Asian Works of Art

The department of Asian Works of Art presents itself as one of the leading ones within the auction house and it's increasingly generating interest among both the vast Chinese clientele - focused on seeking for objects and artefacts of their own tradition - and the Western one, fascinated by the rarity and refinement of the selected works.

Such result has been achieved by experts thanks to an accurate study of the styles and a meticulous selection of works never seen on the market, coming from important private collections. Porcelains, jades, corals, ivories, lacquers, but also sculptures, furniture and paintings with rich ornaments, are thus precious protagonists of the catalogue.

Among the memorable awards which have marked the importance of the department, we can include a magnificent 'ruyi' sceptre in Celadon jade of XVIII century, sold for € 212,500; an important zitan wood table screen of the Qianlong period, sold for € 262,500; a monochrome porcelain Moonflask of the Qianlong period, sold for € 287,500; and an extremely refined vertical scroll titled 'Chicks' by the renowned Chinese master Qi Bashi, sold for € 137,500.

Next auction

12 May 2022

Viewing: 8, 9, 10 May 2022 (10AM/1PM - 2/6PM)

On the 22nd of October in Milan, the auction house Il Ponte will offer a refined journey through Asian works of art, from sculptures to furnishings, from vases to small objets d'art, with specific attention to works from China, Japan and Thailand. In the section dedicated to China, a pair of 18th-century panels in Hongmu wood stands out for its symbolic auspicious meaning, it has a boxwood interlaced motif in the centre and painted backgrounds with polychrome clouds and ivory applications depicting deities.

Il Giornale dell'Arte | 19 October 2021

This is how we imagine the sale of Il Ponte, as a meeting of distant lands and treasures that know no boundaries of time, space, imagination. However, there are no threads of memory, as in Ersilia, nor "figures of things", as in the streets of Tamara: instead we find over 170 lots in the rooms of Palazzo Crivelli, which recall, one by one, all the wonders of Oriental Art.

Exibart | 22 April 2021

An exciting week for Il Ponte, which collects positive results from its journey across antiquities and remote lands [...] with a triumphant 70% of lots sold and 170% of increase on the sales value. The market for oriental works of art, where quality stands out», states Andrea Cesati, Head of the Department of Asian Works of Art, «confirms itself as brilliant notwithstanding such peculiar times. Demand towards this type of works is confirmed as very high

Exibart | 20 October 2020

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Records and results

A Cast Bronze Censer

ceselled with dragons among clouds, Xuande apocryphal mark
China, early Qing dynasty, 17th century (l. 19 cm.)

Estimate € 4.000 - 6.000

Sold € 56.250

A large pair of hongmu double gourd panels

the frames carved with leafy branches and gourds, centered by a intertwined motif in boxwood (Huangyangmu), the backgrounds painted with polychrome clouds and with painted ivory plaques depicting goddesses China, 18th century (measures: h. cm 108 and 109 with hooks and h. cm 102 and 103 without hooks)

Estimate € 10.000 - 15.000

Sold € 35.000

A large gilt-wood carved seated Buddha

on a associated carved base (defects and losses) China, Ming dynasty, 17th century (h. tot 104 cm.)

Estimate € 12.000 - 15.000

Sold € 35.000

A pair of rectangular lacquered tables

mother of pearl inlaid, with cabriole legs (defects and losses) Japan, 19th century (107.5x79.2x75 cm.)

Estimate € 6.000 - 8.000

Sold € 30.000

A pair of red iron bowls

decorated with dragons and phoenix, floral motifs and butterflies, Tongzhi marks China, late Qing dynasty (d. 12.7 cm.)

Estimate € 800 - 1.200

Sold € 27.500

A white/celadon plaque

finely carved front and back with figures in a mountain landscape with pagodas, on later wood stand (defects) China, 18th century (h. 20 cm.)

Estimate € 6.000 - 8.000

Sold € 23.750

An Anglo Chinese silver-gilt teapot

on stand with warmer, ceselled with floral decoration and landscapes into reserves, the teapot incised under the base with chinese ideogram "Dong Lu" and British arms of a marquis, the stand and warmer with marks for London 1839, silversmith Robert Garrad II

Estimate € 1.400 - 1.800

Sold € 21.250