Following on the great success of the Fine Asian Works of Art auction in December 2010, which brought more than $19 million, Bonhams & Butterfields is pleased to showcase decorative Asian Works of Art on March 15, 2011.  The San Francisco auction will feature Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Southeast Asian Works of Art with a focus on jade, ceramics, scholars' objects, and snuff bottles of the Chinese taste.  Select pieces from the Estate of Margaret Roebling Perrine, daughter of Ferdinand W. Roebling, will also be featured during the 570-lot auction. 

Dessa Goddard, Vice President and Director, Asian Works of Art, Bonhams & Butterfields, said: "The firm was thrilled with the results of the December 2010 auction.  Fresh-to-market property is a magnet for bringing international Chinese buyers to the firm.  We look forward to continued strength in 2011."

Highlights from the March sale will include more than 70 lots of jade and hardstone carvings dating from the 18th through the 20th century.  Works of note include a gray-green hue jade libation cup, Late Qing Dynasty (est. $4,000-6,000); a pale green jade seated figure of Guanyin, seated in the posture of royal ease (est. $6,000-8,000); a gray-green jade vessel rendered as the top of a tree stump with geometric bark (est. $3,000-5,000) and a carved pale greenish-white jade phoenix form water coupe (est. $6,000-8,000).

The jade and hardstone carvings section of the sale will be followed by a group of snuff bottles from various owners.  Highlights include a black and white jade globular bottle. Carved in shallow relief, the bottle displays a continuous landscape containing two figures restraining a tethered horse as a playful monkey pulls his tail (est. $5,000-7,000). 

Scholar's objects, textiles, cloisonné enamels, bronze, and metalwork will also be prominently featured during the March sale, along with a select group of Sino-Tibetan gilt bronzes highlighted by a cast bronze and copper alloy statue of Padmasambhava, 18th/19th century (est. $2,800-4,000). 

A Guangxu mark and period celadon glazed porcelain hu-form vase (est. $4,000-6,000) and a Kangxi period blue and white porcelain charger (est. $3,000-5,000) from an important Beverly Hills Estate are featured in the more than 100 lots of Chinese ceramics and porcelains to be offered in the sale.  This section will be followed by 19th and 20th century Chinese paintings.

A substantial offering of Thai and Burmese bronze and lacquered wood figures of the Buddha from various owners will highlight the Southeast Asian and Korean section of the auction.  Included are select works from the Estate of Margaret Roebling Perrine, daughter of Ferdinand W. Roebling, general manager of John A. Roebling Sons Company.  Roebling is perhaps best identified for building the magnificent Brooklyn Bridge.  Works of note from this estate include an 18 ½ inch partial gilt wood figure of Amida Butsu, the Pureland Buddha, 19th century (est. $2,500-4,000).

Sales of Asian Art will continue in June 2011 during Bonhams & Butterfields' Fine Asian Works of Art auction.  Noted for the recent sale of a blue and white porcelain Dragon jar for $7,658,000 in December 2010, highlights for the upcoming sale will be available in the weeks preceding the auction. 

Asian Works of Art Preview: March 12-14, San Francisco

Auction: March 15, San Francisco