A Many-faceted Asia

Published on 28 May 2019, by Caroline Legrand

At the Hôtel Drouot, Asian Week will soon be getting into full swing with some well-chosen collectors' objects, from an 18^th-century teapot in enamel painted on copper to archaic bronzes and a painted Japanese mandala.

China, 18th century, small teapot in multifoil form with "falangcai" enamel decoration... A Many-faceted Asia

China, 18th century, small teapot in multifoil form with "falangcai" enamel decoration on copper, handle and spout in gilt copper; on the base, a Qianlong stamp in four kaishu characters surrounded by a dragon, and a "Spink & Son" label, h. 9.5 cm, l. 15 cm.
Estimate: €40,000/60,000
Paris, Drouot, 12 June, Gros & Delettrez auction house.

At a time when Chinese collectors are diversifying their acquisitions and are now attending sales of modern and contemporary Western works, the Asian art market is having to adapt and become ever more selective. While classic pieces are not selling so well, rare items or those coming on the market for the first time continue to fire people's curiosity and achieve records. "Customers are increasingly on the look-out for impeccably documented provenances and histories," says Théo Lavignon of Auction Art Rémy Le Fur & Associés. With its catalogue for 12 June, this auction house has decided to limit the number of lots in favour of in-depth research work in collaboration with the experts Portier & Associés. So descriptions will be thoroughly informative, like the one for the 18 th -century white porcelain Guanyin made in Dehua, which comes from a former Dutch collection. Estimated at €15,000/20,000, it has a model similar to several other…

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