Ming Dynasty dragon charger leads the way at 888 Auctions' Asian art sale

888 Auctions' October 20 sale of Important Chinese Ceramics & Asian Works of Art will showcase over 600 lots of an exciting array of Chinese porcelains and Asian works of art with Ming dynasty highlights.

LiveAuctioneers will provide Internet live bidding.

Highlighting the autumn sale will be an important 15th century Chinese blue and white reverse dragon charger, Xuande Period, Ming Dynasty (lot 502). This exceptional porcelain charger painted in deep cobalt blue features a central medallion of a reverse design of a carved writhing dragon.

Surrounded on the cavetto with a continuous band of lotus blossoms borne on a single undulating stem with lobed leaves and continuous scrollwork on the exterior and the sides, we expect it to exceed its high estimate of $250,000.

Xuande Ming Period Blue White Reverse Dragon Charger
Xuande Ming period blue/white reverse dragon charger

The important and rare offerings of exquisite ceramics from the Ming and Qing dynasties do not end there.

Featured at lot 501 is a large pair of 17th century Rouleaux vases, Kangxi Period, Qing Dynasty. Marked with its typical Kangxi double ring reign mark and of the period, the pair of Famille Verte vases is estimated at $20,000-$30,000.

Collectors need not wait long for the prestigious items to be placed on the block. Featured at lot 37 is a finely carved agate ruyi sceptre, Shunzhi Period, Qing Dynasty.

This 16-inch fully carved agate sceptre is unusual in its auspicious bat longevity motif with inlaid script of ruyi; alongside three inset agate beads near the handle with Shunzhi tongbao copper coins underneath each agate bead, this rare item is expected to command over $30,000.

Another stone carving expected to command immediate attention can be found at lot 36. Estimated at $10,000-15,000, this sublime rare water agate sculpture carries a natural water bubble preserved perfectly inside the agate sculpture.

Chinese Ming Dynasty Imperial cloisonne censer
The magnificent Chinese Ming Dynasty Imperial cloisonne censer

A fine example of cloisonné enameling is represented by a large and important 15th century imperial cloisonné enamel censer, Ming Dynasty (lot 284).

Elaborately decorated with all three significant and auspicious flowers, this exceptional Imperial cloisonné censer features an enclosed yellow ground cartouche of lotus, peony, and chrysanthemum sprays on an undulating stem with attendant lobed foliate-shaped green leaves.

Supported by tripod cabriole legs in the form of an elephant and finished with phoenix finiale handles and surmounted by qilin on the rounded rectangular cover, this majestic cloisonné censer exemplifies the sprawling courts of the Ming Dynasty and is estimated at $25,000-$50,000.

Leading the Natural History collection is a full walrus skull with two ivory tusks from a private Canadian collection. With one tusk measuring 20 inches alone, this magnificently well preserved walrus skull has been garnering a great deal of excitement in the showroom. Lot 581 carries a $10,000-$15,000 estimate.

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