Rarity acquired by Östasiatiska
A view over the commercial city of Canton and the Pearl River gives a lively and vivid picture of what life was like in the 18th century. On Friday, the Östasiatiska (East Asian) museum in Stockholm had the good fortune of acquiring this remarkable well preserved punch bowl when after lively bidding they got it for a final price of just over SEK one million.
PUNCH BOWL, Qing dynasty, Qianlong (1736–95). The bowl is made of so-called ‘company porcelain’, i.e. it was ordered from the West. Final price SEK 1,005,000 (estimate SEK 400,000–600,000).
“It’s fabulous that it not only stays in Sweden, but becomes part of a public collection. The scenes on the bowl show figures running around and working, and even the trading stations of the countries that traded with China. Danish, English, Portuguese, French and even the Swedish flag is there,” says Cecilia Nordström, specialist in Oriental art at Bukowskis.
The sale of the Oriental Department is under way today, and all lots have sold way over estimates.
Below is a selection of today’s top bids.
Li Kuchan "Crane, Cliff, Bamboo and Lotus". Final price SEK 1,200,000 (estimate SEK 100,000–150,000)
VASE, porcelain. Final price SEK 1,164,000 (estimate SEK 8,000–10,000).
MINIATURE CENSER. Final price SEK 1,041,000 (estimate SEK 5.000–7.000)
LIBATION CUP. Final price SEK 857,000 (estimate SEK 300,000–500,000)
ENSER/BASIN. Final price SEK 527,000 (estimate SEK 20,000–30,000)
(The final price includes commission)
The auction continues tonight, with special interest in the three Swedish collections on sale. Chinese collectors with a passion for the cultural legacy of their country can also be seen among the bidders in the auction room.
The Stenbeck Collection
The Collection of a Scandinavian businessman
The Collection of Arne Nilsson
Currently accepting consignments. Please contact
Cecilia Nordström +46 (0)8-614 08 08
cecilia.nordstrom@bukowskis.com
Anders Welander +46 (0)8-614 08 27
anders.welander@bukowskis.com