The Han Dynasty was known for its exquisite craftsmanship and artistic design. Today, surviving examples of Han Dynasty vases, vessels, and figures are highly prized and collected for their historical importance and artistic value.
Typically Ding vessels feature a round body and a lid, creating a covered container. They are often adorned with intricate relief decorations depicting various motifs such as mythical creatures, dragons, birds, animals, or geometric patterns. These decorative elements were meticulously cast into the bronze surface and sometimes embellished with additional details using techniques like engraving or inlay.
Chinese Han Dynasty Cast Bronze Covered Ding Vessel. Sold: $1,890
The above vessel was produced during the Han Dynasty, 206 BCE to 220 CE in China. This type of vessel was made using the technique of bronze casting, which involved pouring molten bronze into molds.
Ding vessels were highly valued for their ceremonial and ritual significance. They were used for a variety of purposes, including storing and presenting offerings, as well as serving as burial objects or prestigious gifts. They are considered to be symbols of status and wealth, reflecting the sophisticated artistic taste of the Han Dynasty.
Chinese Han Dynasty gray pottery figure of a horse. Sold: $5,312.50
Han Dynasty works provide valuable insights into the ancient Chinese civilization and the advanced metalworking techniques of the time.
The history of jewelry spans as far back as humanity itself, with evidence of ancient beads made from shells, bones, and teeth dating back 80,000–110,000 years.
Featured on February 21st is a stunning and rare set of Chinese 24-karat gold zodiac animal figures.
Asian Art
Highlights
PBS KVIE + Clars Asian Art
Asian Art
Event
Harry Huang, Associate Director of Asian Art at Clars, spoke to Rob Stewart, PBS TV Host & Executive Producer, on the beauty and intricacies of a Mughal style jade vase for 2023’s Antique Valuation Day.
Harry and Rob beside a Mughal style jade vase with linked cover.
The very well-hollowed vessel is finely carved in low relief with bamboo, plum blossom, and chrysanthemum, along with a pair of magpies. The shoulders display a pair of openwork peony handles and the cover is decorated with a floral form finial.
Harry lifting the vase cover.
This vase is carved out of a single piece of nephrite jade stone — executed in the Mughal style — with a thin body and cover linked by finely carved chains. The plants and the pair of magpies signify the arrival of spring, which grants well wishes for the New Year.
The January 17th auction will feature important works from China, including a late 18th to early 19th century Chinese brocade blue-ground dragon skirt.
This December, Clars is excited will offer this exquisite vase — a stunning ancient artifact that carries a touching story that spans more than half a century.
On December 20th, Clars will present a rare Qing Yongzheng Robin’s Egg Glazed hu-form Vase, a masterpiece by Liu Jiutong, and a variety of other exceptional Asian artworks.
Asian Art
Auction
Artist Spotlight: Hua Yan
Artist Spotlight
Asian Art
Clars’ Asian Art department saw auction success from Hua Yan (1682–1756), Landscape, which commended a total of $63,000 in the May Fine Asian Art & Collectibles Auction.
Hua Yan (1682–1756), Landscape, ink and color on silk. Sold: $63,000
Yan’s audacious use of color and brushwork has made him an inspiration for modern Chinese painters and a favorite amongst collectors.
Starting off the year strong, Clars’ Asian Art department sold a pair of Chinese doucai enameled globular vases for $87,500 in January. Each vase is painted on the exterior with eight bats amidst stylized lotus petals all between ornate scrolling lotus and vine patterns.
Pair of Chinese doucai enameled globular vases. Sold: $87,500
Another highlight from the January sale is represented by the Chinese huanghuali corner leg table, which sold for $93,750. With small supply of wood, the availability of furniture made from it is limited. The highly figured, honey-hued wood has long been appreciated for its mountain peak and ghost face patterns. Huanghuali furniture can be incorporated into any type of decor to create a more traditional Chinese style in your home, or you can choose to mix and match with more contemporary decor.
Chinese huanghuali corner leg table, top and front view. Sold: $93,750
Spring Highlights
A finely molded Dingyao bowl, featuring lotus and other aquatic plants, headlined Clars’ April Asian Art Auction. The beautiful piece did not disappoint, selling for $100,000. The Song dynasty bowl was acquired from the late Chingwah Lee Collection of San Francisco and sold at Sotheby’s Los Angeles Fine Oriental Art Sale on June 8th, 1981.
