Approximately 1,200 high-quality lots of Asian antiques, most of them Chinese and all of them highly collectible, will be sold at a mammoth four-day auction planned for March 16-19 by Elite Decorative Arts. The auction will be held at the firm’s gallery in the Quantum Town Center, located at 1034 Gateway Boulevard in Boynton Beach.
The timing of the sale is key. It is being held during Asia Week, a hugely popular annual event that is centered in New York City and should attract the attention of bidders worldwide. Interest in, and appreciation of, Asian culture and Asian objects is at a peak during Asia Week (March 15-23).
“We expect that this will be our largest Asian sale ever,” said Scott Cieckiewicz of Elite Decorative Arts. “It features a magnificent array of Asian antiques, to include jade, ivory, coral, rhinoceros, porcelain, stone carvings, fine jewelry, cloisonné, silver and more. We’ve front-loaded the best items into the first two days, but all four days will feature quality merchandise.”
Previews will be held on Friday, March 15, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday through Tuesday, March 16-19 (auction days), from 11 a.m. until the first gavel comes down at 1 p.m. Phone and absentee bids will be accepted and online bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com and Artfact.com. “We’ve been saving our best Asian lots for this auction,” Cieckiewicz said.
The expected top lot of the sale is an 18th or 19th century figural lotus form rhinoceros horn libation cup with vine and leaves handle (est. $150,000 to $200,000). The cup, 5.75 inches tall, includes a fitted water form Zitan wood base and is from the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty period. It shows a high relief snail carved on the cup’s interior and has a total horn weight of 345 grams.
Chinese hand-carved red coral groups are a big hit with collectors. This sale has several, including a large group showing two maidens holding sheng and pipa instruments, on a rock form base with high relief flowers and a fitted wooden base; and a large and impressive depiction of two Guanyin with flowers throughout, with a fitted wooden base (both est. $40,000 to $60,000).
Bidder interest should be keen for a pair of fine Chinese relief-carved and pierced pale green translucent hetian jade incense holders, each having a continuous scholar’s mountain landscape scene depicting pagodas, rock formations, trees, waterfalls and bridges (est. $40,000 to $60,000). The holders both sport spinach jade bases and covers and each stands 9.5 inches tall.
Two Chinese scroll paintings are expected to command attention. One is a Zhang Da Qian scroll depicting a Guanyin carrying a vessel on a platter. The other is a Li Chan scroll painting of a landscape scene with deer. Both have calligraphy poems on the upper left, with signed red seals. Both are expected to go for $40,000 to $50,000.
All purchases will be subject to a 15 percent buyer’s premium (for in-house and phone bids) or 18 percent if bidding online. Elite Decorative Arts is now accepting consignments for its Fine Decorative Arts Sale (April 13). The next Asian auction will be held in June. To consign an item or collection, call (800) 991-3340 or e-mail to info@eliteauction.com.
To learn more about Elite Decorative Arts and the March 16-19 auction, visit www.eliteauction.com. Photos of the lots being sold are already posted.
