The Estate of Baron Pierre DeMenasce to Highlight Doyle New York’s March 17 Asian Works of Art Sale
- NEW YORK, New York
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- March 12, 2014
Scheduled during Asia Week New York, Doyle New York’s Asian Works of Art auction on Monday, March 17 at noon presents the arts of China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia dating from the Neolithic Period through the 20th century. Offerings include pottery and porcelain, jade, ivory, scholar’s objects, bronzes, screens, furniture and paintings. Also featured are Japanese swords.
Highlighting the auction is property from the Estate of Baron Pierre DeMenasce (1924-2013),the son of noted collector Baron George DeMenasce (1891-1967). During the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries, the DeMenasce family was prominent in Egyptian commerce and society. Baron Pierre’s great-great-grandfather, Jacob Levi DeMenasce (1807-1883), established the merchant banking firm of J.L. DeMenasce and Sons in Cairo and Alexandria. The firm prospered, and Jacob was appointed banker to the Ottoman Khedive of Egypt. In 1869, Jacob was introduced to the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Josef I during the ceremonies surrounding the opening of the Suez Canal. Jacob was knighted by the Emperor in 1873, and two years later, the family was elevated to hereditary Hungarian Barons.
Baron Jacob’s great-grandson, Baron George DeMenasce, was a sophisticated connoisseur and avid collector of Chinese jades, porcelains and works of art. In the late 1940s, Baron George packed up his extraordinary collection and moved from Alexandria to a house on London near Hyde Park. His son, Baron Pierre was educated at Yale University and devoted himself to charitable works and philanthropy, culture and travel – and to treasuring the precious Chinese works of art from his father’s collection that are now offered in this sale.
Highlighting the collection is an important 18th century Chinese pale celadon jade covered vase with an articulated swing handle, height overall 9 1/8 inches (est. $500,000-700,000). Also dating to the 18th century is a Chinese white jade covered wine pot carved in relief with branches of unfurling leaves, length 6 3/4 inches (est. $200,000-300,000). An 18th/19th century Chinese pale celadon jade tulu is carved in low relief with interlaced kui dragons above stylized shou characters, height 5 1/8 inches (est. $80,000-120,000).
The public is invited to the exhibition on view at Doyle New York from March 14 through 16. Doyle New York is located at 175 East 87th Street in Manhattan. The Internet catalogue may be viewed at DoyleNewYork.com. For information, call 212-427-2730 or visit DoyleNewYork.com.