Chinese molded Dingyao bowl. Provenance: Sotheby’s Parke Bernet Los Angeles, The Late Chingwah Lee Collection, June 8, 1981, lot 263, from San Francisco collection formed over five decades. Sold: $100,000
The furniture portion of the April sale was highlighted by a pair of 18th century huanghuali horseshoe-back armchairs. The armchairs feature decorative carved panels on the backs with auspicious floral groupings and mythical creatures. The armchairs were a sought after piece and ended up being the top lot of the sale, selling at $200,000.
Pair of Chinese huanghuali horseshoe-back armchairs. Sold: $200,000
Summer Highlights
Dozens of telephone bidders vyed for two Chinese imperial bronze ‘dragon’ vases. These vases soared well above estimate to realize a price of $245,000. Each features five-clawed dragons in pursuit of flaming pearls amid scrolling clouds in low relief. The precision and intricacy of the molding indicates the imperial origin, while the patina on the surface demonstrates the age.
Left: Chinese imperial bronze ‘dragon’ vase, Mark and Period of Qianlong. Right: Chinese imperial bronze ‘dragon’ vase, mark and period of Jiaqing. Sold: $245,000
Fall Highlights
A strong San Francisco Bay Area collection of archer’s rings led the Asian Art portion of Clars’ Fine Collectors Auction on November 20th. The sale included nearly 40 lots of imperial quality white jade, celadon jade, jadeite, agate, glass, enamel, and various organic material archer’s rings. The collector acquired this impressive collection throughout 1970s to 1990s from various important dealers and estates in the Bay Area, including Ching Wah Lee, Herb Newman, and Sandra Sakata, among others.
(lot of 2) Chinese enameled silver openwork archer’s rings. Sold: $8,450
The history of jewelry spans as far back as humanity itself, with evidence of ancient beads made from shells, bones, and teeth dating back 80,000–110,000 years.
Featured on February 21st is a stunning and rare set of Chinese 24-karat gold zodiac animal figures.
Asian Art
Highlights
November Asian Art Highlights
Asian Art
Auction
Clars Auction Gallery gladly presents a fine Asian art auction on Sunday, November 20th, offering an exquisite selection of various paintings and calligraphy, archer’s rings, fine porcelains, and other categories of Asian works of art.
Wu Changshuo (Chinese, 1844–1927), Pine and Lingzhi, hanging scroll, ink and color on paper, titled, dated, signed and with two artist’s seals, 96.5″ x 48.5″. Provenance: Southern California estate. Estimate: $80,000–$120,000
The paintings and calligraphy section will be led by a massive ink and color on paper hanging scroll by Wu Changshuo (1844–1927), titled Pine and Lingzhi, painted in 1921. As one of the world’s most acclaimed masters in Chinese painting and one of the leading masters of Shanghai School in the Republic period, Wu Changshuo is known for his style of merging calligraphy techniques into paintings, using the ink and brushstroke to demonstrate the conception rather than striving for realism, which greatly influenced the modern and contemporary Chinese art world. This massive piece at Clars presents a great example of Wu Changshuo’s iconic style of mixing traditional Chinese with Western sensibility to depict one of his favorite subject matters in his late years, pine trees.
The painting is from an important Southern California estate and will be offered with an estimate of $80,000–$120,000.
A fine selection of Chinese jade and hardstone archer’s rings hailing from a Piedmont, California private collection amassed over the past fifty years. (multiple lots) Estimate: $4,500–$7,000
A strong San Francisco Bay Area collection of archer’s rings will lead the jade and miscellaneous section, presenting nearly 40 lots of imperial quality white jade, celadon jade, jadeite, agate, glass, enamel, and various organic material archer’s rings. The collector acquired this impressive collection throughout the 1970s to 1990s from various important dealers and estates in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Ching Wah Lee, Herb Newman, and Sandra Sakata, among others.
Clars Auctions invites you to join us for our exciting auction on Friday, February 21st, where beauty, history, and exceptional craftsmanship converge.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a first-time bidder, Clars Auctions invites you to participate in this celebration of beauty, history, and craftsmanship. Mark your calendars for Friday, January 17.
Auction
Highlights
Dragon Vases Soar Above Estimates
Asian Art
Stories & News
Clars Auction Gallery had an excellent August sale with many highlights and strong prices in our Asian Art Department.
Dozens of telephone bidders were vying for two Chinese imperial bronze ‘dragon’ vases. These vases soared well above estimate to realize a price of $245,000.
