUERED WOOD TRIBAL MASK OF A LION, TUJI PEOPLE, GUIZHOU REGION, 18TH-19TH CENTURY - A LACQUERED WOOD TRIBAL MASK OF A LION, TUJI PEOPLE, GUIZHOU REGION, 18TH-19TH CENTURY Southern China. Carved from light wood with a central cross bar along the back with eye holes and apertures through the nostrils. Depicting a lion with a broad nose, protruding eyes, boldly detailed eyelashes, and a central bulge along its forehead. The exterior is covered in black, red, white, and blue lacquer. Provenance: Khenghavars Paris, 31 March 2007, lot 307. From an Austrian private collection, acquired form the above. A copy of the old invoice accompanies this lot, signed by Marie Crouvisier, and dated 31 March 2007, identifying the mask as a Tuji tribal mask. Condition: Extensive wear, flaking to the lacquer, nicks, signs of insect activity, chips, and losses. Weight: 2,375 g (incl. stand), 1,245 g (excl. stand) Dimensions: Height 46 cm (incl. stand), 35 cm (excl. stand) Mounted on a metal stand.

Estim. 1 500 - 3 000 EUR

Lot 53 - A RARE AND IMPORTANT POLYCHROME DECORATED LIMESTONE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, NORTHERN QI DYNASTY - A RARE AND IMPORTANT POLYCHROME DECORATED LIMESTONE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, NORTHERN QI DYNASTY China, 550-577. Finely sculpted, standing in samabhanga wearing a close-fitting monastic robe draped over one shoulder, elegantly detailed with neatly incised folds covered in remnants of red pigment. The face and exposed shoulder with remnants of gilt, his serene expression with heavy-lidded downcast eyes, full bow-shape lips forming a calm smile, elongated earlobes, and his hair arranged in neatly carved nodes. Provenance: Japanese private collection. Collection of Monsieur M.M., acquired from the above in 1971. Italian private collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age, with wear, signs of weathering and erosion, small nicks, losses to pigments and gilt, chips, and natural flaws, all as expected. The lot underwent a conservative restoration intervention during which layers of atmospheric dust and a layer of protective wax was removed. After this, the statue underwent a chromatic integration process to fill a gap of pigment in the area of the hair, ensuring uniformity. It was also fitted to a stand during the restoration process. A copy of the detailed conservation report in Italian accompanies this lot and contains a detailed analysis of the state of preservation before and after, signed by the conservation specialist and dated 7 September 2023. Weight: 41.3 kg (incl. base) Dimensions: Height 108 cm (incl. base), 97.5 cm (excl. base) Mounted on a modern stand. The Northern Qi period witnessed a transformation in Buddhist sculptural style, particularly in regard to clothing. While the artisans of the Northern Wei depicted Buddha's robes with a deep neck and voluminous, rippling folds, Northern Qi robes are soft and diaphanous, revealing the contours of the body beneath. The present figure, like other similar examples of the period, was once lavishly painted and gilded. The Northern Qi style is an indirect interpretation of the Indian Gupta style, particularly the Sarnath school, transmitted to China via the Central Asian trade routes. The adoption of the foreign style reflects the socio-political changes that occurred at the beginning of the Northern Qi period, when its rulers looked to non-Han stylistic traditions. This was in marked contrast to the Northern Wei rulers, who sought to acculturate themselves within the Han polity through a process of Sinicization. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related limestone figure of Buddha wearing related robes and carved using closely related modeling with remnants of gilt, 150 cm high, dated to the Northern Qi dynasty, in the National Museum China. Compare a related limestone figure of Buddha similarly covered in polychrome pigments, 110 cm high, dated to the late 6th century, in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, accession number 2000.207. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 20 March 2015, lot 755 Price: USD 1,805,000 or approx. EUR 2,230,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A polychrome and gilt-limestone figure of Buddha, Northern Qi dynasty Expert remark: Compare the closely related style and polychrome pigments. Note the different weathering and the robes which are not detailed with incision work. Note the smaller size (46.6 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 25 September 2020, lot 1531 Price: USD 2,550,000 or approx. EUR 2,856,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A magnificent large gray limestone standing figure of Buddha, Northern Qi dynasty Expert remark: Compare the related style and incised robes. Note the lack of preserved pigments. Note the larger size (171.3 cm).

Estim. 15 000 - 30 000 EUR

Lot 54 - A LIMESTONE FIGURE OF GUANYIN, NORTHERN QI TO SUI DYNASTY - A LIMESTONE FIGURE OF GUANYIN, NORTHERN QI TO SUI DYNASTY China, 550-618. Finely modeled standing on a rounded plinth. Dressed in long flowing robes gathered at the waist in neatly carved folds and suspending two bands tied in knots at the thighs and knees, the shoulders draped with a shawl. Richly adorned with beaded necklaces hanging from the neck. The serene face with heavy-lidded eyes and bow-shaped lips, flanked by long pendulous earlobes, the head surmounted by a high mitre crown and backed by an oval mandorla. Provenance: From a noted European private collection, acquired in the US trade. Condition: Fine good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations, losses, chips, cracks, ancient fills and repairs. Fine, naturally grown, smooth patina overall. Dimensions: Height 40.4 cm (excl. base) and 42 cm (incl. base) With an associated wood base. (2) Literature comparison: Compare a related stone figure of Guanyin, dated to the Northern Qi dynasty, 550-570, 88.9 cm tall, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, accession number A.7-1913. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 19 September 2006, lot 138 Price: USD 33,600 or approx. EUR 47,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A stone figure of a Bodhisattva, Sui dynasty (581-618) Expert remark: Compare the related modeling and manner of carving. Note the size (48.2 cm).

Estim. 1 500 - 3 000 EUR

Lot 55 - A RARE AND MONUMENTAL PAINTED LIMESTONE FIGURE OF A BODHISATTVA, SUI DYNASTY - A RARE AND MONUMENTAL PAINTED LIMESTONE FIGURE OF A BODHISATTVA, SUI DYNASTY China, 581-618. Standing in samabhanga atop a circular lotus base, the hands resting at the waist with the left hand clasping the right wrist, dressed in a loose-fitting robe cascading in elegantly rippling folds and gathering at the feet, richly adorned in elaborate beaded jewelry with floral medallions and fine ribbons. The oval face with fleshy cheeks and a softly rounded chin, the bow-shaped lips drawn closed, the straight nose leading to the broad arched eyebrows, the eyelids partially lowered in contemplation, the face framed by pendulous ears to either side and a tall crown decorated with circular and foliate designs centered by a tassel. Provenance: From a noted Hungarian private collection. Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Wear, signs of weathering and erosions, chips, scratches, nicks, structural cracks, expected losses. Layers of lacquer and pigment which have been renewed over centuries. The base slightly angled. A good and solid patina overall, naturally grown in its entirety. Dimensions: Height 201 cm (the figure overall) and 42 cm (the head alone) Sumptuously carved with fleshy cheeks, broad arched brows and a large straight nose that leads the eye down to the plump lips, these features exemplify a crucial sculptural transition from the linear and structured depictions of bodhisattvas of the preceding Northern Qi (550-577) and Northern Zhou (557-581) periods to the fully rounded and fleshy forms of the Tang dynasty (618-907). Its oval face and idealized expression, which exude deep spirituality, display an early attempt at naturalism, while its richly carved crown with floral petals is reminiscent of the stylized aesthetic of the preceding dynasties. The Sui dynasty unified China in 589 after a long period of cultural, political and military fragmentation, which began with the fall of the Han dynasty in 220 AD. Buddhism was seen as a means to unite the empire and consolidate dynastic power, hence Sui rulers began the construction of major religious buildings and commissioned Buddhist images. While Sui sculptures stylistically continue in the traditions established in the preceding dynasties, “characteristics that were latent in the two preceding styles were brought to full blossom by Sui carvers” (Angela F. Howard, Chinese Sculpture, New Haven, 2006, p. 290). Osvald Sirén in Chinese Marble Sculptures of the Transition Period, Bulletin of the Museum of Fine Eastern Art, 1940, no. 12, p. 490, states that “The observation of nature seems indeed to have increased as well as the mastery of the sculptural form”. Excavations at Qingzhou (Shandong) have yielded Northern Qi and Sui limestone standing bodhisattvas, detailed with polychrome pigments and gilding, that similarly bear full, oval faces crowned by intricate diadems with petaled lobes and pendent tassels, suggesting a geographic and cultural origin for this style of carving. Literature comparison: Compare a related painted limestone figure of a bodhisattva, also dated to the Sui dynasty, 185.4 cm high, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 42.25.3a, b. Compare a related limestone figure of a bodhisattva, dated to the Northern Qi dynasty, in the collection of the Qingzhou Museum, Shandong. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 10 September 2019, lot 60 Price: USD 200,000 or approx. EUR 222,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A large carved limestone head of a bodhisattva, Sui dynasty Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of carving with similar facial features and crown with circular designs and tassels. Note the size (40.7 cm) which is almost identical to that of the present head.

Estim. 15 000 - 30 000 EUR

Lot 56 - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, LIAO DYNASTY - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, LIAO DYNASTY China, 907-1125. Finely cast standing in samabhanga on a circular lotus dais supported on a waisted base, holding his right hand in vitarka mudra and a scroll in his left. He is wearing a loose-fitting monastic robe with superbly rendered folds, cascading in an elegantly curving motion at the back, while the sleeves are naturalistically pulled forward by his gestures. His serene face with heavy-lidded eyes and full lips, flanked by long pendulous lobes. His hair arranged in tight curls over the domed ushnisha. Provenance: Polak Works of Art, Amsterdam, 2016. An important private collection in Budapest, Hungary, acquired from the above at TEFAF in Maastricht. A copy of the original invoice from Polak Works of Art, dated 5 April 2016, accompanies this lot. Polak Works of Art is a gallery near the Rijksmuseum run by Jaap Polak, one of the last generalists in the art and antiques trade, offering an eclectic collection of archeological finds and works of art from all over the world and every period. The gallery also houses an extensive and important archive on Indo Javenese Art, known as The Documentation Centre for Ancient Indonesian Art, and regularly exhibits at TEFAF in Maastricht. Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations, casting flaws, small nicks, minor rubbing to gilt, tiny dents, and minuscule losses. The bronze with a rich, naturally grown patina with malachite and cuprite encrustations. Weight: 275.4 g Dimensions: Height 14 cm Expert’s note: The bronze is covered in a superb, lustrous gilding of rose gold (made from a gold alloy with a higher copper concentration), which is well preserved. It is extremely rare to find such a uniquely colored gilding in Chinese bronzes from this period. Literature comparison: Compare a related gilt-bronze figure of Guanyin, with similar lotus base and robes, 34.4 cm high, dated to the Liao dynasty, in the Art Institute of Chicago, reference number 1926.272. Compare a relate gilt-bronze standing figure, with similar robes, 11.1 cm high, dated to the Liao dynasty, in the Museum of East Asian Art, Bath, record number BATEA: 1070. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 8 October 2013, lot 3292 Price: HKD 325,000 or approx. EUR 49,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A small gilt-bronze standing figure of Buddha, Liao dynasty Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of casting. Note the different base. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 17 September 2008, lot 392 Price: USD 74,500 or approx. EUR 100,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A rare small gilt-bronze figure of Buddha, Liao dynasty Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of casting, with similar lotus base. Note the identical size (14 cm) and the different pose.

