“ANTIQUE READERS”  FIRST ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL AUCTION 9/07

To celebrate their One Year Anniversary, Antique Reader Auction has assembled a high-end sale of 3-400 lots of fine Chinese Art and Antiques. As usual, the auction starts off with 30 lots of assorted snuff bottles,  $300-2000, and quickly proceeds to a collection of exceptional Jade objects. These include a pair of rare 3” high jade bowls with carved floral relief, estimated at $20-30,000, a 19th century Celadon Jade Camel seated on its original teakwood stand, estimated at $10-15,000 and a magnificent pair of 23” tall jadeite Phoenix Birds, lavishly carved with peonies and berries, estimated at $8-12,000.

Also in jade is the massive 22” tall x 16” wide Spinach Jade Censer, intricately carved in archaic style with lion and Buddha finial, decommissioned from the St. Petersburg Museum in Florida, and listed at $10-15,000.  Among other censers are a bronze 19^thc. burner with Fu Dog Qi Lin finial and Dragon handles, estimated at $2-2500 and a Ming Dynasty bronze Ding censer with Chon Zhen mark, priced at $8-12,000.

Among a host of cloisonné objects, the standout is a spectacular pair of 19^th c. Cloisonné Stickers, each with flaming Mandoria and relief decoration on a vivid turquoise ground. One shows a horse supporting a vase, the other a seated Buddha; together they should bring $20-30,000. Other cloisonné objects include a 19^th c. oval box with white jade cabochon top carved with figures in a landscape, $4-5000, and a pair of 20” high Qing Dynasty Emperor Kesi framed cloisonné panels on Hong Mu rosewood stand, estimated at $12-18,000.

Antique Reader is offering a large selection of quality silver including a rare pair of 19^th c. 15” tall silver vases intricately carved with pavilion scenes of pagodas and scholars, selling for $25,000-35,000. A ravishing 19^th c. silver and bronze molded mirror with inlaid carved jade panel, surrounded by inlaid colored stones, is listed at $4-6000. And for the indulgent, a sterling dust pan/shovel set is listed at $2-4,000.  For celebrating, there is a silver dragon relief martini shaker with four cups at $1-1200. For sheer beauty, there is a multi-colored silver and enamel 19^th c. Republic Period Fan, $3-4000. Also from the Republic Period is a cinnabar Lacquer Screen with carved figures in a landscape, $7-10,000.

A rare Chinese Culture Revolution Panel, 27” high x 18 ½” wide, heavily carved with dozens of revolutionary figures in gilt gesso, is estimated at  $6-8000. Some other unusual items include a finely carved flamboyant  Red Coral “Three Beauties with Boy” on a hardwood stand $4-6000, only 7 ¾” high and a 17^th/18^th c. carved Turquoise Boulder Scholar, $4-7000, only 3 ½” high.

There can’t be a proper Chinese auction without a collection of fine porcelain: among dozens of superb vases, bowls and chargers, the highlights are a 17^th c.  WuCai vase in red and green enamel with panels of submerged fish and borders of lotus flowers, peonies, chrysanthemums and dragons, estimated at $5-7000 and a 3 foot tall vase decorated with relief vases, flowers, & butterflies floating on a deep yellow ground, estimated at $5-8000.

Filling in the rest of the sale are the typical array of Buddhas and Guanyins in bronze, porcelain and jadeite, Chinese brush pots and washers, silver and famille rose teapots, and an assortment of jewelry including jadite bangles, pendants, necklaces, rings and watches. This celebratory sale takes place Friday, September 7^th at 12 noon, 3906 Crescent St., Long Island City. The entire catalog can be seen on liveauctioneers.com.  For further info email admin@antiquereader.com, phone 888 788 6214 or check www.antiquereader.com.

Antique Reader June 3rd 2012

              Antique Reader’s June 3^rd sale in Long Island City will showcase 500 lots of top quality antique Asian jade, porcelain, bone, jewelry, art and furniture.  Synonymous with Chinese porcelain is Famille Rose China, first produced at the beginning of the Qing Dynasty using an overglaze technique that emphasized rose and ruby colors but also encompassed other hues. Among a diverse collection of vases, bowls, jars, etc. is a rare pair of Yong Zheng Famille Rose dishes with Cherry Blossom decorations estimated at $10,000-15,000.

            As always there are many Buddhas in many mediums, sizes and styles including two unusual examples, one a finely cast large 16^th c. 15 ½” high bronze Buddha estimated at $30,000-40,000 and the other, a Southeastern many armed 33” tall Indian Shiva, estimated at $8000-12,000. Among several Guan Yin & Kuan Yin figures are a large Blanc de Chine, a 19^th c. carved Crystal and an especially rare 18^th century bronze 19” figure estimated at $20,000-35,000. Highlights of dozens of quality jade pieces to be auctioned are an 18^th C. 2 ½” Chinese White Jade paper-weights in the form of a dove selling for $10,000-$15,000 and “Mountain Landscape” composed of intricately carved trees, animals, peoples and a shrine expected to bring between $10,000-20,000. Other interesting pieces include an 18^th c. Jade plaque, $2000-5000 and an intricately carved vessel at $3-5000. Jadeite objects include a pair of 19^th c. carved vases, 5-10,000 and an unusual pair of lavender jadeite birds estimated at  $1500-2500.

