On March 19 Christie’s series of three sales devoted to the arts of China will offer a range of important sculpture, ceramics, furniture, snuff bottles, and imperial textiles.

Two single owner sales will start the day, beginning with The Imperial Wardrobe: Fine Chinese Costume and Textiles from the Linda Wrigglesworth Collection and The Meriem Collection, Part II: Important Chinese Snuff Bottles (separate releases available). The day will conclude with Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, which will offer over 370 lots and expects to realize in excess of $11 million.

The Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art sale features amongst its highlights, two rare and important gilt-bronze figures. An elegant figure of a seated bodhisattva is among the finest extant Five Dynasties/Liao gilt bronzes, and represents either an incarnation of Avalokitesvara (Guanyin) , the most popular and venerated Buddhist deity of the period, or Maitreya, the ‘future Buddha’ (estimate: $1,000,000-1,500,000). The figure’s unusually large size, excellent quality of casting and complex treatment of the drapery and headdress make it one of the finest luxury commissions technically attempted in the 10th or 11th century. Another highlight is a remarkably well-preserved large gilt-bronze figure of Manjusri, the embodiment of the Perfection of Wisdom (estimate: $1,000,000-1,500,000).

Auction: Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 19 March at 2:30

Viewing: Christie’s Rockefeller Galleries 14-18 March

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium

Posted: 02|17|08 at 10:52 am. Filed under: US News.