Chinese Song ceramics set to hit right note
A single owner collection of Chinese Song ceramics is included in Dreweatts & Bloomsbury‘s forthcoming Chinese Ceramics and Asian Works of Art Sale next month, with estimates ranging from £100 to £40,000.
The Peter Arlidge Collection of Song Ceramics includes 50 lots that were collected during a 50-year career in transport investment. Peter, who describes himself as an ‘old-fashioned collector’, comes from a long line of potters and was the first son not to take up the family profession.
Instead, he had a career in transport investment that made him resident in countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia where his love affair with ceramics developed.
Many of the lots in the collection carry attractive estimates, says the auction house. During Peter’s time in Malaysia in the 1960s his interest in Chinese ceramics peaked and when he later moved to Indonesia, he bought the first two pieces for what would become a much prized personal collection.
Highlights from the Arlidge collection in the sale this November include an attractive Chinese ovoid jar and cover, possibly Qingbai, Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) with an estimate of £800 to £1200; and a Chinese carved Qingbai ‘Boys’ bowl, Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). The bowl is freely carved to the interior depicting two boys amongst a lush ground of scrolling peonies and has an estimate of £1,000-2,000. A very similar bowl sold in The Pilkington Collection of Chinese Art, Sotheby’s, Hong Kong earlier this year for over £4,000.
Also in the sale is a fine Chinese ruby-pink enameled bowl. The delicate bowl, approximately 11cm in diameter, is from a private collection where it was previously exhibited at Stockholm Museum ‘Te som konst’ (Tea Art) in 1996. The interior is painted with peach blossom in famille rose enamels, and the exterior is covered with a vibrant ruby-pink enamel in contrast to the white interior. It is complete with Yongcheng six-character mark within double circle and is estimated at £40,000-60,000.
The auction takes place on Tuesday 15th November 10.00am at Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire.