Back into the light: Chinese art collection comes out of storage and heads to auction block
21 October 2024 A large collection of Chinese art which has been held in storage for a century is being offered at auction house Roseberys.
This Chinese apple-green glazed baluster snuff bottle, suffused with a network of dark crackles, is catalogued as Qing dynasty, 19th century. It is estimated at £200-300 at the Roseberys sale. View the catalogue entry for this Chinese snuff bottle.
The collection will be dispersed in a two-part sale on October 29. The first part features 31 select lots with the second part comprising 189 lots which are a bit more affordable.
Featuring primarily 18th and 19th century porcelain and enamel, the collection was amassed by a British industrialist travelling throughout the Far East in the first quarter of the 20th century. Spending a total of seven years living in China at a time when much of the Imperial collection broken up and dispersed, he sent his purchases back to his UK country house where they were immediately put in storerooms.
Roseberys’ head of department Bill Forrest was first invited to view the collection in situ in 2021. He vividly recalls the moment he was shown the storerooms where, on rows of shelves, stacks of fine Qing dynasty porcelain had gathered dust since the 1920s.
“It was a privilege to be invited to inspect the collection. I was rendered speechless. It was not just the quantity of material but the number of exceptional pieces – and I was one of the few people to see them in around 100 years.”
While the top lots in the part one sale are four Chinese Imperial yangcai yellow-ground 'floral' bowls which will be offered separately with estimates of 60,000-80,000 and a pair of Chinese Imperial zitan and reverse painted glass hanging lanterns and stands which are pitched at £80,0000-120,000, there are plenty of works offered at levels much further down the price scale.
Here are five lots pitched at under £1000 which caught our eye.
1. Famille rose teapot
This Chinese underglaze blue and famille rose teapot is painted to each side with a harbour scene. Catalogue as Qing dynasty, 18th century, it is estimated at £200-400 at the Roseberys sale. View the catalogue entry for this Chinese teapot.
2. Painted tea bowls
This pair of Chinese painted enamel tea bowls are decorated with ‘European’ subjects. Catalogued as Qing dynasty, 18th century, they have lavender enamel interiors and floral marks to base. At the Roseberys sale of the single-owner collection, it is estimated at £500-800. View the catalogue entry for these Chinese tea bowls.
3. Blue and white jar
This Chinese blue and white jar, which is catalogued as Qing dynasty, 18th century, is painted with birds among pierced rockwork issuing floral sprays. With an underglaze blue double circle mark to base and a carved wood cover, it is estimated at £600-800 at Roseberys. View the catalogue entry for this Chinese blue and white jar.
4. Oviform lanterns
This pair of Chinese famille verte on biscuit 'Eight Immortals' lanterns and stands are catalogued as Qing dynasty, 19th century. They are estimated at £700-1000 at Roseberys. View the catalogue entry for these oviform lanterns.
5. Snuff bottle
This Chinese apple-green glazed baluster snuff bottle, suffused with a network of dark crackles, is catalogued as Qing dynasty, 19th century. It is estimated at £200-300 at the Roseberys sale. View the catalogue entry for this Chinese snuff bottle.
