Chinese Pair of Terracotta Han Tomb Doors

Square in plan with low L-shaped feet, domed lid; hatched fields with reserved vegetation motifs; inner face and lid with neat columns of dense pointillé text; the lid reading: 'Son, Zhang-Kechang laid his father to rest in this grave', the base reading: 'The late Mr. Zhang (Yuzhen) was born on the 17th September 1786 (Qianlong reign) during the morning, around 9-11am. - He passed away on the 27th January 1848 (Daoguang reign) - He was peacefully buried on the 26th of the same [lunar] month (1st Feb 1848). On a Dingyou day, with the grave opened in the early morning and the burial taking place just before noon, at a mountain in his home region. - The tomb is aligned in a traditional Chinese grave, seated on Qian mountain (NW), facing Xun (SE), with straight deviation toward Si and Wu direction (SE to S)'. 300 grams, 11.1 x 7.9 cm



From the private collection of a Canadian gentleman living in Essex, UK, formed since the 1920s-circa 1990. Property of an Essex lady until the late 1990s; thence by descent. From the private collection of an Essex gentleman since the late 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Hollow-formed female figure wearing long robes tied at the chest, elaborate high coiffure; right hand emerging from the long sleeve of her chang'ao, the other extending to a small female child standing at her left knee. 3.8 kg, 43 cm



Private collection, Hong Kong, acquired in the 1990s-2000s. Private collection, London, acquired in the 2000s. Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report no.C125k84 by Oxford Authentication. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12882-240557. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Comprising six shallow plates with floral motifs and tendrils to both faces. 2.35 kg total, 17.8 - 19.5 cm



Ex Nagel Auction, with official Tek Sing Treasure labels to verso. Accompanied by an illustrated information sheet about the Tek Sing shipwreck. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

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.