GISELE CROES PRESENTS COLLECTING CHINESE ART GAGOSIAN NEW YORK Opening reception : March 16, 6-9 pm March 15-24, 2018 980 Madison Avenue 4th floor New York, NY10075 For the fifth year in a row, Gisèle Croës will exhibit in collaboration with Gagosian on the occasion of Asia Week New York 2018. This year, Gisèle Croës will return with a selection of highlights that best capture the essence of Collecting Chinese Art. While the urge to collect is present in all cultures, it has always played a special role in the history of China. Collectors started gathering works as early as the Tang dynasty (618-907) and, presumably, earlier.
Starting with an extraordinary vase Li from the late Longshan period (30 th -20 th century BC) and spanning the centuries, the show includes a set of spectacular ritual bronze vessels: a bronze wine vessel gu dating from the Late Shang dynasty with noteworthy provenance, a bronze bell bo, a large bronze vessel jian, and a monumental bronze drum stand with three coiled dragons dating back to the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC). Other remarkable bronze pieces include a rare Shang dynasty bronze and jade axe, a stand out in a collection of bronze weapons; a bronze figure riding a mythical beast from the Han dynasty (106 BC- AD 220); and a beautiful pair of bronze, gold and silver weights in the shape of rams (Western Han dynasty, 206 BC - AD 25). A beautiful Northern Qi head (550-577) and a sculpture representing Guanyin from the Song dynasty (960-1279) are a few of the beautiful pieces of Buddhist statuary included in the exhibition. Gisele Croës will also present an ensemble of Chinese Imperial masterpieces: a magnificent lacquer altar table from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), and an extraordinary pair of large cloisonné double-gourd shaped vases with covers and covers dating from the Qianlong period (1736-1795). For the past forty years, Gisèle Croës Arts d Extrême-Orient has promoted the understanding and appreciation of Oriental Art. Since 1976, Gisèle Croës has participated in major international fairs such as the Biennale des Antiquaires, Paris; The European Fine Art Fair, Maastricht; and Asia Week, New York, as well as more innovative fairs such as the Shanghai Fine Jewelry and Art Fair. Gisèle Croës has collaborated on exhibitions with Gagosian since 2014, in New York and Hong Kong, presenting ancient Chinese art with modern and contemporary works. Gagosian was established in 1980 by Larry Gagosian in Los Angeles, California. Since that time, the gallery has expanded onto three continents, with branches in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Paris, Rome, Geneva, Athens, and Hong Kong, and an unparalleled program of exhibitions by some the world s most acclaimed modern and contemporary artists. PRESS ENQUIRIES For picture requests or any further information please contact the gallery at art@giselecroes.com, + 32.2.511.82.11 or Gagosian at press@gagosian.com, + 1.212.744.2313.
BRONZE WINE VESSEL, GU LATE SHANG DYNASTY (C. 1300-1046 BC) HT 32.7 CM (12 3/4 IN.) PROVENANCE JOHN SPARKS LTD., LONDON, 19 NOVEMBER 1946, WING COMMANDER LORD CUNLIFFE, COLLECTION N A26 The history of this Gu is remarkably documented. It used to be part of the second Lord Cunliffe collections, famous wing commander in the RAF and avid collector of Chinese artworks. The piece was originally purchased in 1946 from John Sparks Ltd. This well known London based Chinese art antiques company supplied an international clientele of collectors including Queen Mary.
BRONZE DRUM STAND WITH THREE COILED DRAGONS SPRING AND AUTUMN PERIOD (770-476 BC) BRONZE WITH GREEN AND BROWN PATINA WD. 53 CM (21 IN.) PROVENANCE : PRIVATE COLLECTION, TAIPEI
BRONZE BELL, BO SPRING AND AUTUMN PERIOD (770-476 BC) - EARLY 7TH CENTURY HT. 42 CM (16 1/2 IN.) PROVENANCE: CHING WAN SOCIETY, TAIWAN
BRONZE RIDER AND UNICORN WESTERN HAN DYNASTY (206 BC-AD 25) BRONZE WITH GREEN PATINA HT 19 CM ( 7 1/2 IN.) PROVENANCE: PRIVATE COLLECTION