Estim. 10 000 - 20 000 EUR

Lot 57 - A LACQUERED WOOD FIGURE OF GUANYIN, MING DYNASTY - A LACQUERED WOOD FIGURE OF GUANYIN, MING DYNASTY China, 15th century. Seated in dhyanasana on a beaded double lotus base, the hands held in aakash and varada mudras, wearing loose-fitting robes opening at the chest to reveal an elaborate jeweled necklace of several beaded chains, the face with a serene expression with heavy-lidded eyes and bow-shaped liüps forming a calm smile, flanked by long pendulous earlobes, the hair piled up into a high chignon secured with a foliate tiara centered by a small image of the Buddha Amitabha. Provenance: Dutch trade. A private collection in Portugal, acquired from the above. Condition: Good condition with wear and natural imperfections including minor age cracks and signs of worm or insect activity. One thumb and one finger with old repairs. Remnants of gilt. The lotus stems rising from the elbows are lost. The lacquer commensurate with age and with several layers which have been renewed over a long period of time. The wood with a rich, dark patina. Weight: 1,497 g Dimensions: Height 36.4 cm

Estim. 2 000 - 4 000 EUR

Lot 58 - A GILT-LACQUERED BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA AKSHOBHYA, MING DYNASTY - A GILT-LACQUERED BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA AKSHOBHYA, MING DYNASTY China, 1368-1644. Finely cast seated in dhyanasana above a lotus base, with his hands held in bhumisparsha mudra and dhyana mudra. Dressed in loose robes opening at the chest to reveal the undergarment, the hems detailed with a floral design, and adorned with fine jewelry. The face with a serene expression, downcast eyes below gently arched eyebrows centered by an urna, his hair in tight curls over the ushnisha surmounted by a knop behind the foliate crown. Provenance: From a European private collection, acquired in the Swiss trade. Condition: Good condition with old wear, few small nicks, dents, light scratches, casting flaws, rubbing and losses to the lacquer and gilt. Weight: 3.8 kg Dimensions: Height 31 cm Bhumisparsha mudra (the 'earth witness' gesture) is reserved for images of Buddha Shakyamuni and the Dhyani Buddha, Akshobhya. As Shakyamuni is traditionally depicted as an unadorned ascetic, the presence of the crown on this figure identifies him as Akshobhya. The latter is a concept of Tibetan-style Vajrayana Buddhism, which was introduced to China during the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 10 December 2012, lot 5052 Price: USD 25,000 or approx. EUR 30,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A cast bronze seated figure of the Buddha, Ming dynasty Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling with similar base and size (29.1 cm), and condition of the gilt and lacquer.

Estim. 3 000 - 6 000 EUR

Lot 59 - A BRONZE WARRIOR FIGURE OF A GUARDIAN KING, MING DYNASTY - A BRONZE WARRIOR FIGURE OF A GUARDIAN KING, MING DYNASTY China, 1368-1644. Cast standing with the feet wide, the hands clasped in front of the chest in uttarabodhi mudra, elaborately dressed in a long underrobe, armored knee-length tunic, and short silk jacket tied at the chest, as well as arm and shin guards, boots, a bejeweled tiara secured with ribbons, and a billowing sash framing the figure, his stern gaze directed ahead, the square face with bulging eyes below bushy brows, beard, and mustache. Provenance: From a French private collection. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, few nicks, light scratches, and casting flaws. Fine, naturally grown, dark patina. Weight: 2.3 kg Dimensions: Height 18.9 cm (excl. base), 24.2 cm (incl. base) Mounted to a modern base. (2) Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s London, 14 May 2010, lot 711 Price: GBP 8,125 or approx. EUR 16,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A bronze warrior figure of the Guardian King Dhanada, Ming dynasty (1368-1644) Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and manner of casting with similar pose, detailed armor, and dark patina. Note the size (26.7 cm).

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 60 - A LARGE LACQUERED WOOD FIGURE OF BUDDHA, LATE MING/EARLY QING DYNASTY, CIRCA 17TH CENTURY - A LARGE LACQUERED WOOD FIGURE OF BUDDHA, LATE MING/EARLY QING DYNASTY, CIRCA 17TH CENTURY Finely carved seated in dhyanasana, the hands lowered in dhyana mudra, wearing long flowing monastic robes draped over both shoulders, opening at the chest, and gathering elegantly in richly carved folds. The face with a serene expression and downcast eyes below gently arched eyebrows centered by a raised circular urna and flanked by elongated earlobes. The hair arranged in tight curls over the ushnisha. The back with a large rectangular aperture. Provenance: From the private collection of Godfried Wauters, Belgium. Godfried Wauters has been active in the Belgian trade for over 40 years. He has built a substantial art collection including Chinese and Buddhist sculptures, significantly expanding on the collection already built by his late father Gustaaf (1905-1992). Condition: Good condition with old wear, expected age cracks and splits, minor signs of weathering. Losses, chips, and scratches. Flaking to the gilt. The lacquer commensurate with age and with several layers which have been renewed over a long period of time. Weight: 32.2 kg Dimensions: Height 91 cm Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 30 March 2005, lot 223 Price: USD 24,000 or approx. EUR 35,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A large lacquered wood figure of Buddha, late Ming/early Qing dynasty, 17th century Expert remark: Compare the related facial features and hair. Note the pose and size (117 cm).

Estim. 2 000 - 4 000 EUR

Lot 61 - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF AVALOKITESHVARA, 18TH CENTURY - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF AVALOKITESHVARA, 18TH CENTURY China. Finely cast, seated in lalitasana on a beaded double-lotus pedestal, with hands held in karana mudra. Wearing elaborate jewelry and a diaphanous dhoti secured at the waist, pooling elegantly at his feet where its beaded hem becomes visible. His serene face with almond-shape eyes, lips forming a calm smile, and gently arching brows, his hair topped by a figure of Buddha Amitabha sitting on a lotus pedestal and arranged in neatly incised rows pulled into a high chignon surmounted by a jewel. Provenance: From an old Austrian private collection. Condition: Good condition with minor wear, casting flaws, minor nicks, remnants of pigment, the base resealed, and the gilding has been renewed. Weight: 348.9 g Dimensions: Height 10.4 cm

Estim. 800 - 1 600 EUR

Lot 62 - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF SHADAKSHARI AVALOKITESHVARA, ZANABAZAR SCHOOL - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF SHADAKSHARI AVALOKITESHVARA, ZANABAZAR SCHOOL Mongolia, 18th-19th century. Heavily cast, seated in dhyanasana on a lotus-style base finely layered and incised, holding his principle hands in anjali mudra and his secondary hands holding mala prayer beads and a lotus blossom. Wearing a diaphanous dhoti with exquisitely carved folds gathered at the feet and fastened at the waist by a beaded belt, adorned in elaborate jewelry. His serene face with almond-shape eyes, slender lips forming a calm smile, sinuous brows flanking a central urna, his neatly arranged hair tied into a high chignons with a jewel top and secured by a five-panel tiara. Provenance: Hungarian private collection. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, casting flaws, minuscule nicks, the base resealed, and the gilding renewed. Weight: 899.2 g Dimensions: Height 14.4 cm Shadakshari Avalokiteshvara is the four-armed manifestation of the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteshvara. This manifestation incorporates his role as the lord of the six realms of existence: hell beings, hungry ghosts, animals, humans, demigods, and gods. He personifies the well-known Sanskrit invocation om mani padme hum, or "hail to the jewel in the lotus," which is why he holds a lotus in his left hand. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s Paris, 23 June 2016, lot 154 Price: EUR 68,750 or approx. EUR 80,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt copper alloy figure of Shadakshari Avalokiteshvara, Mongolia, 18th-19th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related style with a bright gilding. Note the different style of the base. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s Paris, 22 June 2016, lot 86 Price: EUR 337,500 or approx. EUR 396,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A rare gilt-bronze figure of Amitayus, Mongolia, Zanabazar school, 17th-18th century Expert remark: Compare the related style and base. Note the different subject. Note the slightly larger size (17.7 cm).

Estim. 5 000 - 10 000 EUR

Lot 63 - A PARCEL-GILT COPPER REPOUSSE FIGURE OF AMITAYUS, MONGOLIA, 18TH - 19TH CENTURY - A PARCEL-GILT COPPER REPOUSSE FIGURE OF AMITAYUS, MONGOLIA, 18TH - 19TH CENTURY Buddha Amitayus seated in dhyanasana on a double-lotus base with the hands lowered in dhyana mudra, richly adorned in intricate jewelry, wearing a long flowing robe and billowing shawl pooling beautifully at the base. The deity is skillfully portrayed with a serene expression framed by neatly arranged hair with a tall ushnisha. The hem of his robe and his necklace are engraved with scrolling vines and geometric designs. Provenance: Austrian private collection. Condition: Wear, casting flaws, several dents, and losses, still presenting well. Weight: 412 g Dimensions: Height 18.2 cm Literature comparison: Compare a related bronze figure of Buddha, 19.3 cm high, dated 18th-19th century, in the British Museum, accession number 1992,1214.31. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s London, 12 November 2010, lot 1321 Price: GBP 1,875 or approx. EUR 3,900 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A Sino-Mongolian parcel-gilt copper Amitayus, 18th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related style with near identical features. Note the similar size (18.7 cm).

