Oriental Art
National and international collectors have found Cordy’s to be the most favoured auction house to watch for a broad range of Chinese porcelains, jades, ivories, bronzes and wood. Items of quality and age are met by a knowledgeable audience in our rooms. We also specialise in Japanese ukiyo-e, scroll paintings, textiles, Peking glass and Chinese silver.
An old Chinese cinnabar lacquer circular box,
the lid decorated in relief with an outdoor garden scene including seated and other figures within a distant mountainous landscape. The sides with four various floral cartouches, representing the seasons, on a scrolling floral ground. Black lacquer interior and base. Some chipping to the rims. 310 x 150mm. Provenance: Purchased by our vendor's father in Hong Kong, c.1945, while enlisted in the NZ navy. His ship, the Artifex, was supplying power to the city. Then deposited on loan to the Auckland Museum c.1971. Auckland museum letter dated 1991 available confirming loan deposit change of ownership from our vendor's father to our vendor. Further details regarding the purchase of this box available.
Realised: $16,500
Chen Wen-hsi (Chinese 1906-1991) Untitled school of fish
watercolour and ink with white heightening, black ink painted and red ink impressed marks. Dia.425mm. Provenance: From the collection of Dr David (Auckland) & M Stephens based in Singapore c.1956 - 1975. A passionate and knowledgeable collector of jade, porcelain and Chinese items. Member of the South East Asian Ceramic Society. Purchased by them from an exhibition in Singapore c.1960's where it was featured. Research from our vendors family suggests that it is the artist's seal in red that is on the painting, and the three characters in the seal check out against other seals bearing those three characters of his name. The three characters are for chen, wen, and hsi. There are two characters in black above which also bear similarities to those on other paintings of his.
Realised: $7,500
A 19thC Chinese fine watercolour,
of a woman holding back a drape admiring a pair of swallows. Black ink calligraphy marks red seal. 240 x 250mm. Some distress marks. Provenance: Ex. the estate collection of Dr David (Auckland) & M Stephens. Based in Singapore c.1956 - 1975. David was a passionate and knowledgeable collector of jade, porcelain and Chinese items. He was a member of the South East Asian Ceramic Society.
Realised: $4,800
A pair of impressive and well modelled vintage Chinese bronze Foo dogs,
the opposing pair in traditional pose, the male with his right paw resting on a ball representing protection, while the female has a paw resting on a cub or pup representing nurturing and fertility. On decorative bronze bases. 210 x 310 x 450mm.
Realised: $4,300
A good Japanese Edo period aikuchi tanto c.1680,
the hirazukui blade in excellent polish (unsigned) with defined Hamon. Matching koshirae in suite. Kozuka signed and kogatana visible traces. Saya with sculptured wave lacquered motif. L.465mm OA.
Realised: $4,200
An 18thC Japanese shinto period tanto by Masahiro,
blade in good polish signed from Musashi with wave hamon c. 1764. All fittings Fushi,Kashira, Menuki, Tsuba with Kirimon motif on Nanako ground indicating Toyotomi clan. Kozuka with crayfish decoration. L.500mm.
Realised: $3,000
A pair of large 19thC Chinese famille rose vases,
baluster form, with rectangular figured panels on floral ground, shishi and salamanders to the neck and shoulders, flared shaped top rims. Gilt highlights. H.340mm. Provenance: Through English family descent, emigrated to NZ following WWII.
Realised: $2,600
Chinese finely decorated porcelain bowl
relief scrolling red ground enamel with floral highlights, the four circular rondels enamelled in colours with precious objects. Daoguang mark in underglaze blue to the base. Dia.153mm.
Realised: $2,400
A 19thC netsuke of a group of biwa fruit,
as two large biwa joined by a smaller fruit and attached to a branch which forms himatoshi. Stained for effect, inscribed kosho ? L.47mm. Provenance: Purchased lot 883 ($275 U.S.) 'Japanese and Other Works of Art' June 1975. Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc. New York.
Realised: $2,400
A Japanese WWII katana sword,
labelled 'Sword from Japanese Army in Singapore'. Leather covered scabbard, plaited cord over the shagreen grip, plain iron tsuba. The tang signed with rubbing in attached envelope detailed 'Sword from Japanese Army in Singapore'. Total length 990mm.
Realised: $2,200