Nadeau’s Auction Gallery’s American Antiques, Chinese, Continental, and Jewelry Spring Auction to Feature a Remarkable Archaistic Bronze Vessel.

This fully provenanced rarity was once part of the Imperial Prince Kung Collection and has been in the same family for more than century.

April 21, 2023 – Nadeau’s Auction Gallery is excited to announce its May 6th, 2023 American Antiques, Chinese, Continental, and Jewelry Spring Auction. This vessel, along with the sale’s other fine 630+ lots, can be previewed now at www.nadeausauction.com or live in the gallery at the company’s Windsor, CT offices on Thursday, May 4th from 2:00PM – 6:30PM, Friday, May 5th from 12:00PM – 5:00PM, and Saturday, May 6th from 9:00AM – 10:00AM. Bidders who want participate in the sale remotely may do so via phone, absentee bids, or online through Invaluable, Bidsquare, or Liveauctioneers. Contact Nadeau’s directly to submit bids in advance via absentee bidding.

Spectacular examples of Asian art take several of the top lots slots in this outstanding sale. 

The top lot in this sale is lot #115, a breathtaking, archaistic bronze vessel from the Chinese Imperial Prince Kung Collection. This oviform vessel is estimated at $100,000-200,000. It is exquisitely detailed from top to bottom. It features tapering sides rising from a flat foot to round shoulders, a contracted neck and flaring rim, and serrated, triangular Lappet bands bordering its shoulder and foot. Its body is decorated with a modified Leiwen ground stud with turquoise boss inlays and a rich patina. This Han type example is 7-1/2″ tall, has a diameter of 11-1/2″, and is attributed to a succeeding period.

The beauty of this vessel is matched only by its history and thrilling provenance. It was owned by Prince Kung (Chinese, 1833–1898), an influential royal and statesman of the Manchu led Qing dynasty in China. It was sold at “The Prince Kung Collection” event held by the American Art Galleries auction house in New York on February 27th and 28th, 1913. It was lot #306 and realized $1,550. In 2023 dollars, this is equivalent to $47,257.15! The vessel was purchased through an agent named W.W. Seaman who was buying items on behalf of a private client. He would go on to purchase 66 items from the Kung Collection sale. This bronze has been analyzed via category experts and has been matched to the one featured in the 1913 auction catalog photograph. 

Through careful research and family information, it was determined that Homer Pace (American, 1879-1942) most likely was the Seaman’s auction client. Pace was the founder of Pace College in 1906 (later Pace University) and the college’s first President. The vessel stayed within the Pace family circle since then, passing from Homer Pace to his son Robert Pace upon Homer’s death in 1942, then to Robert’s sister-in-law Mae Neville sometime near the end of World War II, then to Mae’s friend Elinor Murray in 1969 or 1970 where it has resided until the present time.

Other Asian highlights include lot #206, a Haldane Chinese Export armorial porcelain shallow bowl, estimated at $500-1,000. This stunning example was made for the English market and dates from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), circa 1725. It has a diameter of 8-3/4″ and is painted in colored enamels and gilt. It is decorated with a center coat of arms of Haldane between eagle supports, the motto “Suffer”, a blue border underglaze, and flowers. 

Also of note in this category is lot #569, a Chinese lapis lazuli tripod incense burner, estimated at $3,000-5,000.  This Ding example dates from the 18th century measures 2-3/4″ tall with a 5″ diameter. It has a compressed body supported by three stylized paw feet and is detailed with rectangular openwork handles with carved foo lion terminals and scrolling Gui dragons.

Fine art is also well represented in this signature sale. 

Lot #150, William Aiken Walker’s (1838-1921), Log Cabin with Stretched Hide on Wall, is estimated at $5,000-9,000. This 6″ x 9″ work pictures a log cabin, four people, a clothes line on wash day, and a hide hanging from the building. It is signed on its lower right and has provenance to Herman Schtinder of Charleston, SC; Mr. & Mrs. P. Roussel Norman of New Orleans, LA; the New Orleans Museum of Art; and was sold by Sotheby Parke Bernet at their April 29, 1976 sale as lot #67. 

Lot #359, Sir Edwin Henry Landseer’s (English, 1803-1873) Animalier Movement, is estimated at $20,000-40,000. This framed, oil on canvas work from 1821 measures 27″ x 35″. It is initialed “EL” and dated on its lower right. It features a pair of cattle and a headstone reading Beauty Aged 18 Years, Colley Daughter of Beauty, Aged 8 Years.

Noteworthy antiques and other eye-catching rarities that span traditional categories round out this can’t miss sales event. 

Lot #350, The Porter Garden Telescope, by Telescopes of Vermont, is estimated at $20,000-40,000. This limited edition authorized exact reproduction of Russel W. Porter’s 1923 telescope is cast in bronze. Its reflecting telescope is decorated in sculpted lotus petals and curving leaves. Its optics are disguised in overlapping bronze leaves, and its motion controls are hidden in a pair of cylindrical flowers. This is one of 20 currently extant. 

Lot #377, a covered Meissen porcelain tea canister in the manner of C.F. Herold, is estimated at $2,000-4,000. This marked, early 18th century example is 4-1/2″ inches tall and is painted in Eisenrost with figures, the reverse with figures in a landscape with ruins near a harbor within gilt lines. It was sold through the Parke-Bernet Galleries, lot #94, as part of their December, 1971 sale.

Lot #552, a pair of olive wood commodes, is estimated at $2,000-4,000. This pair is from the early 18th century and measure 35″ x 56″ x 26″. They are detailed with serpentine shaped tops, inlaid wood designs, serpentine drawers with blocked ends, Bombay sides, cabriole legs, and scrolled feet.

According to Eddie Nadeau, President of Nadeau’s Auction Gallery, “This comprehensive sale truly offers something for everyone who loves beautiful things. We are particularly thrilled to be able to offer the Imperial Prince Kung Collection vessel to our customers. It is a breathtaking combination of history and art. Despite its relatively small size, this vessel simply fills a room with its presence and aura. It’s easy to understand how it caught the eye of royalty centuries ago.”

About Nadeau’s Auction Gallery Inc.: 

Nadeau’s Auction Gallery is a full-service auction house providing a complete range of estate offerings, nonprofit deaccession management, and fine art and personal property appraisals. The company presents about a dozen premier sales annually, with a focus on art, furniture, accessories, and important antiques.  A second-generation family company, Nadeau’s enjoys a well-deserved reputation for outstanding merchandise, top-tier personalized service, and helping sellers realize the realize the maximum value for their collections.  The company has been in business since 1985 – with the family start in the antique business in 1945 – and today is one of the largest and fastest growing auction houses in New England. Its state of the art auction facility is conveniently located right off Route 91 and easily accessible from all points in the mid-Atlantic and northeast. 

Nadeau’s Auction Gallery is located 25 Meadow Road, Windsor, CT 06095 and can be reached by telephone at 860-246-2444, fax at 860-524-8735, or email at [email protected].  For more information on this sale and Nadeau’s Auction Gallery, please see www.nadeausauction.com. 

Media Contact:

Edwin J. Nadeau, III, President 

Nadeau’s Auction Gallery

860-246-2444 or [email protected]