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 64 - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI, QING DYNASTY - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA SHAKYAMUNI, QING DYNASTY China, 18th to early 19th century. Solidly cast, seated in dhyanasana on a sealed double-lotus base, his right hand lowered in bhumisparsha mudra, the left held above his lap. His long robes open at the chest, tied at the midriff, with a shawl draped over both shoulders, the hems engraved with scrolling vines. His serene face with downcast gaze, sinuous eyelids, and red lips forming a calm smile, flanked by long pendulous earlobes. His hair arranged in tight node curls over the domed ushnisha topped by a jewel. Provenance: Austrian private collection. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, casting irregularities with the casting line of the right arm visible, rubbing to the gilding, light scratches, and remnants of pigment. Weight: 419 g Dimensions: Height 11.3 cm Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams New York, 18 March 2013, lot 162 Price: USD 12,500 or approx. EUR 16,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A parcel-gilt copper alloy figure of Buddha Shakyamuni, 18th century Expert remark: Compare the related style and base. Note the different robes. Note the size (16.8 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams New York, 10 September 2018, lot 136 Price: USD 8,750 or approx. EUR 10,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt-bronze figure of Shakyamuni Buddha, 17th/18th century Expert remark: Compare the related style and base. Note the slightly different robes. Note the size (16.2 cm).

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 65 - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, QING DYNASTY - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF BUDDHA, QING DYNASTY China, 18th to early 19th century. Solidly cast, the bronze figure seated in dhyanasana on a double lotus pedestal with a beaded rim, holding his hands in abhaya mudra. Wearing monastic robes draped over one shoulder, the hems engraved with scrolling vines. His serene face with almond shape eyes, slender lips forming a calm smile, and hair arranged in tightly curled nodes with bright blue pigment around a jeweled ushnisha. The base unsealed. Provenance: Austrian private collection. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, casting irregularities, rubbing to the gilding, tarnishing, light scratches, and remnants of pigment. Weight: 440 g Dimensions: Height 10.4 cm Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s Paris, 20 June 2023, lot 650 Price: EUR 7,560 or approx. EUR 7,700 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt-bronze figure of Buddha Shakyamuni, Qing dynasty, 18th-19th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and base. Note the larger size (17 cm).

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 66 - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF GREEN TARA, QING DYNASTY - A GILT-BRONZE FIGURE OF GREEN TARA, QING DYNASTY China, 18th to early 19th century. Superbly cast, seated in lalitasana on a sealed double-lotus pedestal with a finely beaded rim, her right foot resting on a lotus blossom, her right hand lowered in varada mudra and her left hand raised in vitarka mudra, holding a lotus stem in each, coming to full bloom at her shoulders, wearing a dhoti with exquisitely carved folds gathered at the feet and fastened at the waist by a beaded girdle. Her elaborate crown, necklaces, arm and ankle bands are finely cast with minute beading. Provenance: Austrian private collection. Condition: Good condition with minor wear, minimal casting flaws, minuscule nicks, and one lotus leaf lost. Gilding renewed. Weight: 1,084 g Dimensions: Height 15.5 cm Tara is richly adorned in fine jewelry including a foliate crown framing the forehead, securing her high chignon with its lotus blossom finial and finely incised hair, falling down the side of her shoulders. Her elaborate necklaces fall elegantly down the contours of her bare chest. Her serene face with downcast eyes, full lips forming a calm smile, and slender brows. Green Tara, also known as Shyamatara, is venerated as a savior and liberator from samsara, the earthly realm of birth and rebirth. According to Buddhist mythology, Green Tara emerged from a lotus bud rising from a lake of the tears of Avalokiteshvara, shed for the suffering of all sentient beings. She embodies compassion in a dynamic form, hence the usual depiction of the goddess with right leg outstretched, ready to leap out to ease suffering. Her right hand is always in varada mudra, a gesture of compassion and charity, and the left hand in vitarka mudra, a gesture of teaching. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 17 December 2013, lot 8280 Price: USD 40,000 or approx. EUR 50,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt-bronze figure of White Tara, Qing dynasty Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, base, and modeling. Note the different style of lotus flowers. Note the size (17 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 18 March 2014, lot 277 Price: USD 10,000 or approx. EUR 12,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt-bronze figure of Tara, Qing dynasty, 18th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and style. Note the different modeling.

Estim. 1 500 - 3 000 EUR

Lot 67 - A GOLD- AND SILVER-INLAID BRONZE BELT HOOK, WARRING STATES PERIOD - A GOLD- AND SILVER-INLAID BRONZE BELT HOOK, WARRING STATES PERIOD China, 5th-3rd century BC. The arched belt hook elaborately inlaid with silver wire and gold sheet, the stylized design cast with two dragons facing each other at the center, their coiling bodies with raised sections highlighted by the gold and silver inlays. The hook in the form of a dragon head. Provenance: From the private collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, New York. The reverse with an old label, ‘A & S Hartman Collection: CB 54 HUAI.’ Alan Hartman (1930-2023) was an influential American art dealer, who took over his parents’ antique business in Manhattan and established the legendary Rare Art Gallery on Madison Avenue, with further locations in Dallas and Palm Beach. His wife Simone (née Horowitz) already served as assistant manager of the New York gallery before the couple married in 1975, and together they built a renowned collection for over half a century and became noted art patrons, enriching the collections of important museums including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (which opened the Alan and Simone Hartman Galleries in 2013) as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Brooklyn Museum in New York. Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age, with wear. Signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations, small nicks, and minor losses to the inlays. The bronze is covered in a rich, naturally grown patina with bright malachite and cuprite encrustations. Weight: 142.3 g Dimensions: Length 11.7 cm Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams London, 11 May 2021, lot 52 Price: GBP 4,462 or approx. EUR 6,800 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A fine and rare gold and silver-inlaid reticulated bronze belt hook, Warring States period Expert remark: Compare the related form with two interlacing dragons highlighted by silver and gold inlays. Note the slightly smaller size (10.5 cm).

Estim. 800 - 1 600 EUR

Lot 68 - A LARGE BRONZE RITUAL FOOD VESSEL AND COVER, DING, SPRING AND AUTUMN TO WARRING STATES PERIOD - A LARGE BRONZE RITUAL FOOD VESSEL AND COVER, DING, SPRING AND AUTUMN TO WARRING STATES PERIOD China, c. 5th century BC. Superbly cast, the body supported on three tall legs, flanked by slightly curving U-shaped handles, the domed cover surmounted with three circular upright rings still filled with soil from a prolonged time of burial. The sides and cover of the deep vessel cast with concentric bands of interlacing dragons. The handles and cover ringlets similarly decorated with key-fret designs and a coiling dragon motif. Provenance: From a private estate in Austria. Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age, with extensive wear. Signs of weathering and erosion, soil encrustations, small nicks, minor chips, and small losses. The bronze is covered in a superb, naturally grown patina with bright malachite, azurite, and cuprite encrustations, especially remarkable on the interior. Weight: 2,190 g Dimensions: Length 26.8 cm (across handles) Literature comparison: Compare a closely related bronze ding cast in the same form with concentric bands of interlacing dragons, 34.1 cm in diameter, dated to the Warring States period, in the Shanghai Museum, illustrated in Chen Peifen’s Ancient Bronzes in the Shanghai Museum, 1995, p. 94-95, no. 60. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 30 November 2022, lot 14 Price: HKD 985,800 or approx. EUR 121,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: An archaic bronze ritual food vessel and cover, Ding, Spring and Autumn period Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and dragon motif. Note the larger size (42 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Lempertz Cologne, 8 June 2019, lot 647 Price: EUR 52,080 or approx. EUR 56,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A very large bronze tripod ritual food vessel (ding) and cover. North-centra China, Shanxi/Henan provinces. Eastern Zhou/late Spring and Autumn period, early 5th century Expert remark: Compare the related form and concentric bands of interlacing dragons motif. Note the larger size (45 cm).

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 69 - A BRONZE RITUAL FOOD VESSEL AND COVER, DING, EARLY WARRING STATES PERIOD - A BRONZE RITUAL FOOD VESSEL AND COVER, DING, EARLY WARRING STATES PERIOD China, 5th- 4th century BC. Finely cast, supported on three cabriole legs, the exterior decorated with six bands of interlocking dragons, the sides set with a pair of ring handles, the domed cover surmounted by three similar handles. Provenance: From a private collection in Vienna, Austria, acquired in Beijing during the 1970s. Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations, corrosion, casting flaws, nicks, dents, small losses. The bronze has a naturally grown patina with vibrant malachite encrustations. Weight: 1,227 g Dimensions: Width 21.6 cm (across handles), Height 17 cm Ding vessels were first cast by the Shang and were undoubtedly an important Chinese bronze vessel. Used originally as cauldrons to cook food, the tripod vessel could easily be set above an open fire. The earliest examples of Ding were found in Zhengzhou and date from the end of the 15th century BC. During the Eastern Zhou period, ding started being cast with a cover, often equipped with a set of rings for easier removal, as seen on the present lot. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related bronze ding with similar loop-ring handles, 15.2 cm high, dated to the Eastern Zhou period, circa 5th-4th century BC, in the British Museum, registration number 1936,1118.53. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 19 March 2013, lot 64 Price: USD 11,250 or approx. EUR 14,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A bronze ritual food vessel and cover, Warring States period Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, decoration, and manner of casting, with similar bands of interlocking dragons, wear, and patina.

Estim. 800 - 1 600 EUR

Lot 70 - A LARGE BRONZE STORAGE VESSEL AND COVER, FANGHU, HAN DYNASTY - A LARGE BRONZE STORAGE VESSEL AND COVER, FANGHU, HAN DYNASTY China, 206 BC to AD 220. The faceted pear-shaped body raised on a slightly spreading square foot and applied to opposing sides with taotie mask handles suspending loose rings, the square cover surmounted by three flat, S-shaped finials. Provenance: From a French private collection. Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, corrosion, encrustations, casting flaws, losses, cracks, nicks, scratches. The bronze with a superb, naturally grown patina with scattered malachite encrustations. Weight: 3.7 kg Dimensions: Height 42.2 cm Literature comparison: Compare a related bronze fanghu, excavated at Shuihudi, Yunmeng, Hubei province, now in the Yunmeng County Museum, published in Zhongguo qingtongqi quanji (‘Complete collection of Chinese archaic bronzes’), vol. 12, Beijing, 1998, pl. 9. Compare a related bronze fanghu in the collection of the Fujii Yurinkan, Kyoto, illustrated in Sueji Umehara, Nihon shucho Shina kodo seikwa (‘Select Relics of Ancient Chinese Bronzes from Collections in Japan’), vol. 6, Osaka, 1964, pl. 471. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 19 Sep 2014, lot 1008 Price: USD 9,375 or approx. EUR 11,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A bronze ritual wine vessel, Fanghu, Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and manner of casting with similar S-shaped finials, patina, and identical size (42 cm).

