Chinese, Japanese, Indian And Islamic Art In Cheltenham On October 25-26

An 18th century Qing jade bowl and cover carries an estimate of £10,000-20,000 at Mallams sale of Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Islamic art in Cheltenham on October 25-26.

It is part of a group of hardstones and Peking glass purchased by a Swedish collector – the grandfather of the vendor – in the inter-War years. Scandinavian collectors were among the strongest buyers of Chinese art in the first half of the 20th century led by the Crown Prince of Sweden, later King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden, whose celebrated collection formed from the 1920s makes up the Museum of Far Eastern Art in Stockholm.

The jades offered by Mallams were bought mainly from established London dealers in the 1930s.

Specialist Robin Fisher says; “A number of estates and private collections have come together for our October auction and I am anticipating a strong sale”.

A pair of early 19th century China trade paintings depicting shipping and industry on the Pearl River come from a Gloucestershire deceased estate. They are estimated at £3000-4000.

Two Indian ivory and stained horn vases and covers of a type associated with the late 18th century workshops of Murshidabad come from the estate of Sir Peter Moores (1932-2016), heir to the Littlewoods empire and a well-known philanthropist and art collector. They are pitched at £1500-2500.

Other lots covering the broad church of the Asian art market also include a 17th century Sino-Tibetan gilt bronze figure of the celestial buddha Amitayus (estimate £2000-3000) and a large Japanese Edo period four-fold screen painted with samurais sword fighting in a winter landscape (estimate £1000-2000).

For further information and images please specialist Robin Fisher on

Tel: 01242 235 712