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.
A rare Chinese Longquan celadon guan-type octagonal stem cup,
probably Yuan-Ming dynasty (1279-1644). The octagonal flaring sides with an unglazed deity sculpted in relief to the exterior of each panel, incised florals to the interior. Supported on a spreading stem foot with incised long leaf forms and encircling narrow collar, and is covered overall with a clear glaze of pale olive tone.H.128mm. Provenance: Purchased by our vendor from Sotheby & Co. London auction 'Chinese Ceramics 8th July 1975' lot 92 for £480 . Copy of receipt available.
Realised: $13,000
A Chinese porcelain famille rose yellow ground 'magpie' dish,
the interior with multiple magpies amongst gnarly trees on striking thick yellow ground glaze, gilt rim. Tongzhi four-character mark in iron-red to the base. Dia.200mm.
Realised: $4,600
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
An old and well modelled bronze statue,
depicting the Zen Buddhist expression of spirit - Riding the Bull Home - a representation of the sixth of the ten stages on the bodhisattva-path. The artistically modelled and attractively patinated bronze ox walks homeward unfettered and obeying its rhythmic motion influencing the flute playing rider’s harmony. 1220 x 500 x 1120mm.
Realised: $4,200
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 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
A pair of 19thC Chinese bronze fu dogs,
raised on custom wood stands. H.220mm.
Realised: $2,200
A large Chinese carved three section tower,
raised on three legs with ball and claw feet and dragon faces to the top, the bottom section carved with a phoenix carrying deities in a forest to one side, the other side with musicians amongst the forest, the second section carved in an open, pierced pattern of vines with four dragon faces to the top holding captured ring handles in their teeth, the top section forms the lid carved into an adult foo dog with baby, the base section has a handle to each side carved in the form of a dragon with captured ring handles in the mouth, old damage. H.500mm.
Realised: $2,000