Estim. 500 - 1 000 EUR

Lot 71 - A BRONZE STORAGE VESSEL AND COVER WITH BIRD-FORM FINIALS, FANGHU, HAN DYNASTY - A BRONZE STORAGE VESSEL AND COVER WITH BIRD-FORM FINIALS, FANGHU, HAN DYNASTY China, 206 BC to AD 220. The faceted pear-shaped body raised on a slightly spreading square foot and applied to opposing sides with taotie mask handles suspending loose rings, the square cover surmounted by four flattened bird-form finials. Provenance: From a private estate in Austria. Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, corrosion, encrustations, casting flaws, losses, cracks, nicks, scratches. The bronze with a superb, naturally grown patina with scattered malachite encrustations. Weight: 4,797 g Dimensions: Height 41.3 cm Literature comparison: Compare a related bronze fanghu, excavated at Shuihudi, Yunmeng, Hubei province, now in the Yunmeng County Museum, published in Zhongguo qingtongqi quanji (‘Complete collection of Chinese archaic bronzes’), vol. 12, Beijing, 1998, pl. 9. Compare a related bronze fanghu in the collection of the Fujii Yurinkan, Kyoto, illustrated in Sueji Umehara, Nihon shucho Shina kodo seikwa (‘Select Relics of Ancient Chinese Bronzes from Collections in Japan’), vol. 6, Osaka, 1964, pl. 471. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 19 September 2014, lot 1008 Price: USD 9,375 or approx. EUR 11,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A bronze ritual wine vessel, Fanghu, Han dynasty Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and manner of casting with similar bird-form finials. Note the similar size (42 cm).

Estim. 500 - 1 000 EUR

Lot 72 - A BRONZE TRIPOD FOOD VESSEL, DING, HAN DYNASTY - A BRONZE TRIPOD FOOD VESSEL, DING, HAN DYNASTY China, 202 BC to 220 AD. The vessel and cover of compressed globular shape with a central bowstring, supported on three lions’ mouths legs and with two gently curved loop handles, the domed cover with three upright bird finials. Provenance: French trade. Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age, with wear. Signs of weathering and erosion, casting flaws, small nicks, minor losses, with cuprite and malachite encrustations with associated touchups to the patina. Weight: 388 g Dimensions: Length 12.9 cm (across handles) Literature comparison: Compare a closely related funerary ding, 12.5 cm long, dated to the Han dynasty, illustrated in Anthony J. Allen, Authentication of Ancient Chinese Bronzes, 2001, p. 82, fig. 85.

Estim. 600 - 1 200 EUR

Lot 73 - A BRONZE BOWL, XI, HAN DYNASTY - A BRONZE BOWL, XI, HAN DYNASTY China, 202 BC to 220 AD. Boldly cast with a circular base with a subtle shoulder surmounted by an everted rim. The simplistic vessel is covered in a rich, naturally grown patina with malachite, cuprite, and azurite encrustations all over. Provenance: French trade. Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age, with wear, signs of weathering and erosion, and small dents. Weight: 231 g Dimensions: Diameter 12.2 cm Literature comparison: Compare a related bronze bowl, dated to the Han dynasty, in the National Palace Museum, accession number K1A000438.

Estim. 300 - 600 EUR

Lot 74 - † A BRONZE ELLIPTICAL BOWL, HE, HAN DYNASTY - † A BRONZE ELLIPTICAL BOWL, HE, HAN DYNASTY China, Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD). Of oval form, the rounded sides supported on a flat base and rising to a slightly everted rim. Each of the long sides is cast with a ring handle. Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, casting flaws, small dents, losses, and corrosion. The bronze covered with a fine, naturally grown patina with malachite encrustations. Provenance: From the estate of William Rogers, Australia. Weight: 507.9 g Dimensions: Length 18.7 cm Literature comparison: Compare a closely related bronze elliptical bowl, he, 16 cm wide, dated to the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 67.43.8. Auction result comparison: Compare a related bronze elliptical bowl, he, with similar ring handles, 13.2 cm wide, dated to the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), at Sotheby's Paris, 16 June 2022, lot 101 ( sold for EUR 2,268). 13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.

Estim. 500 - 1 000 EUR

Lot 75 - AN INSCRIBED SILVERY BRONZE ‘TLV’ MIRROR, WESTERN HAN DYNASTY - AN INSCRIBED SILVERY BRONZE ‘TLV’ MIRROR, WESTERN HAN DYNASTY China, 206 BC-8 AD. Of circular form, crisply cast with a central knob and quatrefoil within a square border, framed by eight nipples in the outer field which is cast in thread relief with T, L and V motifs as well as mythical animals and birds, all arranged in four quadrants, and encircled by a 28-character inscription within a hachured band and three sawtooth borders. Provenance: New York trade. Acquired from a Upper West Side private estate. Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Old wear and casting irregularities, signs of weathering and erosion, few small nicks, dents, and light scratches. The silvery bronze with a fine, naturally grown patina with malachite encrustations. Weight: 427.8 g Dimensions: Diameter 14.1 cm Literature comparison: Compare a closely related inscribed TLV mirror, 21 cm diameter, in the Hunan Museum. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 22 March 2013, lot 1139 Price: USD 21,250 or approx. EUR 26,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A bronze 'TLV' mirror, Western Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 8) Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of casting, and TLV motif. Note the size (20.6 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 15 September 2011, lot 1124 Price: USD 60,000 or approx. EUR 75,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A silvery bronze 'TLV' circular mirror, Western Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 8) Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of casting, and TLV motif. Note the size (16.5 cm).

Estim. 500 - 1 000 EUR

Lot 76 - A RARE PAIR OF UNUSUAL COWRIE SHELL AND GILT-BRONZE ‘STAG’ MAT WEIGHTS, WESTERN HAN DYNASTY - A RARE PAIR OF UNUSUAL COWRIE SHELL AND GILT-BRONZE ‘STAG’ MAT WEIGHTS, WESTERN HAN DYNASTY China, 207 BC-9 AD. Each with a brown-speckled cowrie shell depicting a deer’s body mounted and fitted into a cast bronze flat mount, with four tab-like feet in the form of folded and tucked deer legs, below flanges to secure the shell, a deer head with antlers opposite a rounded flange with incised details depicting a tail. (2) Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 26 November 1991, lot 235. Private collection of Gerard Arnhold (1918-2010), São Paulo, Brazil, acquired from the above and thence by descent. Each base with a label ‘W 77’. George Gerard Arnhold was a German-Brazilian entrepreneur whose contributions to the arts include serving as the president of the Dresden Philharmonic Society and supporting the Dresden State Art Collections. Condition: Overall good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, nicks, scratches, dents, small losses, repairs to the antlers and flanges, small cracks, and casting flaws. The bronze with a fine, naturally grown patina with malachite encrustations. Weight: 440 g and 465.6 g Dimensions: Length 10.7 cm and 10.5 cm Mat weights are believed to have been made in sets of four, such as the set of four gilt-bronze and cowrie shell tortoise-form weights found in pairs in each of two coffins in a double burial in a Western Han tomb in Hunyan, Shanxi province. See Wenwu, 1980:6, p. 51, fig. 27 (one of four). These weights were filled with lead to give them additional weight. The entry for the set of four notes that the word for deer, lu, is a homonym for wealth, and that cowrie shells, since ancient times, had been used as currency. Also, the brown spots of the cowrie shell may be seen to allude to the sacred spotted deer which ferrets out lingzhi, the fungus of immortality. Literature comparison: Compare a related example lacking the antlers, illustrated in Ausstellung Chinesischer Kunst, Berlin, 1929, p. 60, no. 84. Compare a pair of similar stag-form mounts (minus the cowrie shell body) from the collection of Carl Kempe illustrated by O. Karlbeck, 'Selected Objects from Ancient Shou-Chou', B.M.F.E.A., Stockholm, 1955, No. 27, pl. 45, fig. 4 (a&b). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Nagel Auction Stuttgart, 6 December 2022, lot 276 Price: EUR 28,000 or approx. EUR 29,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A rare and finely cast gilt-bronze mounted cowrie shell stag mat weight, Han dynasty Expert remark: Compare the closely related gilt bronze mount. Note the related size (9.2 cm) and that this lot comprises only one weight.

Estim. 3 000 - 6 000 EUR

Lot 77 - A SET OF ELEVEN BRONZE BELT ORNAMENTS, SIX DYNASTIES - A SET OF ELEVEN BRONZE BELT ORNAMENTS, SIX DYNASTIES China, 3rd-6th century. Comprising eight rectangular plaques with rectangular slits below a bird motif, one buckle of rectangular form with one end arched, all bearing neatly stippled grounds, and two gilt-bronze plaques with shaped slits. Each finely decorated to depict birds with leafy sprigs and ribbons in their beaks. Provenance: Collection of Madam L. Wannieck. Hotel Drouot Paris, 22 March 1961, lot 267. Collection of Dr. Wou Kiuan. Wou Lien-Pai Museum, coll. no. T.5.19., acquired from the above. The reverse of the largest buckle with an old label inscribed in Chinese, ‘[…] gilt bronze […]’. Marie-Madeleine Wannieck (1871-1960) was a prominent collector and art dealer from the early 20th century until her death. She was married to Leon J.B. Wannieck (1875-1931) and together they founded the Maison L. Wannieck, which was opened in 1902 on Tiananmen Square, Beijing. Although neither received any formal education, their gallery rivaled those of the most wealthy and prominent of that time. The gallery imported art objects from China, dealing directly with local antiquities dealers and archaeological digs. The legendary Ching Tsai Loo (C. T. Loo, 1880 - 1957), a famous antique dealer of Chinese art, was among Léon Wannieck’s friends and competitors. The couple was also very involved in the Société des Amis du Musée Cernuschi, for which Léon Wannieck served as vice-president from its founding in July 1922. During the society’s assemblies, the couple socialized with leading sinologists, such as Paul Pelliot (1878-1945). Léon Wannieck was also in regular contact with Henri d’Ardenne de Tizac (1877-1932), the curator of the Musée Cernuschi. Through this direct link, or through the Société des Amis, the Wanniecks donated or sold numerous works to the Musée Cernuschi. Dr. Wou Kiuan (1910-1997) was a Chinese diplomat and noted scholar of Chinese art. His father, Wou Lien-Pai (1873-1944), was one the leading political figures of early 20th century China, remembered for his role as speaker and leader of parliament during the turbulent years of the Republican era. Dr. Wou himself embarked on an illustrious career in diplomacy until his retirement in 1952, when he settled in London and devoted the rest of his life to the study of Chinese art. It was no doubt fortuitous that Dr. Wou’s years of collecting coincided with an abundant availability of exceptional Chinese art on the London market. From the mid-1950s to the late 1960s he was able to form a collection of well over 1,000 works that together represented virtually every category of Chinese art. At the heart of Dr. Wou’s drive to collect was a burning desire to preserve the relics of China’s rich historical past scattered across Europe, and to promote Chinese art and culture. It is unclear when Dr. Wou conceived of the idea to create a place to house his collection, but in 1968 he opened the doors to the Wou Lien-Pai Museum, named in honor of his father. Over the years the Museum became a ‘must see’ destination for collectors, academics, and visiting dignitaries, and Dr. Wou would delight in leading his visitors through the galleries, recounting stories of China’s glorious history. Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age, with ancient wear and extensive traces of usage. Signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations, small nicks, expected losses, and corrosion. The bronze has a naturally grown patina with malachite encrustations and cuprite. Weight: 252 g (total) Dimensions: 5.9 x 3.4 cm (largest), 3.4 x 3 cm (smallest) With a fitted velvet display stand. (12) Literature comparison: Compare a closely related belt plaque similarly cast with a stippled ground, an oval belt slot, and zoomorphic decorations, 3.5 x 3.8 cm, dated to the Six Dynasties, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 24.100.11.