Antique Reader always comes up with a fine collection of jewelry and in this case there are jade and jadeite beads, bangles, pendants, buckles, earrings and several jadeite gold rings, $1000-2500, a 1.58 diamond 14k ring $2000-4000 and a spectacular GIA accredited  green jadeite 18K white gold ring and earring set estimated at $5000-7000. The auction will include a larger than usual collection of painted scrolls, some on paper, some on silk, of immortals, landscapes, tigers, butterflies,  etc.  Of special interest is the 79 inch high “Beauty” in colored ink that is expected to bring between $8000 and 12,000. Other artworks include a signed painting by Xie Zhi, $2-4000, a Tibetan Tanka, and Japanese oils of Geishas and Pigeons. A Chinese auction wouldn’t be complete without an array of cloisonné objects and here we have censers, vases, tea pots, bowls, moon flasks and dishes reasonably estimated from $300 to $2000 Rounding out the sale is a collection of Chinese brush pots such as the wood 18^th c. Huang Hua Li estimated at $2000-5000 and a small collection of Chinese silver including 19^th c. baskets and teapots, a bamboo designed export tea set with tray, an unusual silver sleeping Buddha, and several silver overlay perfume and snuff bottles. According to its owner, Kalu Wu, this may be one of the finest auctions they have put together since their opening sale in September. Antique Reader is located at 3906 Crescent Street, LIC and can be reached by phone at 888 788 6244 or email admin@antiquereader.com. To view the catalog, check liveauctioneers.com or www.antiquereader.com.

Antique Reader April 8th 2012

ANTIQUE READER’S EARLY SPRING SALE—A “BLOOMIN” SUCCESS

Even though Antique Reader’s early Springsale was on April 8^th, the Easter Sunday holiday, it drew the largest crowd since their first auction in September.  The sale grossed $360,000 with a majority of the 400 lots of art and antiques selling through “liveauctioneers” and, not surprisingly, most going to China. There was also a lot of brisk bidding on the floor and by phone.

Some highlights of the 400 lot sale included a wide assortment of Buddhas in many such mediums as bronze, porcelain and jade. Among the  rarest was a Ming Dynasty bronze Guan Yin Buddha “Riding a Beast” that was hammered down at $6000 and a bronze Buddha with “Parrot,” that brought $8500.  Likewise, Chinese censers came in many different styles and materials, with a pair of carved jadeite tripod censers on stands hitting $9,000.

In the realm of paintings and prints the auction’s “sleeper” was an album of paintings by the Chinese artist Ba Da Shan Ren, that after ferocious bidding between a Hong Kong phone bidder and the internet, sold for $40,000, forty times it’s low estimate of $1000.

Because of the importance of calligraphy in Chinese art, and unique to their culture as an art form in itself, Chinese artists have produced what they call “brush washers and brush pots,” the latter being deep round pots, in an infinite variety of mediums and designs, now desired as collectibles. Antique Reader featured over a dozen, ranging from a bulbous shaped pot with turquoise ground enamel and pink flowers, to a rare Zitan pot incised with a poem. Among several wood versions was a signed heavily carved Zitan pot depicting an old man, woman and boy in a forest, which made $3500 and a large Huang Hua Li which sold for $5000.

Among the many exquisite cloisonee vases, ink boxes, and bowls was an unusually large 18^th century gilt censer in bright turquoise tones, that soared past it’s low $15,000 estimate to reach $25,000.

A substantial portion of the sale showcased an array of classic porcelain Chinese vases, plates, teapots, bowls and snuff bottles and included a blue and white Kanxi Period Yen Yen vase that brought $4250 and a pair of vases with iron red lion-head handles and scenes of immortals in a garden of flowers and pine trees that sold for $2600.

Quality jewelry is always desirable and here included several white jade bangles, antique amber necklaces and jadeite/pearl pendants, etc.  Going to the internet was a stunning jadeite 18K ring surrounded by fine diamonds that reached $10,000. A rare, finely carved gilt silver hand mirror inset with colorful jewels was hammered down at $6500.

All the above prices are before the 20% buyer’s fee. Antique Reader is now accepting consignments for their May auction. For further information please contact Kalu or Will at 888 788-6244 or email admin@antiquereader.com. They are located at 3906 Crescent Street, Long Island City.  Do check their web “news” site at antiquereader.com for updates about upcoming auctions.