Skinner, Inc. one of the world’s leading auction houses for antiques and fine art, today announced it will host an auction of Asian Works of Art on Friday, June 25th and Saturday, June 26th in the Boston gallery. The sale boasts more than 1,700 works to be offered over the two days.
Featured is the personal collection of the late Charles J. Chu, admired professor, painter, calligrapher, curator, scholar, and educator. Chu taught at Yale for fifteen years before establishing and directing the Chinese program at Connecticut College, one of the first to focus not just on language, but on politics, culture and art. He later acted as founding curator of the Chu-Griffis Asian Art Collection at Connecticut College. Well over 100 pieces go up for bid from the collection including works done by Qi Baishi, Huang Binhong, Zhang Daqian, Wang Yachen, Fu Xiaoshi, Pan Gongkai, Huang Zhou, Wang Fangyu, Wang Dongling and C.C. Wang.
The sale boasts a wonderful selection of Chinese Ceramics from the Han to Qing dynasty, including the cover lots, a blue and white moon flask from the Qianlong period, and a blue and white hu vase from the same period. Also to be offered is a yellow dragon square bowl from the Jiajing period and a large Huanghuali cabinet from the late Ming/early Qing dynasty. Hallmark Chinese jades and snuff bottles include a jade brush pot from the Qianlong period, and a jade peach coupe, 18th century.
Also being offered is an impressive life-size carved wood statue of Bonten, Japan, late 19th century, probably by Takamura Koun. The piece was given to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, by William Sturgis Bigelow in 1911, but was deaccessioned from the Museum in 1964 and has remained in a Massachusetts private collection ever since.
A fine selection of Korean ceramics from Koryo and Choson period will be available as will many pieces of Japanese netsuke from the late 18th and 19th century and Japanese and Chinese ivories. Highlights of ivories include a group of nine presentation ivories, Japan, early 20th century, from Taisho to Meiji emperor as a gift, dated January in the 43rd year of Meiji reign on the wood box, and a large ivory seal, China, probably Qianlong period, with script reading “Zhen Lu Yu Bao” (Imperial Treasure Protecting the Land).
Previews, Catalog and Bidding
Previews for the auction will be held on Thursday, June 24th from 12 to 5 p.m., on Friday, June 25th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Session I preview ends at 3 p.m. on Friday), and on Saturday, June 26th from 8 to 9 a.m. Illustrated catalog #2480 is available by mail for $35 ($42 for foreign requests) from the subscription department at 508-970-3240. It is also available at the gallery for $32. Prices realized will be available at www.skinnerinc.com during and after the sale. Skinner’s site also allows users to view all lots in the auctions, leave bids, order catalogs, and bid live in real-time through Skinner-Live. To register for real-time bidding go to http://www.skinnerinc.com/buy-sell/skinner-live.php. Or, for more information call 508-970-3000.
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