Chinese Tang Deep Maroon Ceramic Horse

Comprising four glazed ceramic vessels: two shallow dishes and two footed bowls with everted rim and basal ring. 659 grams total, 9.1-16 cm wide



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

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 Indian vessel captained by James Pearl, passing through the same waters, encountered debris and some survivors and managed to rescue about 190 of the latter.

Ceramic vessel lid with figurine of a cockerel and robed human rider, grotesque mask to the forward end; green and ochre glaze. 768 grams, 18.5 cm wide



Ex North Yorkshire deceased estate, 1990s.

Seated cross-legged in virasana on a semi-circular lotus flower dais, right hand in bhumisparsha mudra, the left resting on his lap, wearing a samghati adorned with floral motifs, his face with a meditative expression and with downcast eyes below arched eyebrows, aquiline nose, gentle smile, elongated earlobes, the hair in tight curls surmounted by a flame. 99.5 kg, 95 cm high



French collection, 1960s-early 2000s. From an important Paris gallery, France. with Ogotai (?) Auctions, Paris, France, 22 January 2016, lot 2. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11714-199350.

The historical Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha, (born Prince Siddhartha Gautama) was the founder of the Buddhist religion; he lived and taught in 6th century India. Born to a royal or aristocratic family of the Shakya kingdom, at age 29 he learned of the deep suffering experienced by the people of his land, causing him to relinquish his title and palace home and after six years of study, self-sacrifice and meditation, became an enlightened Buddha. Here, Buddha is shown seated in a yogic meditative posture, his right hand gesturing towards the Earth Goddess at the moment prior to his enlightenment. He displays many of the lakshanas, or auspicious marks of Buddhahood- the extended earlobes remind the viewer of his former princely status; three rings around the neck; urna formed from a curl of hair.