PHILADELPHIA, PA.- Freeman’s Asian Arts auction, Friday March 16th, brings together nearly 600 lots representing Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Southeast Asian works of art, and is scheduled to coincide with Asia Week in New York City.

With the world’s attention focused on South Korea, Freeman’s offers its own salute to the culture of Korea. A highlight of the sale is the group of Korean celadons, buncheong stonewares, and blue and white porcelains from a private Florida collection, representing seven centuries of Korean ceramic arts. Korean potters developed celadon-glazed wares in the 12th and 13th centuries, including unique pieces inlaid with black and white slip, which later developed into “buncheong” stonewares. The auction includes an unusual and appealing example of a celadon floriform bowl from the 12th century (Lot 133, estimate $1,000-1,500), incised and inlaid with the auspicious motif of boys and lotus, and delicately carved on the exterior with further lotus sprays, signifying wishes for a multitude of descendants. While the form may stem from the ceramics of the Tang and northern Song dynasties of China, and the motifs from the molded bowls of the Yaozhou kilns, the final product is wholly Korean

The 18th and 19th centuries were the age of blue and white porcelain in Korea, distinct in form and decoration from the porcelains of China and Japan. An 18th century faceted bottle vase (Lot 141, estimate $18,000-22,000), delicately painted with deer and bamboo, serves to illustrate an earlier, more austere trend, while the rare 18th century ring-form water dropper (Lot 145, estimate $3,000-5,000) displays the more elaborate elegance of a slightly later period. A boldly formed and decorated “Dragon” jar, 18th/early 19th century (Lot 144, estimate $10,000-15,000) evokes the vitality and vigor of its age.

The auction will also feature a broad selection of Japanese arts, including works being sold to benefit the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia, many of which were formerly in the Philadelphia Commerce Museum, such as the unusual “National Anthems” porcelain bowl (Lot 116, estimates $500-700) , and a Yayoi-style bronze bell (Lot 96, estimate $1,500-2,500).

Additional Japanese works from the estate of Jerry Ettelman serve as a counterpoint and illustrate the aesthetics of wabicha, the elegant, austere form of the Japanese tea ceremony where the passage of time, inspired juxtaposition, and rough simplicity are valued. The Ettelman collection includes chaire (tea caddies), Chinese, Japanese, and Korean tea bowls, dishes, and accessories ranging from the 8th through the 19th century, such as the glazed pottery kogo in the manner of Ogata Kenzan (Lot 80, $400-600), and a group of three Jian-type stoneware tea bowls formerly in the “Sze Yuan Tang” collection of Anthony Hardy (Lot 294, estimate $2,000-3,000).

Additional Japanese works from other collections include a fine group of lacquers, a rare late 17th/early 18th century Kakiemon style porcelain large bowl (Lot 60, $1,000-1,500), and woodblock prints and paintings.

Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian works include sculptures formerly in the collection of Louis and Annette Kauffman, Tibetan thanka and 12th-16th century Southeast Asian ceramics from a Pennsylvania private collection. This Pennsylvania collection also includes a number of Chinese ceramics dating from the Song to Ming periods, including a Chinese Dingyao “Lotus” bowl from the Song dynasty featuring an interior incised with twin fish (Lot 274, $4,000-6,000).

In addition to Chinese ceramics, there will also be a wide array of Chinese works of art, textiles, furniture, sculpture and paintings. These include Qing dynasty carved jades and hardstones from a southeastern Pennsylvania collection, assembled prior to 1970.

Paintings will include landscapes by Li Xiongcai (Lot576, estimate $15,000-25,000) and Bai Xueshi (Lot 577, estimate $40,000-60,000), and a portrait of a young woman by Deng Jianjin (Lot 581, estimate $10,000-15,000).

“This is a large sale with broad diversity of interesting and attractive works from great sources,” said Ben Farina, Head of Asian Arts. “There are works to appeal to the both beginning and advanced collectors, it’s well worth the attention of collectors, decorators and dealers across many fields.”