Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History & Coins

Modelled in the round as a lady in floor-length robes with hands crossed at the chest, toes of her slippers protruding at the base, black headdress. 565 grams, 21.6 cm



Ex West Country collection, 1990s.

Comprising a shallow bowl with a lakeside scene showing a fisherman on the foreground, two floating junks on the lake and buildings in the distance; the bowl with a painted scene of a man riding a buffalo and leading another one on a tether, a tree and flowers to the field, repaired. 85 grams total, 7.3-10.6 cm



Ex Sotheby's, Amsterdam, 29-31 January 2007. Accompanied by an illustrated information sheet about the Ca Mau shipwreck.

The Ca Mau shipwreck refers to a cargo of Chinese porcelain sunk between 1723 and 1735 off the coast of Vietnam. The wreck was discovered by Vietnamese fishermen in 1998. It is believed the wreck was a merchant’s junk on its way from Canton (Guangzhou) to Batavia when it caught fire and sank. The ship was carrying goods destined for Dutch traders who had limited access to China and its ports.

Comprising three bowls, one footed with scroll decoration to the outer face; one with tendrils to both faces and decorative border to the outer face; one with dashes and concentric circles; a lidded cylindrical box; two bowls repaired and box lid chipped. 762 grams total, 7.4-14 cm



Ex Nagel Auction, with official Tek Sing Treasure labels to verso. Accompanied by an illustrated information sheet about the Tek Sing shipwreck.

The Tek Sing (True Star) wreck is one of the famous recovery stories of the 20th century. Sailing from the port of Xiamen (then known as Amoy) in February 1822 the vessel Tek Sing was bound for Jakarta, Indonesia laden with porcelain goods and 1600 Chinese emigrants. The captain decided to pass through the Gaspar Strait, between the Bangka-Belitung Islands, and ran aground on a reef. The vessel sank in about 100 feet of water. The next morning, February 7, an English East Indiaman captained by James Pearl, passing through the same waters, encountered debris and some survivors and managed to rescue about 190 of the latter.

Squat in profile with tall basal ring, vertically segmented outer face, square-section rim, concentric rings to inner face and band of arcading; rim chipped. 790 grams, 19.2 cm



Private collection, Italy. Private collection, UK.

Modelled in the round as a lady in floor-length robes with hands exposed from her broad sleeves, toes of her slippers protruding at the base and wearing a tall headdress. 535 grams, 22.5 cm



Ex West Country collection, 1990s.

On a square-section base, modelled in the half-round figure seated on a throne with rosette and other ornament, wearing an ankle-length robe and a tall headdress; triangular panel to the rear with square socket to the reverse; an inscription by the Wu family on the rear giving the date: 3rd year of Daoguang emperor. 16.3 kg, 40 cm



Ex Hong Kong collection, 1970s.

Well potted with slightly rounded sides rising from the foot to a flared mouth rim; the interior harmoniously decorated with three purple and lavender oval splashes of similar size and position, the blue glaze suffused with fine bubbles and a light network of crackles, thinning to a light mushroom tone at the rim, the area around the foot and the foot itself are unglazed. 106 grams, 95 mm



South German family collection, acquired on the Bavarian art market. Formerly collection of the German diplomat Ernst A. Voretzsch (1868-1965), consul in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Hankow, from 1928 to 1933.

A charming and excellently preserved example of Jun ware.

Flat bowl with light green glaze with craquelée, on the inner side, prongs having left some unglazed spots, the bottom unglazed and with collector’s mark 'WB 357'. 207 grams, 14.4 cm



German private collection since 1985, previously in the collection of Werner B., Cologne, Germany.

Standing on a hexagonal base with pointed shoes, dressed in an ankle-length robe tied at the waist; separate head with a conical cap. 1.63 kg, 41 cm



Ex Sotheby's, London, circa 1990s. London, UK, collection.

Provincial footed jar with tapering bulbous profile and narrow raised rim, dense floral motifs. 1.06 kg, 15 cm



Ex West Country collection, 1990s.

Comprising a horse standing erect with arched neck, hole to the centre of the back to accept an attachment pin; separate hollow-formed rider figure with painted facial detailing. 3.35 kg total, 38 cm high



Ex West Country, UK, collection, 1990s.

Modelled in the round on a square base, standing wearing a cross-over riding coat closed with a sash at the waist and knee-length boots; hair gathered at the crown of the head; black, pink and other pigments. 2.44 kg, 44 cm



Formerly in the collection of M.D. O'Hara collection, 1980. Ex collection of an Israeli gentleman.