Chinese Han Style Bronze Crane Finial

Glazed dish with tendrils and flowers to the outer face, dense floral pattern to the tondo; supplied with a display stand. 587 grams, 23.7 cm



Acquired on the European art market. From a family collection of a North American gentleman living in the UK.

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.

Each hollow-formed standing on a scrolled base, wearing armour and wielding a weapon resting on his legs; one depicting the war-god Guan Yu. 237 grams total, 68-70 mm



Acquired on the German art market, 1989-1995. with The Museum Gallery, 19 Bury Place, London, WC1, UK, 1998-2003. Property of a London based academic, 2003-present. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12451-226028.

The horse in a static pose with its head turned to the left, the female rider bent at waist with her left arm held high in a swinging pose, the other arm held at waist high for holding the reins; painted annulets to the saddle blanket. 5.6 kg, 43 cm



From a West Country, UK, collection, 1990s. Accompanied by a thermoluminescence analysis report no.04C26042024 from Laboratory Kotalla. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12445-226799.