Oriental Art
National and international collectors have found Cordy’s to be the most favoured auction house to watch for a broad range of Chinese porcelains, jades, ivories, bronzes and wood. Items of quality and age are met by a knowledgeable audience in our rooms. We also specialise in Japanese ukiyo-e, scroll paintings, textiles, Peking glass and Chinese silver.
Chen Wen-hsi (Chinese 1906-1991) Untitled school of fish
watercolour and ink with white heightening, black ink painted and red ink impressed marks. Dia.425mm. Provenance: From the collection of Dr David (Auckland) & M Stephens based in Singapore c.1956 - 1975. A passionate and knowledgeable collector of jade, porcelain and Chinese items. Member of the South East Asian Ceramic Society. Purchased by them from an exhibition in Singapore c.1960's where it was featured. Research from our vendors family suggests that it is the artist's seal in red that is on the painting, and the three characters in the seal check out against other seals bearing those three characters of his name. The three characters are for chen, wen, and hsi. There are two characters in black above which also bear similarities to those on other paintings of his.
Realised: $7,500
A large transitional style underglaze blue cylindrical vase,
known in the West as a ‘sleeve’ or ‘Rolwagen’ vase and popularised in the 17th century. Decorated with figures and musicians, while one boy holds a fan, the washes of blue are in Chinese taste, as are the ‘anhua’ (secret decoration) bands top and bottom. The underside typically unglazed, a small patch of glaze possibly concealing a drill hole. H.418 mm. D.140 mm
Realised: $4,600
A good Chinese large porcelain brush pot,
the blue glaze highlighted with reserved Chinese characters, of Kangxi style. Metal protective top rim band. The unglazed partially recessed base with later Chinese inscription. H.160mm. Dia.190mm.
Realised: $3,200
A quality Chinese imperial palace type bowl,
the interior with floral sprays, the exterior panels decorated with pink sgrafitto. The base with underglaze blue six-character seal mark. Dia.153mm. Old label attached.
Realised: $2,700
A pair of 19thC finely carved brush pots,
carved with an encircling band of scholar and other figures within courtyard settings with buildings and trees within finely detailed borders. H.140mm. Raised on later ebonised stands. Provenance: Ex. our vendors great grandfather, Frederick Edward Hesse(1852-1922). He joined the British India Eastern Extension Company in 1873, becoming Manager and Secretary. He was part of an extensive tour of the Company’s stations, including cities in China. The Chinese government had conferred upon him the ‘Order of the Dragon’. The family presumed the vases were presented as a gift from the Chinese Government. He brought these with him when he moved to New Zealand to do post graduate studies in horticulture at Lincoln University in 1910.
Realised: $2,600
A 19thC netsuke of a group of biwa fruit,
as two large biwa joined by a smaller fruit and attached to a branch which forms himatoshi. Stained for effect, inscribed kosho ? L.47mm. Provenance: Purchased lot 883 ($275 U.S.) 'Japanese and Other Works of Art' June 1975. Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc. New York.
Realised: $2,400
A quality Chinese porcelain yuhuchunping vase,
decorated in underglaze blue with plantain and bamboo amongst rock work. The neck with leaf shaped lappets, the lower body with further bands of lappets and florets. The base with a six-character Guangxu reign mark, and a J.T. Tai label, a 1967 Dartington Hall exhibition label and an undecipherable collectors label. Supported on an ormolu mounted bronze stand. H.304mm including stand.
Realised: $2,300
An old carved wood netsuke of a starving wolf,
his front paw resting on a skull and his eyes inlaid with horn, inscribed Tomotada. Showing good old wear. L.55mm. Provenance: Purchased part lot 748 (2 items achieved $$400 U.S.) 'Japanese and Other Works of Art' June 1975. Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc. New York.
Realised: $2,200
A pair of 19thC Chinese bronze fu dogs,
raised on custom wood stands. H.220mm.
Realised: $2,200
An old wood netsuke study of dragon and pumpkin,
showing the dragon with inlaid yellow amber eye, half emerged from the stippled fruit, the stalk forming the himotoshi, (cracked) signed Toyomasa (Hidari). Provenance: Purchased lot 761 $375U.S. 'Japanese and Other Works of Art' June 1975. Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc. New York.
Realised: $2,200