NEW YORK, NY.- Bonhams presented 50 years of Chinese Export Porcelain from the renowned gallery Cohen & Cohen on January 24 in New York. The 155 lots featured the best examples from the unique category that artistically fuses Western aesthetic with Chinese craftsmanship. The sale made a total of US$1,740,000 with 85% sold by lot and 98% by value.
Highlights from the sale include:
• A furry of bidding for the ‘US Hong at Canton’ documentary bowl finally achieved US$138,900, well above its estimate of US$60,000 - 80,000. The bowl is an important record of a short period of time through its British and Dutch flags, a pentimento of the American flag in its prior location, as well as the Philippine flag for The Real Compañia de Fliipinas (Royal Philippine Company).
• Over three times its estimate, a pair of famille rose 'reclining ladies' (circa 1750) sold for US$75,900. The figures suggestion of pregnancy is further indicated through the Chinese metaphor that reading a book nourishes the growth of ideas in the mind, like a child developing in the womb.
• Reaching above its estimate at US$62,100, was a ‘Phoenix’ saucer dish (AD 1594), which is considered a remarkable discovery with little precedent for a documentary dish like this.
• A rose-verte circular charger (Yongzheng period, 1723-35) sold for US$21,600, The sheer size and splendid decorative qualities of this brilliantly enameled charger explain why the finest famille rose porcelains caused a sensation when they begin to arrive in Europe after 1700.
• A standing figure of a European Lady (Qianlong period, circa 1740), sold for US$88,500. This very rare large figure is modeled after an earlier print by Casper Luyken that illustrated figures in 17th century Jewish costumes.
• Three massive blue and white ‘peacock’ charges (Kangxi period, circa 1700), sold for US$40,600. These elaborate and high-quality chargers are fine examples of pieces that were very popular for displays in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, often in special rooms called 'porcelain cabinets'.
