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Important Chinese Bronzes and Jades from the Lee Family — Leonard Joel Pty. Ltd.

Auction House:Leonard Joel Pty. Ltd.Number of lots recorded:15
Sale Title:Important Chinese Bronzes and Jades from the Lee FamilyLots with images:15
Auction Location:MelbournePrices available:5
Date:16-Sep-2024
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A white and russet jade 'Melon Vine' carving, 18th/19th century; the pendant is finely carved in openwork with a trailing melon vine bearing five fruits amidst leafy tendrils, the reverse with trailing leaves, the flattened surfaces smoothly polished and with russet skin, a butterfly alighting to one side, 6.2 cm long.
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A very rare variegated jade 'Lotus Root' belt buckle, Qing Dynasty, 19th century; 7.4 cm long
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An archaic bronze ritual wine vessel, Jia, middle Shang Dynasty, Circa.1400-1250 B.C, the compressed globular body with a slightly convex base, resting on three blade-shaped legs and rising to a tall trumpet neck, set with a D-form handle at one side and a pair of posts with conical finials at the rim on the opposite side, the body and the neck each cast with a register comprising three units of; taotie masks, the creatures' distinctive oval eyes emerging high relief against the abstracted curvilinear…
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A rare grey and russet jade Cong, Neolithic period/Shang Dynasty, 6th/11th century B.C, the thick-walled cong is carved with rectangular, flat sides, projecting corners and a shallow collar at each end, the pale greyish green stone with areas of brown and buff opaque inclusions, 7.3 cm wide
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A rare gold-splashed bronze 'Dragon and Phoenix' double-vase, Qianlong mark and period (1736- 1795); the two ovoid vases of upright elongated form, the exterior elaborately decorated with mythical beast masks issuing mock rings and surrounded by a stylised dragon and phoenix beasts meandering around the vessels with angular scroll bodies, further applied with splashes of gold, the base of the taller vase with a four-character reign mark within a rectangular, 14.9 cm high
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A very rare archaic bronze food vessel, Yu, late Shang Dynasty, 13th- 12th century BC; the deep rounded sides crisply cast in high relief with four large taotie masks separated by vertical notched flanges, separating confronted birds on the pedestal foot, the pairs of similar birds below the everted rim divided by small animal masks, all reserved on leiwen bands, with a mottled milky-green patina and some buff earth encrustation, the base cast with two pictograms reading Jiran, 25.5 cm diameter
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A large yellowish-green jade dragon-form pendant, Warring States period, 4th-3rd century BC; the dragon has a backward-turned head with rolled snout, and the undulating body is carved on both sides in low relief with scrolls within plain borders and pierced with a suspension hole. The stone is of pale yellowish-green tone. With a cloth box, 34.9 cm wide
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A pair of fine jadeite square vases and covers, Qing Dynasty, 19th century; each vase is with a flattened baluster shape, set with a pair of elephant mask handles suspending loose rings, beautifully carved with stylised taotie; masks, a grey celadon jade vase with similar taotie mask decorations, also dated to 19th century, see Christie's New York, 13/9/2018, lot 944, 17.5 cm high
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A rare and large bronze 'Six Mountain' mirror, late; Warring States period, 4th-3rd century BC; the mirror is crisply cast with a ribbed loop surrounded by a circular border and five feathers enclosed within the six-pointed star created by the connected inner edges of the six shan, 'Mountain', characters, all reserved on a ground of swirl pattern, with thin upward curved rim. The bronze has a silvery grey, lacquer-like patina with some malachite and azurite encrustations. With a cloth box, 20 cm. Diameter
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An important and rare set of archaic bronze ritual; vessels, early Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-977 B.C.); this group is comprising a zun, decorated around the body with a narrow band of kuilong interrupted by raised beast masks, the interior cast with a seventeen-character inscription translating to 'Pi Shu makes an offering of this set of vessels. He diligently prepared this set of ritual vessels for his mother. The vessels are to be sent together with his mother. X [clan sign]'; a pair of gu each…
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A pale white jade moonflask and cover, Qing Dynasty, 18th-19th century; one side of the vessel is finely carved with a magpie standing on a plum branch, which symbolizes joy reaching the tip of the plum blossom. This phrase conveys a sense of happiness or joy reaching its peak or being at its highest point. The other side is finely carved with "Three friends of the winter". Each side of the neck is carved in high relief with a pair of archaistic bat motif, 26 cm high
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A white jade archaistic vase and cover, mid Qing Dynasty, 18th/19th century; each side of the vase is finely carved with a taotie mask motif, the vase is set with a pair of dragon head handles suspending loose rings. The stone is with an even white tone, 16.2 cm high
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An important Imperial ritual gilt bronze bell, Bianzhong, Ming; Dynasty (1368- 1644); the sides are slightly bulging, the top is cast with a stylized cloud arch forming the suspension handle. Each face has five horizontal registers of clouds, waves, and rivets in relief, framing a vertical ruyi-bordered panel. The upper section features a frieze of clouds, tortoises, and phoenixes, with dragon cartouches on the sides and a band of swirling clouds at the base. The top is cast with two pairs of phoenixes in…
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Two fine jade carvings, late Ming/Early Qing Dynasty, 17th century; the first a two part belt buckle if finely carved with coiled chilong; surmounting each shaped rectangular section linked by a further dragon head, and a jade feather holder, the oval shaft notched and pierced for suspension at one end and heightened with russet skin, 10.8 cm, 7.7 cm long
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A gold mounted jadeite bangle and black stone bangle, early 20th century; 6 cm diameter
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