Estim. 800 - 1 600 EUR

Lot 78 - A PARCEL GILT AND SILVER ‘BUDDHA UNDER THE BODHI TREE’ COMB, TANG DYNASTY - A PARCEL GILT AND SILVER ‘BUDDHA UNDER THE BODHI TREE’ COMB, TANG DYNASTY China, 618-907. The solid silver frame decorated at the handle in silver repoussé and parcel gilt to depict Buddha seated on a lotus-form pedestal, flanked by branches of the Bodhi tree on each side. The silver with a naturally grown patina. Provenance: The collection of The Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum. Institutional art collection in Belgium, acquired from the above. Dr. István Zelnik, President of the Hungarian South and Southeast Asian Research Institute, is a former high-ranking Hungarian diplomat who spent several decades in Southeast Asia, building the largest known private collection of Asian art in Europe. Condition: Good condition with wear commensurate to age. Signs of weathering and encrustations, tiny nicks, small losses, few cracks, and some warping to the teeth. Weight: 390 g Dimensions: Length 14.7 cm Gold and silver jewelry was worn by the elite in the Tang and Song dynasties. The most popular forms were hairpins and combs, although a few rings and bangles have also been found. Literature comparison: Compare a related gilded and engraved silver comb, dated to the Tang dynasty, in the collection of the British Museum, museum number 1938,0524.284. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 12 September 2019, lot 564 Price: USD 20,000 or approx. EUR 22,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A parcel-gilt silver comb, Tang Dynasty Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and similar technique. Note the smaller size (9.3 cm).

Estim. 3 000 - 6 000 EUR

Lot 79 - AN OVAL BRONZE ‘CHILONG’ CENSER, YUAN TO MING DYNASTY - AN OVAL BRONZE ‘CHILONG’ CENSER, YUAN TO MING DYNASTY China, 14th-16th century. Of oval form, raised on four ruyi feet, the gently curving sides rising to a flattened everted rim, the handles in the form of two stylized chilong applied to the shoulders. The bronze with a smooth naturally grown patina with areas of calcification. Provenance: From a private collection in Vienna, Austria. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and casting irregularities. Few nicks, light scratches, and minor dents. Weight: 854 g Dimensions: Length 21.5 cm Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s London, 15 June 2020, lot 41 Price: GBP 27,500 or approx. EUR 42,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A bronze censer, late Ming/early Qing dynasty Expert remark: Compare the related oval form and similar ruyi legs. Note the dating, naturalistic rendering of the handles and larger size(27 cm).

Estim. 500 - 1 000 EUR

Lot 80 - A PAIR OF BRONZE CYMBALS, BO, XUANDE MARK AND PERIOD, DATED 1431 - A PAIR OF BRONZE CYMBALS, BO, XUANDE MARK AND PERIOD, DATED 1431 China. Each with a broad, flat rim that is slightly curved upward, and decorated to the domed bell with a pair of sinuously coiled four-clawed dragons chasing a flaming pearl. The bell further incised with a seven-character mark da Ming Xuande wu nianzhi and of the period. Inscriptions: Incised to each cymbal, ‘da Ming Xuande wu nian zao’ [made in the fifth year of the Xuande reign of the Great Ming]. Provenance: From a noted Swiss private collection. Condition: Excellent condition, commensurate with age. Extensive old wear and casting flaws, minor dings and dents, shallow surface scratches, soiling, and warping. The textiles with significant traces of use, wear, soiling, and losses. Weight: 800 g and 805 g (the cymbals) Dimensions: Diameter 31.5 cm and 31.7 cm With leather straps, two textile paddings, and a textile bag, all probably dating from the later 19th to the earlier 20th century. (5) Bo i s the generic name for pairs of cymbals that come in a variety of sizes, all with rims that curl upward at the edges. Bo are used together with gongs and drums for military music and play a prominent role in opera productions, where they accent the actors’ movements. Several playing techniques may be employed: the discs may be clashed together or held horizontally, with one raking across the other to produce a sustained rolling sound. In Tibetan processions and dance, drums and cymbals set up basic rhythmic patterns for wind instruments, and in temple settings are used with bells to accompany chant. Literature comparison: A pair of bronze cymbals from the Xuande period is in the Tibet Museum in Lhasa. Compare a pair of bronze cymbals dated to the late 17th century in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 2003.465a–d. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 9 October 2012, lot 3111 Price: HKD 980,000 or approx. EUR 157,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A rare parcel-gilt bronze ritual bell, ghanta, mark and period of Xuande Expert remark: Compare the related instrument and mark and period of Xuande.

Estim. 5 000 - 10 000 EUR

Lot 81 - A SMALL BRONZE ‘CHILONG’ CENSER, SHUIXIAN PEN, MING DYNASTY - A SMALL BRONZE ‘CHILONG’ CENSER, SHUIXIAN PEN, MING DYNASTY China, 16th-17th century. Of oval form, the low flaring sides supported by four ruyi-shaped feet, cast with two chilong perched on either side forming the handles, each with forelegs grasping the rim, the sinuous body accentuated with a raised spine and fur marks extending to a long tail. Provenance: Formerly in the collection of the Proctor Estate, New England. Condition: Good condition with old wear, traces of use, casting flaws. Few light scratches and minuscule nicks. One dragon slightly loose. Weight: 352.5 g Dimensions: Width 13.7 cm (across handles) The base cast with an apocryphal six-character mark da Ming Xuande within a rectanguar reserve. This censer takes the form of a vessel type known in China as a ‘narcissus basin (shuixian pen)’; a name typically referring to its flat-based basin with concave spreading sides. This form first appeared in Chinese ceramics during the Northern Song dynasty. Literature comparison: A similar vessel is illustrated in scroll 6 of the imperial Guwan Tu ('Pictures of Ancient Playthings') dated to 1728 in the collection of Sir Percival David currently on loan to the British Museum (accession number PDF X01), which suggests that the scholarly object also found favor at court. A similar low-sided vessel with chilong handles, dated to the 16th-17th century, is illustrated by P. Moss, The Second Bronze Age, Hong Kong, 1991, no. 43. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Galerie Zacke Vienna, 16 October 2021, lot 358 Price: EUR 8,216 or approx. EUR 9,800 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A bronze ‘chilong’ censer, Ming dynasty Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and manner of casting with similar chilong handles. Note the size (18 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 14 September 2017, lot 720 Price: USD 5,000 or approx. EUR 5,800 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A small bronze censer with chilong handles, Ming dynasty, 16th-17th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and manner of casting with similar chilong handles. Note the closely related size (14 cm).

Estim. 800 - 1 600 EUR

Lot 82 - A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF A RECUMBENT ‘LONGEVITY’ RAM, MING DYNASTY - A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF A RECUMBENT ‘LONGEVITY’ RAM, MING DYNASTY China, 1368-1644. Deftly and naturalistically cast as a ram seated on its haunches with its forelimbs bent. The ram with well-defined facial features, marked by bulging eyes with incised pupils and a prominent snout, framed by a pair of coiled horns above small pointed ears. The spine and fur finely incised and delineated. The tail is designed in the shape of a peach, symbol for longevity. Provenance: From a Hungarian collection. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and casting flaws, small nicks, and light scratches. Weight: 438.9 g Dimensions: Length 10.5 cm The ram is a popular motif in Chinese jade carving, not only because its pronunciation sounds close to the pronunciation of the word ‘xiang’ (auspicious), but also as a symbol of filial piety, patience, and kindness. The ram is further a traditional emblem of good luck, since the Chinese term for ram (or goat), ‘yang’, is also a homophone of ‘yang’ (sun), and represents the male or positive principle in the yin-yang duality. Expert’s note: The tail is distinctively designed in the shape of a peach, the main symbol of longevity in ancient China. The ability of ‘hiding’ auspicious symbols and meanings in skillfully executed depictions of Zodiac animals is one of the most accomplished regalia of Chinese art and culture overall, which has been passed on from generation to generation, literally across several millennia. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 8 April 2014, lot 84 Estimate: HKD 1,600,000 or approx. EUR 235,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt-bronze standing figure of a ram Ming dynasty, 15th century Expert remark: Compare the related subject and similar use of gilt.

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 83 - A RARE GILT-BRONZE 'MULE' CENSER AND COVER, MING DYNASTY - A RARE GILT-BRONZE 'MULE' CENSER AND COVER, MING DYNASTY Exhibited: On loan to the Museum of East Asian Art, Berlin, 2001-2004. China, 16th-17th century. Finely cast standing foursquare with the head lowered and the legs slightly bent, the back with a separately cast, fitted saddle pierced with a trefoil aperture and saddle cloth, both neatly incised with stylized ruyi heads. Provenance: Galerie Tseng Tung-fa, Stuttgart, Germany. A German private collection, by repute acquired from the above. On loan to the Museum of East Asian Art, Berlin, 2001-2004. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and casting irregularities, few tiny nicks, remnants of varnish. The bronze with a fine, naturally grown, dark patina. Weight: 1,151 g Dimensions: Length 22 cm Expert’s note: The well-cast and neatly incised saddle is removable and pierced for the incense smoke to rise, therefore it is impossible that there was an accompanying figure to this censer. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 1 June 2011, lot 3951 Price: HKD 125,000 or approx. EUR 21,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A rare Ming parcel-gilt bronze 'mule' censer, Wanli period (1573-1619) Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject, pose, pierced saddle, and size (20 cm).

