31 October 2023
Grace Tu
Dr Kenneth P. Lawley's journey as a collector started in the mid-1960s with Chinese monochrome wares and Korean early pottery. We were delighted to present his fine collection of Chinese, Japanese, Korean & Southeast Asian Arts to auction in November 2023 in our Fine Asian & Islamic Works of Art auction.
Dr Kenneth P. Lawley (1937-2023) was a chemical physicist in The School of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh. An acutely private person, Dr Lawley also had a great passion for Asian Art and was a long-time member of the Oriental Ceramics Society.
His journey as a collector started in the mid-1960s by collecting Chinese monochrome wares and Korean early pottery. Early acquisitions included a Song dynasty blue-glazed ‘Jun’ dish acquired from Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (lot 43); a Tang dynasty straw-glazed bottle vase (lot 41); and a Goryeo period celadon-glazed bowl from Bluett and Sons Ltd. (lot 87).
Setting the tone of simplicity and elegance, his Chinese and Korean ceramic collection grew to include highlights such as a pair of Han dynasty painted grey pottery tripod vessels and covers, ding (lot 36), and a rare Joseon dynasty iron-painted ‘chrysanthemum and bamboo’ handled moonflask from Christie’s (lot 85).
As the years passed, Dr Lawley’s taste further diversified to include Southeast Asian early pottery and modern and contemporary Japanese ceramics, such as a Thai Sawankhalok white-glazed covered jar (lot 93) and Japanese blue flower vase by Kusube Yaichi
(1897-1984) from Greg Baker Asian Art (lot 68).
Alongside ceramics, Dr Lawley also had a passion for bronze wares. His Chinese, Himalayan, Japanese, Korean and Southeast Asian bronze collection grew from 1980s onwards, featuring a Goryeo dynasty silver-inlaid bronze double-gourd vase from Han Collection (lot 76) and a Ming dynasty bronze incense-tool vase from Nicholas Pitcher (lot 23). The collection also includes other Asian Works of Art, lacquerwares, wooden sculptures, textiles, and jade.
Meticulous with paperwork and inventory, most of the items in the collection come with their original receipts from prominent dealers, such as Bluett & Sons, Sydney Moss, S. Marchant and Son, Roger Keverne, Nicholas Pitcher, Robert McPherson, Simon Pilling and many others.
The T pattern, known as the shan, mountain, design in Chinese, with the striking contrast of large, smooth, tilted designs on a dense ground, was popular during the Warring States Period.
A closely comparable example, is illustrated in Roger Kevern, 2009, Chinese Bronze Mirrors: Warring States period to Tang dynasty, pl. 2. Also compare to two large bronze 'mountain' mirrors, Late Warring States period, sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30 May 2018, lot 2911, and 28 May 2021, lot 3013.
A comparable vase is illustrated in M. L. Eveleigh & B. Harkins, 1984, Later Chinese Bronzes, Andamans East International Ltd., pl. 24. Also compare to a related bronze 'Eight Daoist Immortals' incense-tool vase, cast in open-work, Ming dynasty, 16th century, previously Micheal Goedhuis's collection, sold at Bonham's London, 17 May 2023, lot 363; Another bronze cylindrical incense stick holder, Yuan/ Ming Dynasty, sold at Christie's London, 29 Mar 2007, lot 264.
Some tomb pottery was decorated with pigments applied after firing to mimic the form and decoration of vessels made of more precious materials such as lacquer or bronze. The shape and decoration on the lid are comparable with one in the Popper Collection, illustrated in The Hans Popper Collection of Oriental Art, by René-Yvon Lefebvre d'Argencé, Kodansha International, 1973, pl.6. Also see a painted pottery hu, Han dynasty, with similar decoration, is illustrated in Asiatic Art In the Seattle Art Museum, by H. Trubner, W. J. Rathbun, & C. A. Kaputa, Washington: Seattle Art Museum, 1973, pl. 84.
Several Goryeo dynasty celadon-glazed conical bowls with incised decorations are in the collection of the National Museum of Korea, including one with Baoxianghua scroll design, accession no. Sinsu 1654; lotus petal design, accession no. Bongwan 198; and one with wave and fish design, accession no. Deoksu 4510.
A related and smaller Sawankhalok jar with cover, 15th century, with four lug handles on shoulders, is in the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, accession no. 174.2002.a-b.
All sold prices include buyer's premium.