Left: Chinese imperial bronze ‘dragon’ vase, mark and period of Qianlong. Right: Chinese imperial bronze ‘dragon’ vase, mark and period of Jiaqing. Sold: $245,000
Each features five-clawed dragons in pursuit of flaming pearls amid scrolling clouds in low relief. The precision and intricacy of the molding indicates the imperial origin, while the patina on the surface demonstrates the age. One statue has the inscription “Qianlong Nianzao of the Great Qing Dynasty” and the other has the book “Great Qing Jiaqing Nianzao,” both of which were purchased in Tokyo, Japan around 1949.
The history of jewelry spans as far back as humanity itself, with evidence of ancient beads made from shells, bones, and teeth dating back 80,000–110,000 years.
Featured on February 21st is a stunning and rare set of Chinese 24-karat gold zodiac animal figures.
Asian Art
Highlights
Huanghuali Highlights
Asian Art
Auction
First rising in popularity during the Ming Dynasty, Huanghuali (Dalbergia odorifera), has been desired and sought after since. Huanghuali means “yellow flower pear,” a slow-growing, small-to-medium-sized tree.
Pair of Chinese huanghuali horseshoe-back armchairs. Sold: $200,000
With small supply of wood, the availability of furniture made from it is limited. The highly figured, honey-hued wood has long been appreciated for its mountain peak and ghost face patterns. Huanghuali furniture can be incorporated into any type of decor to create a more traditional Chinese style in your home, or you can choose to mix and match with more contemporary decor.
Chinese huanghuali corner leg table, top and front view. Sold: $93,750
Chinese huanghuali tapered cabinet. Provenance: Acquired in Hong Kong, 1989. Sold: $25,000
Clars Auctions invites you to join us for our exciting auction on Friday, February 21st, where beauty, history, and exceptional craftsmanship converge.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a first-time bidder, Clars Auctions invites you to participate in this celebration of beauty, history, and craftsmanship. Mark your calendars for Friday, January 17.
Auction
Highlights
五月拍卖精品一览 Featured May Highlights
Asian Art
Auction
Fine Jewelry & Timepieces
Clars拍卖行将于5月19日10时举办春季精品珠宝名表拍卖。此次精选跨越百年呈现一系列钻石宝石首饰、品牌设计珠宝以及精致名表，汇集了卡地亚、蒂凡尼、梵克雅宝、Seaman Schepps、法贝热等名家风采。详情敬请点击这里浏览完整图录，欢迎通过以下联系方式垂询。Lauren Della Croce：[email protected] Yao Jiang 江湛瑶：[email protected] 微信：yaoj423
Clars will hold its Spring Fine Jewelry & Timepiece Sale on May 19th, 10AM PST. The collection includes a wide selection of diamond, colored gemstone and signed jewelry spanning over a century. Maker’s such as Cartier, Tiffany & Co, Van Cleef & Arpels, Seaman Schepps, Fabergé, Rolex and more are represented in the dynamic collection. To view the full catalog, please visit here. For inquiries, please reach out to Lauren Della Croce at [email protected] and Yao Jiang at [email protected] or WeChat yaoj423.
The May 22nd sale at Clars will offer numerous highlights from the Asian Art Department include porcelains, jade and stones, furniture, paintings, embroideries, metalwork, among others. To view the full catalog, please visit here. For inquiries, please reach out to Harry Huang at [email protected] and Megan Ma at [email protected] or WeChat mayiming0723.
2.03克拉混合长方形阶梯切割彩蓝VVS钻石 A 2.03 Carats Fancy Blue VVS2 Modified Rectangular Step Cut Diamond.
景泰蓝双联山水花鸟长颈抱 Chinese cloisonné enamel conjoined moon flask vase.
7.67克拉哥伦比亚祖母绿及钻石戒指 A 7.67 carats Colombian emerald and diamond ring.
清代白玉梅花珮饰 Chinese white jade pendant plaque.
初代劳力士小表冠潜航者腕表， 型号6205 An early Rolex small crown Submariner wristwatch, ref 6205.
仿古玉牌 Chinese archaistic russet jade plaque.
劳力士迪通拿宇宙型计时腕表，型号6263 A Rolex Daytona chronograph wristwatch, ref. 6263.
白玉雕桃型小笔洗 Chinese white jade brush washer.
红宝石及钻石18K白金胸针 A ruby, diamond and eighteen karat white gold brooch.
粉彩鱼缸一对 Pair of Chinese famille rose fish bowls.