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 84 - A PARCEL-GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF A XINIU, MING DYNASTY - A PARCEL-GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF A XINIU, MING DYNASTY China, 1363-1644. Well cast in a recumbent pose with the left foreleg bent and the others tucked in, the head graciously turned backward, the horned beast well detailed with bulging eyes, funnel-shaped ears, and neatly incised mane, bears, and brows, with scrolling flames to the thighs and shoulders. Provenance: A noted private collection in Geneva, Switzerland, acquired in the European trade on 14 August 1973, and thence by descent. An important part of this collection was on permanent loan and exhibited over several decades at the Asia-Africa Museum in Geneva. Two old collector labels ‘Ming 1373-1646’ and ‘AMA 2987’ to the interior, and two old labels ’2987’ and ‘217’ to the base. A copy of the previous owner’s handwritten notes, confirming the acquisition date and with a short description of the present object (numbered ‘2987’), accompanies this lot. Condition: Good condition with some old wear and casting flaws as expected, light surface scratches, small nicks. Minor losses, some with associated old fills. Weight: 1.1 kg (excl. base), 1.4 kg (incl. base) Dimensions: Length 27.9 cm With a fitted wood base from the Qing dynasty. (2) The xiniu is a legendary Chinese animal. In ancient Chinese texts, the term xiniu originally meant rhinoceros. In later periods, the creature became increasingly mythologized after the rhinoceros was extinct in post-archaic China. By the Song dynasty, it had become a beast of legend, known only through literary references. Over time, the depiction of this animal changed to a more bovine appearance with a single curved horn on its head that was used to communicate with the sky, which is why the xiniu is often depicted gazing up at the moon. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams London, 9 November 2017, lot 193 Price: GBP 6,875 or approx. EUR 11,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A parcel-gilt bronze model of a mythical beast, Xiniu, Ming Dynasty Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, manner of casting, and gilding. Note the similar size (26.3 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s London, 9 November 2011, lot 391 Price: GBP 9,375 or approx. EUR 17,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A parcel-gilt-bronze mirror stand, Ming dynasty Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling, manner of casting, and gilding. Note the size (24 cm) and the mirror stand mounted to the back.

Estim. 2 000 - 4 000 EUR

Lot 85 - A PAIR OF ARCHAISTIC BRONZE BEAKER VASES, GU, WITH ORMOLU MOUNTS, 17TH-18TH CENTURY - A PAIR OF ARCHAISTIC BRONZE BEAKER VASES, GU, WITH ORMOLU MOUNTS, 17TH-18TH CENTURY China, 17th-18th century. Each finely cast with a flaring neck decorated with four upright stiff leaves incised with key-fret and foliate scroll, each centered by a narrow flange, the rounded mid-section framed by bands of key-fret and decorated with four shorter flanges dividing sinuous dragons, the foot similarly decorated, all against key-fret grounds. The bases each with a two-character mark. Provenance: The property of a Lady in Bath, United Kingdom. Condition: Good condition with expected old wear and casting flaws, small nicks, the base of one vase with a small loss, possibly from corrosion. The bronze is covered in a fine, naturally grown, dark patina. Weight: 595.2 g and 493 g Dimensions: Height 16.4 cm and 16.5 cm Each vase fitted with a French gilt-bronze liner and base finely decorated with beaded and foliate designs, dating from the 19th century. (2) Archaistic vessels, such as in the present lot, demonstrate the fashion for archaism which was very popular at the Qing court during the 18th century. The style and form of this vase is inspired by archaic bronze wine vessels named gu used in ritual ceremonies during the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bonhams London, 11 May 2021, lot 251 Price: GBP 4,845 or approx. EUR 7,200 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: An archaistic bronze beaker vase, gu, 17th century Expert remark: Compare the related form and similar archaistic dragon decorations. Note the size (30 cm) and that this lot consists of one vase only.

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 86 - A GOLD-SPLASHED BRONZE BOMBÉ CENSER, CHINA, 17TH-18TH CENTURY - A GOLD-SPLASHED BRONZE BOMBÉ CENSER, CHINA, 17TH-18TH CENTURY Heavily cast, the compressed globular body supported on a gently spreading foot rising to a wide flaring rim, flanked by two loop handles with pendent tabs, the exterior and base covered with prominent splashes of gilt. Some of these splashes show minuscule gold nugget grains, which have not completely molten away in the firing. The recessed base cast with an apocryphal six-character da Ming Xuande nianzhi within a rectangular reserve. Provenance: From a private collection in the Cotswolds, United Kingdom. Nicholas Pitcher, London, acquired from the above. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and casting irregularities. Few light scratches. The bronze with a superb, naturally grown honey-brown patina. Weight: 616.3 g Dimensions: Width 12.7 cm (across handles) Auction result comparison:Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s London, 5 November 2019 Price: GBP 37,500 or approx. EUR 56,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt-splashed bronze censer, 17th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, gilt-splashed decoration, and apocryphal reign mark. Note the size (20 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Sotheby’s London, 3 November 2021, lot 163 Price: GBP 11,970 or approx. EUR 16,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gold-splashed bronze censer, Qing dynasty, 17th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, gilt-splashed decoration, and apocryphal reign mark. Note the size (17.1 cm).

Estim. 1 500 - 3 000 EUR

Lot 87 - A GOLD-SPLASHED BRONZE LOBED CENSER, QING DYNASTY - A GOLD-SPLASHED BRONZE LOBED CENSER, QING DYNASTY China, 1644-1912 or later. Finely cast, supported on four tapering feet rising to round sides, the everted rim with two upright loop handles. Richly decorated to the exterior with blossom-like gold splashes. Provenance: French trade. Condition: Very good condition with expected old wear, shallow surface scratches, and casting irregularities such as pitting, few minuscule nicks, the interior with expected residues. Weight: 280 g Dimensions: Width 8.5 cm The base cast with an apocryphal four-character mark da Ming Xuande. Literature comparison: Compare a bronze censer of closely related form, lacking the gold splashes as found on the present lot, also with an apocryphal Xuande mark, 14.4 cm diameter, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated by Ja Won Lee, Collecting Culture, Representing the Self: Chosŏn Portraits of Collectors of Chinese Antiquities. Seoul Journal of Korean Studies, vol. 31, no. 1, 2018, p. 1-20. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 26 March 2010, lot 1323 Price: USD 20,000 or approx. EUR 26,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gold-splashed bronze globular tripod censer, 17th/18th century Expert remark: Compare the related loop ring handles and gilt splashing. Note the rounded sides. Note the larger size (15.5 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 16 September 2014, lot 587 Price: USD 11,250 or approx. EUR 13,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A small lobed gilt-splashed bronze censer, 17th/18th century Expert remark: Compare the related lobed sides and gilt splashing. Note the different flared rim and lion-mask handles.

Estim. 400 - 800 EUR

Lot 88 - A SAWASA WARE PARCEL-GILT BRONZE TRIPOD CENSER AND COVER, 18TH CENTURY - A SAWASA WARE PARCEL-GILT BRONZE TRIPOD CENSER AND COVER, 18TH CENTURY Japan and China. The compressed body of lobed form raised on three gilt slender waisted legs, flanked by twin mythical beast head handles pierced at the mouth, the sides with gilt quatrefoil panels decorated in relief depicting prunus, peony, and lotus sprays, all against a minutely ring-punched ground. The domed reticulated cover surmounted by a Buddhist lion seated on its haunches with a brocade ball under its paw. Provenance: English trade. Acquired in an old private estate in Berkshire. Condition: Good condition with expected old wear and casting irregularities. Tiny nicks, small losses along the rim, scattered scratches, and minor encrustations. Rubbing to gilt. The finial slightly loose. Weight: 415.1 g (with cover) Dimensions: Height 11.2 cm, Width 11.5 cm Sawasa describes a distinctive style of metalwork produced in Asia during the 17th and 18th centuries. The base material was a copper-gold alloy, much like the Japanese shakudo. Sawasa articles usually appear in the form of all kinds of containers like tobacco boxes, but also cups and saucers, ewers, and other items for which the material is suited. The production of Sawasa items is primarily associated with Nagasaki, but various records suggest there was also production in both Canton (Guangzhou) and Tonkin (Hanoi). The clientele were mainly the Dutch colonial expat community, who commissioned these items for their own use and to some extent for trade with Europe. Literature comparison: In Robert D. Mowry, China's Renaissance in Bronze, Phoenix Art Museum, 1993, the author illustrates two bronze pieces, nos. 27 and 28, with the surface induced to create a dark, gunmetal gray finish. He dates these pieces to probably the mid- to late 18th century. He also illustrates a censer similar to the present lot, no. 29, which he dates the same way. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 21 March 2015, lot 783 Price: USD 13,750 or approx. EUR 16,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A parcel-gilt bronze tripod censer and cover, Qing dynasty, probably 18th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related manner of casting and gilt decoration. Also compare the similarities of the lids.

