Paris, France —A terra cotta monkey enameled in shades of blue and green emerges during the Tang dynasty circa the 8th century. An exceptional bronze Buddha dating from the end of the 4th to the beginning of the 5th century is exceptional and rare for it is pictured in the sitting meditation position. A striking ritual vessel in bronze for storing wine from the Yinxu period of the Shang Dynasty which ruled from the 14th to the 11th century BC is also tantalizingly on display. These are just some of the exceptional pieces being exhibited at the Christian Deydier Gallery in Paris until October 31st. The show, entitled Chinese Masterpieces from a French Collection, brings together a majestic ensemble of 21 pieces that have never been displayed together before.

« I have the privilege of presenting an exceptional French private collection. During the past 35 years this “secret” collector has gathered with passion some exceptional treasures of Chinese art, among them pieces coming from major international collections such as those of P.P. Chiu, Meiyintang, M. Komor, G. de Batz, J.T. Tai, and Yamanaka, » explained Mr. Deydier, adding, « Some of the objects are already well known having been recorded in important publications and included in major Chinese art exhibitions held in the Springfield Museum, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts,the Portland Art Museum and the Denver Art Museum. »

The Chinese ritual bronze vessels were made for the very wealthy elite and were associated with power. A number of them are on display in the show like the ritual bronze wine vessel from the Yinxu period of the Shang Dynasty supported by three triangular legs. Its semicircular handle is surmounted by a bovine head in high relief.

« Both inside and outside of China, ancient bronze vessels, and especially those of the Shang and the Zhou are regarded with a special reverence by scholars and collectors alike and extensively researched by an elite group, » explains Christian Deydier in his authoritative book, Understanding Ancient Chinese Bronzes.

Also on an animal theme is an extremely rare set of four gilt bronze mat weights each identically cast in the form of a bear and inlaid with agate and turquoise. The intriguing pieces date from the Western Han Dynasty, circa 2nd to the 1st centuries B.C., and astound by the detailing like the sharply etched eyebrows and side whiskers and sharp claws. There is as well an elegant court lady in earthenware holding a bottle from the Sui Dynasty, 581AD to 617AD.

Another exceptional piece which offers a glimpse into the ancient Chinese lifestyle is a sancai earthenware wrist pillow dating from the Tang Dynasty (618AD to 907AD). Sancai is a type of Chinese ceramic characterized by the use of glazes in predominantly three colors: brown, green and cream. There is as well an elegant court lady in earthenware holding a bottle from the Sui Dynasty, 581AD to 617AD.
And for perhaps a glimpse into some ancient travels on the silk road there is a sancai earthenware model of an ox pulling a cart with two very large wheels.

Christian Deydier is one of the world’s leading experts in Chinese art. The gallery is specialized in Asian Art and in particular archaic Chinese bronzes and the gallery’s choice of works turned to exceptional pieces has forged the international reputation of the gallery to museums and major collections.
©The Gourmet Gazette

Galerie Christian Deydier
30 rue de la Seine
75006 Paris, France
+33 (0) 1 40 20 97 34
Chinese Masterpieces from a French Collection showing in Paris through to October 31st, heading to Hong Kong from December 4th through to December 23rd