蓝宝石18K黄金“猎豹”戒指，卡地亚设计 A sapphire and eighteen karat gold ring, Cartier.
蓝底龙纹绣袍 Chinese embroidered blue-ground ‘dragon’ robe.
一对蓝宝石及钻石铂金耳坠 A pair of sapphire, diamond and platinum earrings.
Clars Auctions invites you to join us for our exciting auction on Friday, February 21st, where beauty, history, and exceptional craftsmanship converge.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a first-time bidder, Clars Auctions invites you to participate in this celebration of beauty, history, and craftsmanship. Mark your calendars for Friday, January 17.
The April 24th sale at Clars will be led by the Asian art department with numerous highlights from porcelains, to furniture, paintings, jade and snuff bottles, among others. To view the full catalog, please visit here. For inquiries, please reach out to Harry Huang at [email protected] and Megan Ma at [email protected] or WeChat mayiming0723.
宋代定窑铜口暗花大碗 来源：洛杉矶苏富比，Chingwah Lee李清华旧藏专场，1981年6月8日，lot263。三藩市私人收藏 Chinese molded Dingyao bowl. Provenance: Sotheby’s Parke Bernet Los Angeles, The Late Chingwah Lee Collection, June 8, 1981, lot 263, from San Francisco collection formed over five decades. Lot 2882. Estimate: $50,000–$70,000.
晚晴民国时期 黄花梨三联闷柜橱 Chinese huanghuali and mixed wood altar coffer. Lot 2946. Estimate: $20,000–$40,000.
吴昌硕《墨梅图》立轴 纸本水墨，1915 来源：藏家1945年前购于上海 Wu Changshuo (1844–1927), Plum Blossom. Provenance: Acquired in Shanghai prior to 1945. Lot 2824. Estimate: $50,000–$70,000.
清中期黄花梨圈椅一对 来源：三藩市私人收藏 Pair of Chinese huanghuali horseshoe-back armchairs. Provenance: from San Francisco collection formed over five decades. Lot 2974. Estimate: $30,000–$50,000.
清光绪 黄地轧道粉彩三阳开泰膳碗 来源：藏家1945年前购于上海 Chinese famille rose yellow ground ‘Three Rams’ bowl. Provenance: Acquired in Shanghai prior to 1945. Lot 2870. Estimate: $5,000–$7,000.
蓝地金彩六方瓶 Chinese cobalt-blue-ground gilt-decorated vase. Lot 2877. Estimate: $3,000–$5,000.
清光绪 青花对头凤纹盘 Chinese blue and white charger dish. Lot 2878. Estimate: $3,000–$5,000.
明代 龙泉窑青釉大盘 Chinese Ming Dynasty celadon glazed charger dish. Lot 2881. Estimate: $1,000–$1,500.
仿桐釉长颈天球瓶 Chinese imitation bronze glazed vase. Estimate: $2,000–$4,000.
清乾隆粉青釉莲瓣纹 Chinese celadon-glazed carved vase. Estimate: $3,000–$5,000.
高古玉琮 来源：三藩市私人收藏 Chinese archaic jade cong. Provenance: from San Francisco collection formed over five decades. Lot 2898. Estimate: $2,000–$4,000.
青玉“三多”把件 来源：三藩市私人收藏 Chinese celadon jade ‘Three Abundance’ toggle. Provenance: from San Francisco collection formed over five decades. Lot 2907. Estimate: $1,500–$2,500.
琥珀吊坠挂饰（一组两件） 来源：加州伯克利遗产 Chinese amber pendants (lot of 2). Provenance: Berkeley estate. Estimate: $1,000–$1,500.
粉彩鼻烟壶（一组三件） 来源：加州伯克利遗产 Chinese famille rose snuff bottles (lot of 3). Provenance: Berkeley estate. Lot 2936. Estimate: $1,000–$1,500.
玛瑙鼻烟壶 来源：三藩市私人收藏 Chinese shadow agate snuff bottle. Provenance: from San Francisco collection formed over five decades. Estimate: $400–$600.
清代 和田玉雕洛可可纹饰鼻烟壶 来源：加州伯克利遗产 Chinese white jade snuff bottle. Provenance: Berkeley estate. Estimate: $2,000–$4,000.
Clars Auctions invites you to join us for our exciting auction on Friday, February 21st, where beauty, history, and exceptional craftsmanship converge.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a first-time bidder, Clars Auctions invites you to participate in this celebration of beauty, history, and craftsmanship. Mark your calendars for Friday, January 17.
