Chinoiserie in Copenhagen

Bid on Chinese art objects, which originate from prominent private collections. The collections were created with great passion and cultural insight by expatriate Danes, who during the 19th and 20th century were the managing directors and employees of major companies in South East Asia.

27 November 2015

A pair of rare and small porcelain dishes, decorated in enamel colours with pomegranates. Marked Qianlong 1736-1795. Estimate: DKK 100,000-150,000.

Two gilt bronze Guanyins seated in meditating position. Ming 1368-1644. Assessment: DKK 200,000 to 250,000.

Antique Ningxia carpet, China. 19th century. 360 x 284 cm. Estimate: DKK 80,000-100,000.

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On the last international auction of the year in Bredgade, we have a special auction on Oriental art. We kindly remind you that there are special rules for bidding on these lots. Read more about how to bid here

Henrik V. Jacobsen's Collection

A large part of the 111 lots come from the Danish private collections. One of these collectors was Henrik V. Jacobsen, who for many years during the first half of the 1900s was the managing director of the East Asiatic Company in China. The items from his collection include a pair of beautifully decorated, rare dishes from the Qianlong period between 1736-1795, and a gilded, patinated bronze figure from the Ming period between 1368-1644, which depicts a Guanyin – "Goddess of Mercy".

Vilhelm Ginger-Mortensen's Collection

The catalogue also contains a pair of Guanyins from another Danish private collection – that of Vilhelm Ginger-Mortensen. During the years between 1909-29 he was a telegraph manager for the Great Northern Telegraph Company in Shanghai, and his collection is characterized by a strong fascination with these types of Buddhist sculptures. From the same collection we can present two of his Bodhisattvas, both sitting on their lotus thrones in the meditation position of dhyanasana. For each of his palaces Emperor Qianlong ordered a series of Buddhist figures, and the two examples here have most likely been part of the Emperor's collection.

A Chinese Bowl Revisited

For an auction house it is always a pleasure to present items that we have sold at previous auctions. At this auction we have just such an item in the shape of a Chinese jade covered bowl. The bowl has been in the possession of both bank manager Emil Glückstadt (1875-1923) and the merchant Theodor Jensen and his wife. The founder of Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers, Arne Bruun Rasmussen, sold the jade covered bowl in 1963 and again in 1970, and now we once more have the privilege of presenting the bowl at this year’s last auction in Bredgade.

Chinese Carpets

The auction also presents carpets of high quality from various Chinese provinces. In China they have produced carpets during the last 400 years, and the offered carpets are therefore made in reverence to a long tradition of craftsmanship. What is special about Chinese carpets in relation to the Oriental carpets is that they are much more straightforward and simple in their ornamentation and use of colour. Therefore, the Chinese carpets are now coveted due to today's inclination towards simple design, and they are no longer only collector’s items. See the selection here

Welcome to everyone from near and far!

Auction: Thursday 26 November at 3 pm at Bredgade 33 in Copenhagen

Preview: 19 to 23 November at the same address

See the selection of oriental items

See the entire selection of the auction

For further information, please contact:

Ralph Lexner: +45 8818 1161 · rl@bruun-rasmussen.dk

Charlotte Hviid: +45 8818 1162 · chv@bruun-rasmussen.dk