Chinese ceramic Immortals set to impress

A group of three Chinese porcelain figures of the Immortals are part of a large collection of Asian Art, which is being showcased at North Yorkshire’s Elstob Auctioneers’ next sale on Wednesday March 13.

Dating from the Guangxu period (1875-1908), the impressive trio is made from Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain and carries a guide price of £4,000 to £6,000.

Each model stands at around 60cm high and wears elaborately enameled robes. They represent the star gods Fu Xing, Lu Xing and Shou Xing, who stand for three of the highest priorities in Chinese life – happiness, prosperity and longevity.

Fu Xing is depicted holding a child, Lu Xing carries a ruyi sceptre and Shou-Xing holds a peach – a symbol of long life and immortality in Chinese art.

“These beautifully crafted figurines represent centuries of Chinese culture and tradition,” said director of the Ripon-based auction house David Elstob. “They are still revered and celebrated today as symbols of good life and hope for the future and these figures would be particularly well-suited for both decorative purposes and displays.”

The March sale includes many other fine pieces of historic and contemporary Asian art giving collectors and enthusiasts the opportunity to bid for treasures that celebrate the artistic achievements of a geographical region that includes China, Japan and South-East Asia.

A splendid pair of early 20th century Chinese silver-gilt and filigree tea caddies, decorated with enamel birds and flowers and semi-precious stones are expected to reach £3,000 to £4,000 and a 17th century blue and white ginger jar depicting a Kylin lion carries a price estimate of £2,500 to £3,500.

Also of note is a Japanese bronze dish from the Meiji period (late 19th century) that is inlaid with gold, silver and copper and features a large roundel of scholars encircled by geometric patterns. It measures 30.5cm diameter and is expected to reach between £1,000 and £1,500.

“We are very excited by the breadth and diversity of this sale, which showcases a large number of bronze figures, ceramics, jades, textiles, furniture and paintings,” said David Elstob.

“As Asia becomes ever more important on the world stage, there has been an increased interest and fascination with its diverse cultures and rich history. This has led to a rise in the buying and selling of Asian art in the last few years and we expect a lot of interest in this particular collection from global buyers,” he added.