Asian Art: The Connoisseurs' Collection | Live Auction
September 2026 saw a remarkable catalogue shaped over several decades by a deep appreciation for Chinese ceramics and Asian art. Spanning the Song to Republic periods, the collections in this sale reflects personal journeys guided by curiosity, taste and an enduring regard for craftsmanship.
Approximately 200 works, gathered over decades, traced a personal journey through Chinese ceramics and Asian decorative arts. Guided by curiosity and a consistent eye for quality, the catalogue reflected an enduring appreciation for history, craftsmanship and beauty.
Highlights from The Connoisseurs' Collection spanning the Song dynasty to the Republic period, offered together for the first time.
Bringing together approximately 200 works, the main collection in the catalogue reflected a deeply personal journey guided by curiosity, individual taste and an enduring appreciation for history, craftsmanship and beauty. Chinese ceramics formed its core, spanning the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties through to the Republic period, alongside selected works of Japanese and Korean art.
Throughout the years, the main collector behind this catalogue placed particular emphasis on form and proportion, glaze, craftsmanship and condition. Rather than following prevailing market trends, the collector was guided by an appreciation of the intrinsic qualities and artistic character of the object, resulting in a catalogue with a distinctive and consistent aesthetic.
Highlights included Song and Yuan dynasty wares from celebrated kiln traditions such as Ge, Jun, Yaozhou, Qingbai and Longquan. A Song dynasty Ge ware mallet vase with its original wooden stand exemplified the restrained elegance of the Song aesthetic, while a Jun ware censer with its original wooden cover, a carved Yaozhou conical tea bowl with silver-mounted rim, a Song Qingbai stem cup and a Longquan celadon tea bowl in the Guan style further demonstrated the enduring appeal of early Chinese ceramics.
The collection continued through the Ming and Qing dynasties, including a large Wanli period blue and white charger, Kangxi blue and white dragon bowls and a Guangxu imperial blue and white and iron-red dragon dish. Fine famille rose works from the Qianlong and Guangxu periods are complemented by a large mid-Qing red-glazed vase.
The collection also revealed a broader interest in Asian decorative arts and later Chinese wares, including an early Meiji period Satsuma bowl decorated with flowers and butterflies and a Republic period famille rose figure vase bearing the Shilu mark associated with Liang Duishi, with a recorded appearance at China Guardian's 2013 Spring Auction.
Lot 88. A Japanese 20th Century Early Meiji Period Satsuma ‘Flowers and Butterflies’ Bowl (Izumiyama Mark).
Lot 86. A Chinese 10th to 12th Century Song Dynasty 'Ge' Mallet Vase.
Lot 39. A Chinese 20th Century Republic Period Famille Rose ‘Figural’ Vase (Shilu Mark) (Liang Duishi 1920-1937).
Previous Highlights
Lot 34. A Chinese 17th Century Qing Dynasty Kangxi Period Wucai ‘Court Ladies’ Baluster Jar.
Lot 54. A Chinese 18th Century Qianlong Period Famille Rose ‘Antiquities’ Small Flattened Square Vase (Qing Dynasty Qianlong Mark).
Lot 92. A Chinese 19th Century Qing Dynasty Yixing ‘Gilt’ Teapot (Mengchen Mark).
Lot 69. A Chinese Song-Jin Dynasty Yaozhou Carved Conical Tea Bowl.
Lot 77. A Chinese Song-Yuan Period Longquan Celadon Bagua Tripod Censer.
Lot 42. A Chinese 19th Century Qing Dynasty Guangxu Year Imperial Blue and White and Iron-Red Dragon Dish (Qing Dynasty Guangxu Year Mark).
The collector's interests also extend to traditional Chinese craftsmanship, represented by a soapstone mythical-beast seal bearing the Wu Changshuo mark, a mid-20th-century bamboo birdcage and a Song–Yuan period Longquan celadon Bagua tripod censer.
Acquired through international auctions, antique dealers and private transactions, these works document a decades-long exploration of history, craftsmanship and aesthetics. United not by a single period or category, but by a consistent eye and appreciation for quality, the collection offers a fascinating journey through the artistic traditions of China and Asia.
These pieces were offered for the first time as a collection, and represented a rare opportunity to encounter the results of decades of thoughtful collecting.
Webb's Asian Art department specialises in the sale of Chinese, Japanese and Korean works of art, from early ceramics and jades to later porcelain, works of art and decorative pieces. Our specialists welcome consignments across all periods and categories, from single pieces to entire collections, and offer complimentary, no-obligation appraisals to those considering selling.
13.09.26
Asian Art: The Connoisseurs' Collection | Live Auction
On View | 10–13 September
Live Auction | Sunday 13 September, 2pm
33a Normanby Road, Mount Eden, Auckland
webbs.co.nz
Contact
Tom Pan | Head of Asian Art
[email protected] | +64 22 342 5610
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Our Asian Art online auctions present a curated selection of Asian artworks and artefacts across periods and mediums, offering collectors accessible opportunities to acquire finely crafted and culturally significant pieces through online bidding.