Under the Hammer
J. J. Lally & Co. Fine Chinese Works of Art
Senior Specialist I-Hsuan Chen's Top Picks
Bonhams is honored to present the sale of property from Asian art gallery J. J. Lally & Co., comprised of Chinese works of art spanning 5,000 years—from the Neolithic Period through the end of Qing Dynasty.
Throughout its 35 year run, J.J. Lally & Co. maintained a small inventory, hand-picked by owner James J. Lally, whose eye for elegance and beauty was apparent for even the most categoric of artworks.
I-Hsuan Chen, Bonhams Senior Specialist for Chinese Works of Art, had the privilege of working with Lally for nearly 14 years at his East 57th Street gallery. Now, with 68 works from J.J. Lally & Co. coming under the hammer on 20 March, I-Hsuan says that the property “brings back memories—not only of all the objects we cataloged together, but also the principles, philosophy, and discipline that made Jim a respected dealer and J. J. Lally & Co. a successful business.”
Read on to learn more about I-Hsuan’s top picks from the sale and her memories of working at J. J. Lally & Co.
Lot 39
A Rare Chased Silver ‘Literary Gathering’ Pictorial Tray
Lot 39. A Rare Chased Silver 'Literary Gathering' Pictorial Tray. Southern Song dynasty, 13th century. Estimate: $30,000 - 50,000.
Lot 39. A Rare Chased Silver 'Literary Gathering' Pictorial Tray. Southern Song dynasty, 13th century. Estimate: $30,000 - 50,000.
Among the many beautiful objects in this sale, this ‘Literary Gathering’ Pictorial Tray best represents the qualities of J. J. Lally & Co.
It is extremely rare to see an object devoted to a pictorial scene, and the chased painterly lines and craftsmanship of the bracket-lobed tray exemplify the highest quality of Song silverwares. Eight-lobed rims also appeared in ceramics and lacquer wares in the same period—a trait typical of Song dynasty material culture.
This ‘Literary Gathering’ silver tray entered the gallery’s inventory in January 1997, alongside its ‘sister pair’, the ‘Red Cliff’ silver tray. At the time, very few people paid attention to Song-dynasty silver. Lally, however, recognized the importance of the works, and he was patient in waiting to find a good home for them.
The ‘Red Cliff’ silver tray was in the J. J. Lally & Co. exhibition in 2002 and again in 2012, eventually acquired by the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Now, we are pleased to present the ‘Literary Gathering’ tray with updated research and a scholarly essay written by Krystal Liu, our Specialist in Chinese Works of Art.
Lot 45
An Archaistic Bronze-Form Jade Vase and Cover, Hu
Lot 45. An Archaistic Bronze-Form Jade Vase and Cover, Hu. Song-Ming dynasty. Estimate: $20,000 - 30,000.
Lot 45. An Archaistic Bronze-Form Jade Vase and Cover, Hu. Song-Ming dynasty. Estimate: $20,000 - 30,000.
Attributing jade carvings from the 10th–14th century has long been a challenge for scholars and collectors alike, due to a lack of datable comparisons from archaeological finds. The archaizing design also adds to the confusion: for several hundred years, decorations referred back to Shang and Zhou bronzes, resulting in stylized versions that are difficult to distinguish from one century to the next.
The present bronze-form jade vase and cover has a distinguished provenance in the collections of notable jade connoisseurs since the 1930s. For Lally, the legacy of ownership alone was not a decisive factor in acquiring this jade. Rather, he was attracted to the sophisticated carving and beauty of the vase, noting that “it felt well balanced in my hands”.
Lot 15
A Jade Notched Disc, Yabi
Lot 15. A Jade Notched Disc, Yabi. Late Neolithic period - early Shang dynasty. Estimate: $7,000 - 9,000.
Lot 15. A Jade Notched Disc, Yabi. Late Neolithic period - early Shang dynasty. Estimate: $7,000 - 9,000.
One of my first research projects during my time at J.J. Lally & Co. was to write footnotes for a jade notched disc, which at the time was called xuanji (璿璣)—a mythic, poetic name that captivated people’s imagination for over 2,000 years.
The name xuanji yuheng (璿璣玉衡) first appeared in the Book of Documents (compiled before 3rd century B.C.) but without description on its function or appearance. Han dynasty (202 B.C. – A.D. 220) scholars interpreted it to be an astrological device used in ancient rituals. Theories abound that the device was made from jade, given the ‘jade’ (玉 yu) radicals included in the ‘璿’ and ‘璣’ characters and for the use of jade in rituals throughout Chinese history. Qing-dynasty connoisseur Wu Dacheng (1835-1902) coined the name in his publication Guyu tukao (古玉圖攷), illustrating several jade notched discs and called them xuanji.
The name became widely accepted in the colleting field until the 20th century, when archeologists discovered jade notched discs together with circular jade discs (bi) in burial grounds on the chests of the deceased—with no association to astrological purposes. From then, the term yabi (牙壁 ‘toothed disc’) was assigned by archaeologists to clarify the function.
Lot 10
A Glazed White Stoneware Jar and Cover
Lot 10. A Glazed White Stoneware Jar and Cover. Sui dynasty. Estimate: $30,000 - 50,000.
Lot 10. A Glazed White Stoneware Jar and Cover. Sui dynasty. Estimate: $30,000 - 50,000.
Based on excavations of the Xing and Ding kiln sites in Hebei province in the past three decades, new scholarship has focused on the development of early white wares. Surveys of ancient port cities along the Grand Canal, such as Yangzhou, have revealed clues of production, showing a rich variety of vessel types made for both domestic and export markets.
This high-fired stoneware jar and cover represents the finest production of early white wares—a technological breakthrough in the early 7th century led by the Chinese and produced nowhere else in the world. The elegant shape and the finely crackled glaze of this piece make it an exceptional work of art.
Lot 37
A Finely Chased Silver Shell-Form Box
Lot 37. A Finely Chased Silver Shell-Form Box. Tang dynasty. Estimate: $10,000 - 15,000.
Lot 37. A Finely Chased Silver Shell-Form Box. Tang dynasty. Estimate: $10,000 - 15,000.
This box, which may have been used to contain cosmetic powder or perfume pasts, is made from two realistically cast shells, joined with a siver hinge and secured by silver rivets.
The shell is decorated with classic Tang dynasty motifs of scrolling vines over a ‘fish roe’ ring punch ground, influenced by the gold and silver wares traded through the Silk Road from Central Asia. The exotic motif, large size, an unexpected silky texture defines a luxury item which was likely made for the Tang royal class to enjoy.
Register to bid in J. J. Lally & Co. Fine Chinese Works of Art
Browse all lots in our auction on 20 March in New York, or reach out to ihsuan.chen@bonhams.com for inquiries.
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