Lark Mason, founder and president of Lark Mason Associates, has announced that more than 200 lots of important Asian art will soon be up for bidding on iGavel Auctions in a sale that goes live on October 13th through October 27th. The outstanding works of art represent the breathtaking scope of Asian periods and disciplines, from the Sui dynasty through the 20th century, In addition, an exemplary selection of fine and decorative arts from the 17th to 20th centuries, goes live on October 8th to 29th.

In the fine and decorative arts sale, works of art include over 200 works of art from international collectors with an emphasis on works from the Beaux Arts period, which represented some of the highest levels of technical achievement in craftsmanship from the 18th century to the present day. The sale has a fine selection of gilt-bronze mounted clock garnitures, silver table articles, and furniture, including a porcelain mounted games table, created during the reign of Napoleon III.  

Says Mr. Mason, “These two sales offer an extensive range of new material to the auction market, and includes items from all Asian cultures, with the largest number from China, consigned from American collectors. Complementing the Asian works of art is a superb array of fine and decorative arts.”

The Asian sale includes a fine selection of jewelry, highlighted by three strands of bright-green jadeite necklaces, formerly strung as a single necklace then separated early in the 20th century; and a brilliant pink tourmaline pendant. Among the furniture is a rare pair of Chinese Huanghuali yokeback armchairs, dating from the late 17th century. The sale also includes early bronze figures, jade and other hardstone carvings, lacquer, porcelain, and other works of art, including a selection of scroll paintings by noted artists.  Among the outstanding highlights are:

*A Chinese Cloisonné Tripod Censer with Carved Wood Cover, 18th Century and later  (Est:$100,000/150,000)

Small censers, used for burning incense, were made of various materials in China, ranging from ceramic to cloisonné. Few of these were made in the imperial workshops and this example has a gilt four-character Qianlong mark inset into the base. At a later date, a carved wood cover was created for the censer, deftly carved with a sinuous dragon emerging from turbulent clouds. The censer was formerly in an American collection. 

*A Set of Three Chinese Green Jadeite Necklaces (Est:$60,000/90,000)

Chinese jadeite, often called imperial jade, a brilliant emerald green color. These three strands were once a single long strand, that early in the 20th century were separated into three by the present owner’s family. The beads are perfectly matched in color and size, and the set is accompanied by a GIA certificate testifying to the natural color. 

*A pair of Chinese Porcelain Fahua 'Lotus' Jars and Covers, Qing dynasty (Est:$50,000/80,000)

Lotus subjects appear throughout Chinese art, and this pair of vases, replicates a design first seen during the Qianlong period (1736-1795). Controlling the firing process in the kiln was particularly challenging for the complicated design and range of colors, which exemplifies the rarity of this pattern. 

In the fine and decorative arts category, highlights include:

*An Italian Empire Gilt Bronze and Marble Surtout de Table, early 19th century  (Est:$10,000/20,000)

The dominance of Napoleon on the world stage at the end of the 18th and into the 19th centuries is difficult for us to imagine, but in addition to changing the balance of world power, Napoleon brought in a new artistic sensibility, that invoking imperial Rome. The Surtout de Table is made of white marble and gilt bronze and emblazoned with Latin words fitting for an emperor, accompanied by images of imperial power, an obelisk, fluted columns, rearing horses, and tunic-clad warriors. The assemblage was likely created in Italy during the early years of the 19th century at a time when Napoleon had established control over the kingdom of Naples. 

*A Pair of Large Gilt Bronze Porphyry Covered Vases, 19th Century (Est:$7,000/10,000)

Porphyry, a material associated with ancient Egypt and Rome, was extensively used during the 19th century for large, impressive vases and other forms such as these examples. The classically inspired gilt-bronze mounts reference eighteenth century examples created for European monarchs and nobility. These examples were likely made during the latter part of the 19th century in a conscious effort to recall these earlier examples. 

*A German Porcelain Figural Decorated 'Earth' Ewer, Meissen, Ca. 1880 (Est:$1,200/1800)

Meissen, the dominant porcelain manufacturing company in Europe and arguably the world, began in the early 18th century and by the end of the 19th century had embraced the full-flowering of historicism shown in not-so-veiled references to classical subjects in their porcelain creations. Among the most exuberant are large ewers such as this example representing the earth, part of a set representing the four elements, originally inspired by an eighteenth century version by J. J. Kaendler, the master ceramicist of Meissen. 

About Lark Mason and iGavel

In 2003, long before the recent proliferation of online auction sites, Lark Mason had already established iGavel Inc., the online international network of independently owned regional auction salesrooms, specializing in the sale of fine and decorative arts. With his stellar reputation as a leading expert, appraiser, and television personality on the PBS series The Antiques Roadshow, Mason’s innovative approach for online sales—with uniform buyer’s premium rates, vetted sellers, published condition reports, and a guarantee for items sold in the two-week auction process—set a new standard and remains unique among Web-based auction companies.

A native New Yorker and a former director of Sothebys.com, Mason is the owner of his eponymous auction house, which specializes in Asian art and recently sold a painting for more than $4.3 million, a record-breaking price for Lark Mason Associates and one of the highest amounts of any work of art sold online.  That result was not an anomaly.  In 2014, five other members of the iGavel consortium also had record-breaking results: Elders sold a Chinese scroll for $1.1 million; Everard, an oil by Gabriele Münter for more than $250,000; Litchfield County, a pair of Chinese vases for nearly $250,000; Nye, a Louis XIV cabinet for nearly $100,000; and Witherell’s, a horn-veneered center table for $90,000. 

iGavel associates are independent auctioneers, appraisers, and dealers. They include: Abington Auctions (Ft. Lauderdale), Daniel Cooney Fine Art (New York), Elder's Fine Art and Antiques (Nokomis FL), Everard & Company (Savannah GA), KC Auction Company (Kansas City), Lark Mason Associates (New Braunfels TX), Bill Lowrie Antiques (Minneapolis MN), South Bay Auctions (East Moriches NY), and Witherell’s (Sacramento CA).

For more information, visit www.igavelauctions.com

iGavel Auctions is located at 229 East 120th Street (between Second and Third Avenues), New York City. Visit www.igavelauctions.com, or phone 212-289-5588.

Please Note:

Asian Works of Art

Sale goes live on iGavel on October 13th-27th

Texas Exhibition

The Barn on Willow Street

887 Cross Street

New Braunfels, Texas 78130

Call for information

830-201-1172

Friday October 9th, 10am – 5pm
Saturday October 10th, 10am – 4pm
Sunday October 11th, 1pm – 6pm

Fine and Decorative Arts

Sale is live from October 8th-29th.

New York Exhibition 

227 East 120th street

New York, NY 10035

212-289-5524

October 19th-23rd

10am -5pm

Estimates do not include buyer's premium.

To view online catalogue, visit www.igavelauctions.com, when the sale opens.

Phone 212-289-5524

Live Online Sale Dates: October 13 – October 27, 2015