Estim. 600 - 1 200 EUR

Lot 89 - AN ARCHAISTIC BRONZE FOOD VESSEL AND COVER, DOU, TWO QIANLONG MARKS AND OF THE PERIOD - AN ARCHAISTIC BRONZE FOOD VESSEL AND COVER, DOU, TWO QIANLONG MARKS AND OF THE PERIOD Expert’s note: Not only are these bronze dou much rarer than their blue-glazed counterparts, it is extremely rare to find the vessel and matching cover still together. China, 1736-1795. Heavily cast with a broad, cylindrical bowl raised on a spreading stem, decorated around the exterior with archaistic geometric motifs, C-scrolls, and undulating bands, the cover’s finial modeled as two entwined rope-twist loops. The rim of the foot and inside of the cover each cast with a six-character mark da Qing Qianlong nianzhi and of the period. The bronze with a fine, smooth, even patina. Provenance: From an old Swiss private collection. A noted French private collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Very good condition with minor old wear and casting irregularities, minuscule nicks to edges, occasional light scratches, all as expected and commensurate with age. Weight: 3,499 g Dimensions: Height 24.7 cm, Diameter 15.3 cm The Qianlong Emperor issued an imperial decree regarding sacrificial vessels in 1748, just before the Winter Solstice sacrifice that was scheduled to be held in the Temple of Heaven that year: “The Altar to Heaven main offering table dou [vessel] is blue porcelain...The handle on the top is like a twisted rope.” It is rare to find a bronze dou vessel from this period because the decree called for dou to be made of blue porcelain, which were used in sacrificial rituals for the rest of the Qing dynasty. Margaret Medley illustrates an example of a blue-glazed version together with illustrations of similar vessels in The Illustrated Regulations for Ceremonial Paraphernalia of the Ch'ing Dynasty in the Victoria and Albert Museum, Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society, volume 31, 1957-59, pl. 39 a, c, and d. Literature comparison: Compare a related gilt-bronze dou vessel in the Palace Museum, Beijing, registration number 250113. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 16 September 2016, lot 1224 Price: USD 11,875 or approx. EUR 13,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A bronze cover for an archaistic vessel, dou, Qianlong six character cast seal mark and of the period, 1736-1795 Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of casting, and reign mark. Note the lacking vessel. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 13 September 2019, lot 867 Price: USD 12,500 or approx. EUR 13,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A bronze archaistic food vessel, dou, Qianlong six character cast seal mark and of the period, 1736-1795 Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, manner of casting, and reign mark. Note the lacking cover.

Estim. 4 000 - 8 000 EUR

Lot 90 - AN ARCHAISTIC BRONZE CENSER, GUI, QING DYNASTY - AN ARCHAISTIC BRONZE CENSER, GUI, QING DYNASTY China, 1644-1912. The gently rounded sides supported on a waisted foot and rising to a flared rim, flanked by a pair of kui dragon handles with short pendent tabs, the body cast with two taotie masks separated by narrow flanges against a key-fret ground. Provenance: From a private collection in the United Kingdom, and thence by descent in the family. Condition: Very good condition with expected old wear, traces of use, casting flaws, small nicks and minute dents, light scratches. The bronze with a fine, smooth, naturally grown, dark patina. Weight: 650.6 g Dimensions: Width 14.3 cm The recessed base cast with an apocryphal four-character mark Xuande nianzhi. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 25 September 2020, lot 1605 Price: USD 8,125 or approx. EUR 8,900 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: An archaistic bronze gui-form censer, 18th-19th century Expert remark: Compare the related form and manner of casting. Note the related size (17.1 cm). Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 27 March 2018, lot 2 Price: USD 4,750 or approx. EUR 5,400 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: An archaistic bronze vessel, gui, Qing dynasty Expert remark: Compare the related form and manner of casting. Note the larger size (29 cm).

Estim. 600 - 1 200 EUR

Lot 91 - A RARE AND INSCRIBED ARCHAISTIC GILT-SPLASHED BRONZE WINE VESSEL, JUE, QING DYNASTY - A RARE AND INSCRIBED ARCHAISTIC GILT-SPLASHED BRONZE WINE VESSEL, JUE, QING DYNASTY China, 18th century. Superbly cast, with a pair of short posts on the mouth rim dividing the elongated pouring mouth and an exaggerated lip, decorated around the exterior of the cylindrical receptacle with taotie-masks against a leiwen-ground and divided by vertical flanges, one side with a loop-handle emerging from an animal-head, all raised on three long tapered legs, decorated overall with characteristic gilt splashes. The base carved with a five-character seal script mark. Inscriptions: To the base, ‘Boshen zuo baoyi’ (Boshen made this precious vessel). Provenance: New York trade. Acquired from a noted private collection in the US. Condition: Very good condition with expected old wear and casting irregularities, the pointed tip of the mouth with a tiny crack. Weight: 900 g Dimensions: Height 23.4 cm The base is inscribed in archaic script with Boshen zuo baoyi, ‘Boshen made this precious yi’. Yi may be translated as a cup or libation vessel. It is interesting to note that not only the form and decoration were copied in reverence to archaism, but the inscription had been taken directly from characters inscribed on late Shang/early Zhou dynasty vessels. The name Boshen appears to be unrecorded. Bronze vessels of this type were valued by the literati class in China for their reverence to archaism, and those bearing an epigraphic inscription were considered even more precious. Gerard Tsang and Hugh Moss in Arts from the Scholar's Studio, Hong Kong, 1986, page 184, quote Ulrich Hausmann saying, “Archaic bronzes and their inscriptions, the subject of centuries of epigraphic and stylistic studies by literary men and artists, became inseparable; so much so that since that time scholars writing characters have seen at the back of their minds the image of ancient bronze vessels whose rubbings they had carefully studied. ...what could be more fitting than to embellish one's studio with subtle allusions to the magnificent past, or to furnish the ancestral altar with vessels expressing the continuation of their inheritance.” Literature comparison: A pair of gold-splashed jue bearing the same inscription as the present example was included in the exhibition The Minor Arts of China, Spink & Son, London, 1987, cat. no. 77. A further gold-splashed jue is illustrated in Egan Mews, 'Gold-splashed Bronzes in the collection of Mr. Randolph Berens', Connoisseur, November, 1915, p. 144. Auction result comparison: Type: Near identical Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 4 April 2012, lot 139 Price: HKD 524,000 or approx. EUR 77,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A gilt-splashed bronze censer, jue, signed Boshen, Qing dynasty, 18th century Expert remark: Note that this jue bears the same mark as the present lot and is of similar size (21 cm). This jue is also illustrated by Gerard Tsang and Hugh Moss, Arts from the Scholar's Studio, Fung Ping Shan Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1986, cat. no. 161. Auction result comparison: Type: Near identical Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 27 November 2013, lot 3591 Price: HKD 600,000 or approx. EUR 89,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A rare gilt-splashed archaistic wine vessel, jue, late Ming dynasty, 17th century Expert remark: Note that this jue bears the same mark as the present lot and is of similar size (22 cm).

Estim. 4 000 - 8 000 EUR

Lot 92 - A BRONZE WATERPOT AND SPOON, QING DYNASTY - A BRONZE WATERPOT AND SPOON, QING DYNASTY China, 1644-1912. The waterpot of compressed globular form, supported on a slightly concave base and rising to a broad shoulder below a lipped rim. The small spoon with a curved handle terminating into a stylized goose head. (2) Inscriptions: The base cast with a two-character mark, ‘Zhenwan’ (‘Rare curiosity’). Provenance: Christie’s Hong Kong, 4 April 2017, lot 212 (part-lot). A private collection in Hong Kong, acquired from the above. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, traces of use, and casting flaws. The waterpot is covered in a naturally grown dark patina with malachite encrustation to the interior. Weight: 289.5 g (bowl) and 11.1 g (spoon) Dimensions: Diameter 6.3 cm and Length 8.4 cm

Estim. 400 - 800 EUR

Lot 93 - A SET OF EIGHT GILT COPPER REPOUSSÉ BELT PLAQUES, YUAN STYLE, QING DYNASTY OR EARLIER - A SET OF EIGHT GILT COPPER REPOUSSÉ BELT PLAQUES, YUAN STYLE, QING DYNASTY OR EARLIER China, 1644-1911 or earlier. Consisting of two larger rectangular plaques with a rounded end and six square plaques, each decorated within a raised rim on a ring punched ground. Depicting two or three circling dragons, each biting the tail of the dragon in front, surrounded by stylized lotus borne on leafy vines. Their verso with naturally grown cuprite and malachite encrustations. Provenance: French trade. Condition: Good condition with minor wear, rubbing to the gilt, small nicks, and minuscule dents. The plaques display a rich, naturally grown patina with malachite and cuprite encrustations. Weight: 186 g (total), 29 cm (rectangular plaques), and 21 g (square plaques) Dimensions: Length 8.2 cm (rectangular plaques) and 5.4 cm (square plaques) Literature comparison: Compare a related repoussé belt plaque decorated with fruiting vines, 11.6 cm long, dated to the Yuan dynasty in the British Museum, accession number 1938,0524.328. Compare a related set of seven belt plaques decorated with animal designs, dated to the Tang dynasty, in the Asian Art Museum, accession number B68B10.c.

Estim. 800 - 1 600 EUR

Lot 94 - A BRONZE TWO-TIERED CENSER WITH INCENSE BURNING SET, XIANGDAO, LATE QING DYNASTY TO REPUBLIC PERIOD - A BRONZE TWO-TIERED CENSER WITH INCENSE BURNING SET, XIANGDAO, LATE QING DYNASTY TO REPUBLIC PERIOD China, 1850-1949. Finely cast, the two censer of rectangular form supported on four bracket feet flanked by two S-shaped loop handles, below a separately cast upper section of similar form, surmounted by a flat cover reticulated with a floral-geometric design enclosed by a cash-coin border, the sides cast with a wan diaper. The set comprises a tamping plate, incense monogram with a reticulated Shou character, and an incense spoon and rake. (7) Provenance: English trade. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, casting flaws, and traces of use. The bronze is covered overall in a fine, dark patina with few areas of verdigris. Weight: 1,051 g Dimensions: Length 19.3 cm The base cast with an apocryphal six-character mark da Qing Qianlong nianzhi. The art of incense burning (xiangdao) became very popular during the Song dynasty, when nobility began using imprints. Monograms like in the present lot were cast or carved from wood into auspicious symbols and used to seal the incense in a pattern. This was done by spooning the incense gently on top of the monogram which would then be removed, leaving the incense in the sealed pattern. The process of patterning the incense was seen as calming and meditative. Burning the incense after patterning it in such a way also allowed the user to tell the time, and such sets are sometimes also referred to incense clocks. There are early records of incense clocks being used in China from 1073 AD, where a severe drought in the countryside caused many municipal clepsydrae to stop working. Recreationally, powdered incense clocks were mainly used in China as personalized and portable time-keeping devices for homes. Incense seals, sticks, and spirals were also used for religious time telling, keeping the time during festivals and important rituals.

