Jade hardstone carvings and Chinese ceramics, paintings and calligraphy on offer at Bonhams

SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- Bonhams announced its fall Asian Decorative Arts sale in San Francisco, December 11. The auction, in conjunction with the important biannual sale of Fine Asian Works of Art, to be offered December 10, is designed to meet a wide range of collecting tastes and budgets.

The more than 600 pieces of Chinese, Japanese and other Asian Works of art are obtained from various sources, including private collectors, estates and institutions from throughout the United States. All of the traditionally popular categories will be well-represented.

Jade lovers shall not be disappointed. A noteworthy lot among the nearly 100 jade and hardstone carvings is a large jade censer with dragon decoration of the 20th century (est. $6,000-8,000).

A group of Chinese ceramics from a focused private Cleveland collector will be on offer. This devoted collector managed to acquire a nearly complete historical and stylistic survey of the art of the Chinese potter. A good example from the collection is an 11th/12th century Jianyao teabowl (est. $2,000-3,000).

Pu Quan (1913-1991), Two paintings of Horses and Grooms. A pair of hanging scrolls, each ink and color on silk; the first dated renxu zhi dong (winter of 1982) and signed Aixin Jueluo Pu Quan with three seals of the artist reading Songchuang and Aixin Jueluo Pu Quan zi Songchuan shuhua yin; the second inscribed with a two-line poem and signed Pu Songchuang with three seals of the artist reading Pu Songchuang yin, Xuexi, and Aixin Jueluo Pu Quan zi Songchuan shuhua yin. 12 1/2 x 15 1/2in (31.8 x 39.4cm) each. Est. $2,000-3,000. Photo: Courtesy of Bonhams.

Besides porcelains and jades, there are numerous scholars’ objects for the literatus in all of us: brush pots, censers, Buddhist figures and water coupes in every medium imaginable. Notable is a hardwood scroll pot, which is a selection of Property from the Reimann Collection of Asian Art (est. $3,000-5,000).

The ever-popular Chinese painting section includes 46 lots of paintings and calligraphy works from late Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as fine works by established 20th century artists. Highlights include two paintings depicting horses and groom by Pu Quan (1913-1991), estimated at $2,000-3,000, and a figural painting by the 18th century painter Li Can. The estimate for that piece is very conservatively set at $800-1,200.

One of the most intriguing lots in the sale is a blue and white glazed porcelain vase, Tianqiuping, from the late Qing dynasty (est. $15,000-25,000). The piece hails from the Estate of George Edwin Burnell, a noted scholar of mysticism.

Bonhams looks forward to seeing all interested parties at the sale. Its illustrated catalogue will be available online in the preceding weeks, for review and purchase at www.bonhams.com.

Auction Preview: December 7-9, San Francisco
Auction: December 11, San Francisco