10th Apr, 2025 11:00
TWO-DAY AUCTION: Fine Asian Art, Buddhism and Hinduism
160
A LARGE FAMILLE VERTE ‘ARRIVAL OF XIWANGMU’ BRUSHPOT, BITONG, KANGXI PERIOD
€10,000
€20,000
A buyer’s premium of 30.00% (including VAT) applies to the hammer price of this lot if your bid is successful.
Expert's Note: The present brush pot belongs to a rare group of Kangxi famille verte vessels painted with two distinct tones of aubergine, rather than the more common combination of a single aubergine tone and sapphire blue. For direct comparison, see the brush pot sold at Sotheby’s New York, 19 March 2019, lot 328, listed in the auction result comparison below.
Another remarkable feature is the depiction of Xiwangmu as an elderly woman—an unusual choice, as she is more commonly portrayed as youthful and beautiful, aligning with conventional aesthetic preferences. However, truly original artworks are rarely created to cater to mainstream tastes; instead, they often embrace the unconventional or even the provocative, in stark contrast to later imitative works.
China, 1662-1722. Of cylindrical form, brightly painted in shades of green, aubergine, yellow, and iron-red with black and red outlines, with a continuous scene of the Eight Immortals standing under a gnarled pine amid rockwork and lingzhi. The group is led by Li Tieguai who points at the Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu) descending from the skies atop a crane and holding a basket of peaches, flanked by two female attendants holding fans and standing on scrolling clouds.
Provenance: The collection of Eskil Artberg, and thence by descent in the family. The base with remnants of an old paper label. Eskil Artberg (1886-1974) was an important Swedish dealer of Asian art. Together with his brother John Artberg he founded the antique shop Japanska Magasinet in Stockholm in 1909. The brothers were actively involved in trading Japanese and Chinese works of art and contributed to early exhibitions by lending objects, including the 1911 exhibition of Japanese art at the Konstakademin. Initially, their shop specialized in Japanese works of art and high-quality Japanese paper, which was popular among Swedish artists in the early 20th century. However, as interest in Japanese art declined after World War II, Eskil shifted his focus toward Chinese works of art. Today, both the Ethnographic Museum and the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities in Stockholm hold items acquired from Japanska Magasinet.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and manufacturing irregularities including minor pitting and few dark spots, little rubbing to enamels.
Weight: 2.8 kg
Dimensions: Height 16.7 cm, Diameter 20 cm
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related famille verte brushpot, dated to the 18th century, 15.5 cm high, formerly in the collection of Ernest Grandidier and now in the Musée Guimet, accession number G 2025.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s London, 11 November 2011, lot 1041
Price: GBP 55,250 or approx. EUR 110,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large famille verte brush pot, Kangxi period (1662-1722)
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, decoration, and manner of painting. Note the size (15.2 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby‘s New York, 19 March 2019, lot 328
Price: USD 572,000 or approx. EUR 686,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An extraordinary, fine and large inscribed famille-verte brushpot, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and manner of painting, particularly the use of two shades of aubergine which is rare (see expert’s note). Note the similar size (18.4 cm) as well as the inscription and the different motif.
Expert's Note: The present brush pot belongs to a rare group of Kangxi famille verte vessels painted with two distinct tones of aubergine, rather than the more common combination of a single aubergine tone and sapphire blue. For direct comparison, see the brush pot sold at Sotheby’s New York, 19 March 2019, lot 328, listed in the auction result comparison below.
Another remarkable feature is the depiction of Xiwangmu as an elderly woman—an unusual choice, as she is more commonly portrayed as youthful and beautiful, aligning with conventional aesthetic preferences. However, truly original artworks are rarely created to cater to mainstream tastes; instead, they often embrace the unconventional or even the provocative, in stark contrast to later imitative works.
China, 1662-1722. Of cylindrical form, brightly painted in shades of green, aubergine, yellow, and iron-red with black and red outlines, with a continuous scene of the Eight Immortals standing under a gnarled pine amid rockwork and lingzhi. The group is led by Li Tieguai who points at the Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu) descending from the skies atop a crane and holding a basket of peaches, flanked by two female attendants holding fans and standing on scrolling clouds.
Provenance: The collection of Eskil Artberg, and thence by descent in the family. The base with remnants of an old paper label. Eskil Artberg (1886-1974) was an important Swedish dealer of Asian art. Together with his brother John Artberg he founded the antique shop Japanska Magasinet in Stockholm in 1909. The brothers were actively involved in trading Japanese and Chinese works of art and contributed to early exhibitions by lending objects, including the 1911 exhibition of Japanese art at the Konstakademin. Initially, their shop specialized in Japanese works of art and high-quality Japanese paper, which was popular among Swedish artists in the early 20th century. However, as interest in Japanese art declined after World War II, Eskil shifted his focus toward Chinese works of art. Today, both the Ethnographic Museum and the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities in Stockholm hold items acquired from Japanska Magasinet.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and manufacturing irregularities including minor pitting and few dark spots, little rubbing to enamels.
Weight: 2.8 kg
Dimensions: Height 16.7 cm, Diameter 20 cm
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related famille verte brushpot, dated to the 18th century, 15.5 cm high, formerly in the collection of Ernest Grandidier and now in the Musée Guimet, accession number G 2025.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s London, 11 November 2011, lot 1041
Price: GBP 55,250 or approx. EUR 110,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large famille verte brush pot, Kangxi period (1662-1722)
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, decoration, and manner of painting. Note the size (15.2 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby‘s New York, 19 March 2019, lot 328
Price: USD 572,000 or approx. EUR 686,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An extraordinary, fine and large inscribed famille-verte brushpot, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and manner of painting, particularly the use of two shades of aubergine which is rare (see expert’s note). Note the similar size (18.4 cm) as well as the inscription and the different motif.
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Auction: TWO-DAY AUCTION: Fine Asian Art, Buddhism and Hinduism, 10th Apr, 2025
Galerie Zacke is privileged to present a remarkable two-day live auction event, featuring 684 works of art from China, Southeast Asia, India, and beyond.
The highlight is our flagship live auction on Day 1, showcasing lots 1-269, Among the many standout pieces are a ge-type octagonal bowl from the Southern Song dynasty, part of the Jules Speelman collection (lot 137), a rare 1st-2nd century gold figure of a mother goddess from the Zelnik István Southeast Asian Gold Museum collection (lot 176), as well as a group of four parcel-gilt bronze Bodhisattvas from the Bao-Xiang Lo Palace and Temple, with Qianlong marks and of the period (lot 52).
Day 2 continues with our general auction (lots 270-684), offering seasoned collectors and new bidders alike an opportunity to enhance their collections. Learn more.
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