Description This lot includes two teapots, one wine warmer, one lidded box, two censors, one jar, one pommel, and one small vase. Signed lidded teapot with peach-handled lid, calligraphy, and geometric designed teapot. Lidded box with iron-red glaze with calligraphy and geometric forms. Signed and stamped wine warmer with gilt handle and rim of wine cup illustrated with hibiscus and calligraphy. Signed and wax-sealed small, iron-red base with gilt bamboo leaves and calligraphy. Handled, signed, pink censer with phoenix and dragon medallions. Handled famille rose censer with floral design and calligraphy with gilt handle cleats. Pierced green stone pommel with seal on tag. Small ginger jar with teal glaze and pink flowers. Dimensions are: Wine warmer: 4 1/8 inches tall X 2 7/8 inches diameter; 10.5 cm tall X 7.3 cm diameter. Wine cup: 1 7/8 inches tall X 2 3/8 inches diameter at rim; 4.8 cm tall X 6 cm diameter at rim. Famille Rose censer: 2 7/8 inches tall X 5 1/2 inches diameter; 7.3 cm tall X 14 cm diameter. Famille Rose teapot: 4 inches tall X 4 3/4 diameter; 10.2 cm tall X 12.1 cm diameter. All measurements are approximate.
Condition Report Rim chips on both the base and lid of the iron-red glazed teapot. Teapot with flowers is missing handle and has chips to lid. Lidded box has chips to the inner rim of the base portion.
Provenance From the old collection of Mr. William Wu, San Francisco, USA. William Wu (1939-2007) was born in Shanghai and moved to Hong Kong with his family when he was young. In 1957, he was admitted to the Department of Philosophy at Princeton University. Because of his interest in history, in 1979 he received a doctorate in art history from Princeton University focusing on the Chinese artist Gong Xian. After graduation, he was successively employed as a professor of art history at Dartmouth, Oberlin, and other colleges. He later settled in San Francisco, California, where he presided over the Chinese Cultural Center, held regular cultural exhibitions, and devoted himself to introducing Chinese culture and artists to Western audiences. During the 1980s, he traveled between San Francisco and Shanghai and became an important bridge for cultural and artistic exchanges. Professor William Wu and the famous movie star Jet Li are distant relatives, and he was a great help in the early years of Jet Li's career development. Mr. Wu maintained contact with Jet Li during his life.