On Sunday, September 14th, Gianguan Auctions will kick off the fall edition of New York’s Asia Week with dynamic collections of Chinese paintings, Ceramics, Carved Jades and Works of Art. The morning session of paintings is one of the strongest in recent memory, mixing works from the Song, Ming and Yuan Dynasties with a field of modern and contemporary paintings. Later in the day, decorative arts come under the hammer in what promises to be a lively session.

Several of the marquee items reflect benchmarks in the evolution of Chinese history and art. For example, Lot 61, “Stallion and Attendant,” a Yuan Dynasty work by Zhao Lin, metaphorically challenges the Mongol influence by depicting a regal horse rearing against reins held by a fierce looking keeper. Intricately colored and meticulous in its detail, the painting carries one artist seal, eight Collectors’ seals and eleven Emperor’s seals plus five colophons. It will command $400,000-$500,000.

Lot 51, “Mt. Huangshan Amidst Cloud,” a Qing Dynasty landscape by Hong Ren, captures the mountain’s jagged peaks and plateaus in an early example of geometric abstraction. The ink and color on paper is  entitled, inscribed and signed.  With two artists seals, two collectors seals and one colophon by Cheng Zhenghu, it is valued at $600,000 - $850,000.

Meanwhile, classicists will flock to Lot 64, Zhao Yuan’s “Snow Mountain” with fifteen Collectors’ seals and two colophons by Ma Jin and Fa Ruozhen. It is estimated at $200,000 to $300,000.  

Works by twentieth century blue chip artists include three by Li Keran (1907 - 1989) whose insights and knowledge of water buffalo and their young herders come through in the work. Lot 17, “Cross the Willow Pond,” is a study in movement as herder and water buffalos make their way through deep water. The catalog estimate is $80,000 to $100,000. Lot 49, “Autumn Leaves Color” captures the light heartedness of  herders atop water buffalo reveling in a swirl of orange autumn leaves. Its estimate is $60,000 - $100,000. Finally, Lot 67, “A Shepherd,” is a tour de force of humor in ink. A very young herder contemplates a mountainous landscape while propped capriciously in an gravity-defying pose on the side of the water buffalo. In the inscription, the artist compares himself to an overgrown school child. The pre-sale estimate is $50,000 - $80,000.

The ever popular and prodigious Qi Baishi is represented by Lot 28, “Rooster and Cockscomb.” In an asymmetrical take on the subject, Qi Baishi, cocks the rooster’s head so that it can peer into a tree in the background, parodying, perhaps, the legend that roosters have eyes in the back of their head.  Signed Qi Huang, the painting has one artist seal and is estimated $50,000 to $60,000. Lot 35, “Chrysanthemum and Wine,” a Qi Baishi still life, stresses longevity and good fortune.  Its value is $50,000 - $80,000.

Fu Baishi  (1904-1965) a leader of the New Chinese Painting Movement that reformed Chinese painting after1949, authors Lot 32, “Crane at Dusk.” It is  a bold portrayal of a man on a jetty in a rolling sea contemplating a flock of cranes. Entitled and signed, the painting has three artists seals. It is expected to fetch $100,000 - $150,000. In Lot 43, the artist depicts “The Three Sages,” seated under a tree. Signed Fu Baishi, it is cataloged at $60,000 to $80,000. 

 Eight paintings by Zhang Daiqain (1899 - 1983) come to the podium as early as Lot 3.  “Scholar with Zither”,  is a 1976, two-panel calligraphic statement on mottled background. Inscribed and signed Zhang Yuan, it carries two artist seals and is expected to go off at $20,000 to $30,00. Lot 40, aptly named “Mountain Ridges,” is a color-splashed landscape expected to bring $40,000 - $50,000. Lot 57, “Beauty and a Mirror,” dated 1944, is a figurative painting destined to fetch $50,000 - $80,000.

Highlights of the afternoon session include exceptional Chinese Porcelains from the Ming, Song and Qing Dynasties. Lot  215 is a magnificent Ming blue and white lobed bowl. The sixteen lobes are finely painted with twenty-two children playing in a court garden scene. At the center of the interior four children play. This auspicious sign is surrounded by Lingzhi and plantain. Of the period and bearing the Xuande Six-Character Double-Circled Seal Mark, to bowl is anticipated to command $400,000 to $600,000.

Lot 222 is a pair of Cizhou carved green-glazed meipings. Of potted form, the vases are carved with wide bands of lotus spray. At the shoulder and foot are line borders and scrolling leaves.  Ten inches high and of the Song Dynasty, they are valued at $15,000 - $20,000.

Lot 204 is a fine yellow ground and green enameled Qilin vase. Of bulbous form with canted shoulder and long neck, the vase is decorated with the mythical hooved chimerical beast known as a Qilin. Of the  Qing Dynasty, it bears the Yongzheng Six Character Mark and is valued at $4,000 to $5,000.

A mythical beast of gilt and silver inlaid bronze embellished with hard stone with dragon head and tiger body at Lot 248. Of the Warring States period and decorated with scrolling clouds, beasts and geometrics, the animal stands fore square and ferocious.  Measuring five inches high and ten inches long, the bronze beast is valued at $80,000 to $100,000.  A similar mythical beast, also silver inlaid bronze resides at Lot 253. Of the Warring States period, its estimate is $30,000 to $50,000.

Meanwhile, Lot 250, a carved neolithic bone of the Liangzhu Culture (3400–2250 BC) will draw attention from natural history collectors. Retaining the shape of a lower jaw bone with teeth intact, the specimen is carved with a Taotie mask. Its catalog estimate is $10,000 - $20,000.

With the 2014 International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society meeting set for October in Hong Kong, interest in the collection of snuff bottles may soar. Prime items include Lot 270, a carved green-overlay on white glass Famille-Rose painted snuff bottle. The Qing Dynasty bottle carries the Qianlong four character mark. Its value is $3,000 to $4,000. Another excellent example is Lot 272, a pouch-shaped bottle with enameled cartouches depicting Western figures of mother and child. The metal stopper has an integral finial and collar decorated with floral blossom. It is of the Qing Dynasty and has the Qianlong Four Character Mark. The estimate is $2,000 - $3,000.

An extensive collection of carved jade personal items such as pendants, thumb rings, garment hooks, jewelry and a white jade belt.  This is followed by carved hard stones seals. Outstanding among them is Lot 154, a Qing Dynasty, Jixue boulder carved in relief with nine dragons chasing flaming pearls on a beige Shoushan stand carved with dragon tortoise. It is estimated at $6,000 to $10,000.  At Lot 193, the carver’s art is distinguished by a Shoushan set of Twelve Military Officials in Full Armor. Each is crowned with a zodiac animal head and is surmounted on a wooden stand.  The set is valued at $6,000 to $10,000.

For luxury brand enthusiasts, Lot 125 introduces a Cartier Tank Francaise diamond bezel wristwatch set with a blue cabochon crystal. It will command $6,000 - $7,000.

For the complete catalog of more than 300 items including teapots, Zitan objects,  and gilt deities, please visit www.gianguanauctions.com

The September 14th sale will be held live at Gianguan Auctions, 295 Madison Avenue. Online bidding can be done through the Gianguan Auctions website or through LiveAuctioneers.com, The Gianguan Auctions preview runs from September 6 through Saturday, September 13, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.