Our Head of Asian Art, Luke Guan, highlights some key pieces for those seeking to collect Asian and Fine Chinese Art.
Sydney has long been a cornerstone of Australia’s Asian art market, boasting a rich tradition of Asian art collecting. Each of our major Fine Chinese and Asian Art auctions have featured numerous remarkable and significant pieces sourced from Sydney’s most discerning collectors. As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Leonard Joel’s Sydney office, I have selected four outstanding pieces sourced from Sydney in our most recent Asian Art auction (August, 2024). I am delighted to share these exceptional works with you and highlight why they are incredible items for collection.
A VERY RARE CHINESE IMPERIAL DOUCAI DISH, CHENGHUA SIX-CHARACTER MARK AND OF THE PERIOD (1465-1487)
Sold for $100,000
The first item I would like to recommend for your collection is this imperial Chenghua-mark and period doucai small dish. Chenghua imperial wares are already extremely rare, and doucai porcelain pieces are even rarer. Doucai is an exceptionally intricate porcelain decorative technique that involves multiple steps: after the body of the vessel is formed, the decorative outline is first painted in underglaze blue, followed by the application of a transparent glaze and firing at high temperature. Subsequently, the design is filled in with overglaze enamels and fired again at a lower temperature. This technique is highly complex and has an extremely low yield of successful pieces. Doucai was first created during the Xuande period of the Ming dynasty and reached its peak during the Chenghua period. Later doucai pieces from subsequent dynasties have never surpassed the quality of those from the Chenghua period.
By the late Ming dynasty, Chenghua doucai wares had already become highly sought-after treasures among princes, aristocrats, and literati, with prices reaching astronomical levels. Today, they are even more valuable. For example, Sotheby’s Hong Kong auctioned a well-preserved Chenghua doucai cup in April 2014, which fetched HKD 280 million, approximately AUD 56 million at the time.
Although this Chenghua doucai small dish was broken and restored, it remains exceptionally rare and precious. Moreover, it boasts an outstanding provenance, having been part of the Raymond and Victoria Tregaskis Oriental Art collection. It was exhibited in their Seven Centuries of Chinese Porcelain exhibition from May 24 to June 16, 2000, and is published in the catalogue of the same exhibition.
A RARE AND FINE CHINESE DING WHITE GLAZED VASE, SONG DYNASTY (960-1279)
Sold for $30,000
This Ding ware, white-glazed bottle vase is a standout piece that I highly recommend for collectors. Ding ware, celebrated as one of the Five Great Wares of the Song Dynasty (alongside Ru, Guan, Ge, and Jun kilns), originated from present-day Quyang, Hebei Province. Renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship, Ding wares were so esteemed that the imperial court regularly commissioned pieces for official use.
This vase exemplifies the refined simplicity admired by Song dynasty literati and scholar-officials. Its elegant, flowing curves and understated design reflect the aesthetic ideals of the time, while its glaze, as radiant as silver and as pristine as snow, showcases the unparalleled skill of Ding kiln artisans.
The provenance of this piece further enhances its significance. It was acquired in 2002, by the prominent Reid Family of Sydney, obtained from the distinguished Australian Asian art dealers Raymond and Victoria Tregaskis Oriental Art. In addition, it was loaned for to the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 2003, cementing its status as a piece of historic and artistic importance.
A CHINESE IMPERIAL BLUE-GROUND SILK ‘DRAGON’ ROBE, JIFU, QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY
Sold for $10,000
This mid-Qing dynasty, imperial blue-ground, silk ‘dragon’ robe (jifu), is an exceptionally beautiful piece, making it a rare treasure for collectors of traditional Chinese garments. The deep blue ground piece, adorned with five-clawed dragon motifs, signifies that this robe was worn by the emperor during heavenly rituals.
The robe features nine, five-clawed dragons, masterfully embroidered in couched gold thread. Two dragons on the front and back are depicted clutching flaming pearls, while the others are shown reaching for them amidst ruyi-shaped clouds. These are interspersed with the symbolic attributes of the Eight Daoist Immortals and bats, all set above a terrestrial diagram and lishui (wave) stripes, separated by additional clouds and rolling waves. The intricate patterns continue on the borders, collar, and cuffs, creating a harmonious and majestic composition.
One distinctive feature of this robe is the six embroidered peonies on the lishui stripe along the front hem, a detail rarely seen in similar garments. The robe is crafted from premium materials, with vibrant colors and finely executed embroidery that remain remarkably well-preserved. This piece is not only an outstanding example of Qing imperial textiles but also holds significant historical, cultural, and artistic value, making it an exceptional addition to any collection.
A RARE CHINESE BRONZE SEAL IN THE FORM OF A BUDDHIST LION, LATE MING -EARLY QING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY
Sold for $7,500
This exceptionally rare, early Qing dynasty bronze seal is masterfully cast, depicting a lion twisting its head with its flowing mane cascading over its flank, playing with a brocade ball while seated on a pierced square base. The gilt seal face is inscribed with eight characters in both Han Chinese and Manchu scripts: ‘Jun Zi Dao Zhang, Qi Xuan Yuan Ji’. This phrase, drawn from the I Ching, translates to: ‘A gentleman must constantly introspect and remain vigilant throughout the day to gather auspiciousness and avoid misfortune.’
The appearance of both Manchu and Han Chinese scripts on the same seal is extraordinarily rare, signifying its high status. The gilt surface of the seal face further indicates its significance, suggesting it may have been a personal leisure seal (xianzhang) of an early Qing emperor.
This seal originally belonged to the esteemed Dick and Lillian Diamond Collection, having been passed down through their family from a relative who served in the British Navy around the time of the Boxer Rebellion. The Diamonds themselves later served in the diplomatic corps in Beijing during the early 1950s.
Interestingly, when discovered by Raymond and Victoria Tregaskis, the seal had been repurposed as the knob of an English hardwood cigar box lid. Upon carefully removing it from the box, they uncovered the gilt seal face with its dual inscriptions, revealing its true historical and cultural significance. This seal is not only a testament to extraordinary craftsmanship but also holds immense historical, cultural, and artistic value.
By Luke Guan, Head of Asian Art
Top Image: A Rare and Fine Chinese Ding White Glazed Vase, Song Dynasty (960-1279) Sold for $37,500
A Rare and Fine Chinese Longquan Guan Celadon Glazed Vessel, Zhadou, Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) Sold for $31,250
A Chinese Longquan Celadon Handled Cup, Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) Sold for $20,000
February 2025