Estim. 200 - 400 EUR

Lot 95 - Ɏ A PAIR OF IRON ‘TIEHUA’ PANELS DEPICTING PEONY AND LOTUS, IN ZITAN FRAMES, 17TH-18TH CENTURY - Ɏ A PAIR OF IRON ‘TIEHUA’ PANELS DEPICTING PEONY AND LOTUS, IN ZITAN FRAMES, 17TH-18TH CENTURY Published & Exhibited: Ben Janssens Oriental Art, London, 2007, p. 98. China. Finely wrought with individually crafted elements joined with small bolts, each with large blossoms borne on leafy stems rising from the base of the frame. The three peony blossoms with numerous petals enclosing their central bulbs. The lotus with large pads and two blossoms rising from a riverbank, one bulb remaining closed while the other spread elegantly revealing the cupped interior of its petals. The frames are original to the panels and carved from Zitan wood. Provenance: Ben Janssens Oriental Art, London, 2007. Dr. Kenneth P. Lawley (inventory number M.34), acquired from the above. A copy of the original invoice from Ben Janssens, dated 15 February 2007 and stating a purchase price of GBP 5,000 or approx. EUR 11,000 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing), accompanies this lot. Ben Janssens has been an authority in Asian antiquities since the late 1990s. His impressive gallery in the heart of London focuses primarily on early Chinese art, hosting impressive exhibits. Dr. Kenneth P. Lawley (1937-2023) was a chemical physicist in The School of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh. His collection started in the early 1960s, and for the first twenty-five years of his collecting career Dr. Lawley made the majority of his purchases from the Davies Street gallery of Bluett and Sons. Working within a fairly small budget – Lawley had a small private income as well as his emoluments from the University of Edinburgh – he often sold pieces back to the firm to finance more expensive purchases. Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and manufacturing flaws. Weight: 640 g and 681 g Dimensions: 41.7 x 22 cm (each) Tiehua, literally ‘iron flowers,’ started in Wuhu during the seventeenth century. They were originally hammered as floral-patterned candle holders for local Buddhist temples. Tang Peng, a local blacksmith, was believed to be the first to wrought iron images of flowers and birds, scenery, and insects. In the eighteenth century, tiehua were transported to the capital Beijing and obtained attention from nobles and scholars. Poems and essays were written to praise the beauty of the images and the talents of their producers. Literature comparison: Compare a related set of four tiehua panels of bamboo, plum blossom, orchids, and chrysanthemum, dated 17th to 18th century, in the National Museum of Scotland, accession number A.1902.466. Compare a related tiehua floral spray panel, 125.7 x 41.4 cm, dated 1750-1850, in the British Museum, accession number 1928,0717.15. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Sotheby’s London, 15 May 2019, lot 165 Price: GBP 23,750 or approx. EUR 36,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A rare set of four tiehua panels, Qing dynasty, 18th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related material, technique, and naturalistic subject. Note that this lot comprises four tiehua panels of larger size (123 x 43 cm). This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 96 - A RARE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL AND GILT BRONZE ‘DOUBLE PEACH’ TRAY, QIANLONG PERIOD - A RARE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL AND GILT BRONZE ‘DOUBLE PEACH’ TRAY, QIANLONG PERIOD China, 1736-1795. In the form of two conjoined mirrored peaches with leafy branches issuing from the sides, each section decorated to the interior with shaped panels enclosing two bats above fruiting branches, within a border of further peaches and flowers borne on undulating stems, repeated to the exterior above a cracked ice pattern to the underside of the base, all on a turquoise ground. Provenance: From a private collection in Rego Park, New York. Condition: Very good condition with old wear and light scratches, few small nicks and cracks, expected pitting, and minuscule old fills. Weight: 302.8 g Dimensions: Length 15.6 cm Peach trees have a sacred connotation in China and in ancient times the wood of the peach tree was used as a charm against evil. Peaches themselves are a symbol of longevity, and the fact of there being two of them doubles the wish. The association of peaches with longevity arises from the Star God of Longevity Shou Lao, and is linked with the legend of the peaches which grew in the orchard of Xiwangmu, the Queen Mother of the West. These peaches took three thousand years to ripen, and conferred immortality on anyone who ate them. Items in the form of peaches were a popular birthday gift in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Small items for the scholar's table in the form of a single peach or two peaches, were especially popular in the 17th and 18th centuries. Auction result comparison: Type: Near identical Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 30 May 2006, lot 1560 Price: HKD 192,000 or approx. EUR 35,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A rare cloisonne enamel and gilt bronze 'double peach' tray, Qianlong period Expert remark: Compare the identical form, handles, and decoration. Note the slightly larger size (19.5 cm).

Estim. 1 500 - 3 000 EUR

Lot 97 - A CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL ‘AUSPICIOUS FLOWERS’ HEXAGONAL BOX AND COVER, LATE 18TH CENTURY TO EARLY 19TH CENTURY - A CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL ‘AUSPICIOUS FLOWERS’ HEXAGONAL BOX AND COVER, LATE 18TH CENTURY TO EARLY 19TH CENTURY China. Finely decorated in bright enamels with a central flowerhead enclosed in a stylized lotus blossom with lappet petals, surrounded by four lotus blossoms borne on leafy scrolling vines, the sides with fruiting peach and flowering prunus branches, all against a turquoise ground, the interiors and base enameled a deep blue, the rims gilt. Provenance: British trade. Condition: Good condition with minor wear and manufacturing irregularities including expected pitting. Small nicks, light scratches, minute dents, minor losses, old fills. Weight: 347.3 g Dimensions: Length 9.3 cm Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s New York, 23 March 2012, lot 1721 Price: USD 8,125 or approx. EUR 10,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A small cloisonné enamel hexagonal dish, 18th century Expert remark: Compare the related hexagonal form and enameled decoration with a similar motif of a central stylized flowerhead surrounded by lotus scroll. Note the size (12 cm).

Estim. 300 - 600 EUR

Lot 98 - A CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL ‘MAGPIES AND CAMELLIA’ BOX AND COVER, LATE 18TH TO MID-19TH CENTURY - A CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL ‘MAGPIES AND CAMELLIA’ BOX AND COVER, LATE 18TH TO MID-19TH CENTURY China. Of circular cushion form, supported on a short straight foot. Finely decorated in bright enamels to the domed cover with a central medallion depicting two magpies amid leafy blossoming camellia against a black ground, surrounded by a band of leafy flowering angel’s trumpet and butterflies, repeated on the sides of the box, the gilt rims framed by bands of ruyi heads, the foot encircled by scrolling vines. Provenance: London trade. Acquired from an old collection. Condition: Good condition with minor wear, few small cracks with losses to the interior and exterior, few minor fills, small dents, pitting, nicks, and light scratches. Weight: 386.8 g Dimensions: Diameter 12.5 cm Literature comparison: Compare a related larger cloisonné box with cover, similarly decorated with a central medallion depicting birds and flowers, albeit on a red ground, dated to the 18th century, 21.8 cm diameter, in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, accession number 2014.136.FA,B. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams Bruun Rasmussen, Copenhagen, 29 November 2022, lot 25 Price: DKK 20,000 or approx. EUR 2,800 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A Chinese cloisonné-enamel 'lotus pond' box and cover. Qing, Late 18th/early 19th century. Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and decoration with similar central black-ground medallion. Note the larger size (20.5 cm).

Estim. 300 - 600 EUR

Lot 99 - A CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL TRIPOD BASIN, QING DYNASTY - A CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL TRIPOD BASIN, QING DYNASTY China, 1644-1912. The deep rounded sides supported on three cabriole legs decorated with beast masks, the sides set with two gilt lion masks suspending loose ring handles below the gilt everted rim, the interior finely decorated in bright enamels to the interior with a front-facing five-clawed dragon writhing around a flaming pearl amid swirling clouds as well as dense scrolling vines bearing flowers and gourds, framed by a ruyi-head border below the rim, the exterior sides with further dragons pursuing the pearl, and the underside with a central stylized flowerhead and further scrolling vines, all against a bright turquoise ground. Provenance: From a private estate in Vienna, Austria. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, warping, few minor fills, light scratches, and nicks. Weight: 2.9 kg Dimensions: Diameter 36.5 cm Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Christie’s Paris, 10 December 2020, lot 10 Price: EUR 8,750 or approx. EUR 9,900 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A cloisonné enamel dish, China 17th century Expert remark: Compare the related form, decoration, and size (33.8 cm). Note the different feet. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Bukowskis, The Spring Classic Sale, Stockholm, sale number 568, lot 1505 Price: SEK 68,000 or approx. EUR 6,100 converted at the time of writing Description: A Cloisonné tripod basin, Qing dynasty (1644-1912) Expert remark: Compare the related form and decoration. Note the size (40 cm).

Estim. 1 000 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 100 - A PAIR OF TURQUOISE-INLAID CLOISONNE ENAMEL ‘PEACOCK’ CENSERS AND COVERS, QING DYNASTY - A PAIR OF TURQUOISE-INLAID CLOISONNE ENAMEL ‘PEACOCK’ CENSERS AND COVERS, QING DYNASTY China, 19th to early 20th century. Each modeled as a peacock standing on scaled legs with clawed feet on a craggy rockwork base, the head turned to one side with the beak slightly agape. Their eye-spotted trains finely worked in filigree and inlaid with turquoise, the crests similarly decorated. Their bodies and the bases finely decorated in bright enamels against a turquoise ground with stylized feathers in the form of archaistic scroll and hook-patterns, the wings detachable functioning as the covers. (2) Provenance: English trade. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and manufacturing irregularities. Minor nicks and losses to the enamel with associated old fills. Some turquoise inlays lost or replaced. Some of the wires bent or lost. Overall displaying remarkably well. Weight: 1,353 g and 1,368 g Dimensions: Height 35 cm (each) Incense burners in the form of peacocks are very rare. They form part of a small group of cloisonné birds from the Qianlong period, mostly intended for use as incense burners, which are notable for their unusually naturalistic detailing and poses. Peacocks were considered auspicious birds, and it is known that such birds were kept by the Qianlong Emperor in the palace grounds. A large hanging scroll entitled Qianlong guan kong que kai ping (‘Emperor Qianlong watching the Peacock in its pride’), dated to the cyclical wuyin year (1758), depicts a scene of the seated Emperor observing peacocks in the imperial gardens. See The Complete Collection of the Treasures of the Palace Museum, Paintings of the Court Artists of the Qing Court, Hong Kong, 1996, pp. 194-195. The inscription on the painting recorded by the Emperor indicates that peacocks were sent as tributary gifts from foreign dignitaries. The Emperor further noted on the painting that when at leisure he took pleasure in watching these curious birds sway their bodies around the palace grounds; that he admired their beautiful feathers; and that, after five years of nurture, the birds had learned to fan their tails. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s London, 11 September 2008, lot 143 Price: GBP 5,000 or approx. EUR 10,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A pair of Chinese cloisonne models of peacocks, late 19th/early 20th century Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and decoration with similar use of filigree and inlays. Note the size (51.5 cm).

Estim. 500 - 1 000 EUR

Fine Asian Art Summer Sale

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