A highly important Yuan dynasty (1279-1368) jar is set to excite west coast collectors as part of a Beverly Hills auction of Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on March 17.
 The jar features narrative scenes from The Savior Yuchi Gong, a popular zaju drama |
The sale comes one day before the world's most prestigious collectors will gather for Asia Week New York. In a bid to tempt them away from the east coast, the spectacular Yuan dynasty piece is being offered with a $1m-1.5m estimate.
The blue and white piece is decorated with a "remarkable" design of equestrian warriors in a continuous landscape, which takes its inspiration from the zaju drama entitled The Saviour Yuchi Gong. The tale describes how general Yuchi Gong saved the Tang emperor Taizong from assassination.
The jar sports a pair of moulded tiger handles, its main design accentuated by a lotus band to the shoulder and lappets around the base. It has been consigned from an important European collection.
The second highest bids of the sale are expected from an early Ming dynasty (1368-1644) gilt bronze statue of the bodhisattava Manjushri, who is typically associated with transcendent wisdom. Estimated at $200,000-300,000, Manjushri wears an elaborately detailed crown and jewellery, and is inscribed with a six-character mark of the Yongle emperor.
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