Tag Archives: Jade

Asian Art Week is a week of global celebration for worldwide institutions. Asian Art Week begins on November 1 – 10. We spoke to Howard Cheung, who has worked as an International Marketing Specialist at Fellows Auctioneers for six years. Howard has a keen passion for Asian Art, and we began by asking him why the week is so important.  
  1. What is so special about Asian Art Week?
Asian Art Week is special because there are so many Asian related items being on display for dealers and collectors alike. This has been the case now since the beginning of the event around twenty-years ago. This gives exhibitors a chance to display their best items. Although it is “Asian Art” there’s much more than just paintings that exhibitors display, there might be books or clothing as well which shows there’s a real mixed bag.  
  1. What is it about Asian pieces that is so special?
Most of the Asian pieces were created during a time when everything was designed by hand so one can admire the craft work of the makers. Pieces that are made for the royal families are usually one offs which make them extremely rare. Howard Cheung, International Marketing Assistant at Fellows Auctioneers  
  1. What are some of your favourite pieces of Asian Art and why?
I tend to like items that contain carvings which display the workmanship required. The majority of the time glue was not used on these items. Carvings were done on various materials such as jade, various wood types, ivory and many more for furniture or decoration.  
  1. Why is Asian Art week so important for the auction world?
It is an opportunity for auction houses to get their best Asian pieces together and sold for good prices due to the increasing demand for these items. Higher demand means more competition and for the auction world it means higher prices achieved and potential records being broken.  
  1. Fellows have an Antiques, Silver & Collectables sale on Monday December 3rd, featuring many Asian items. which is your favourite and why?
  Out of the lots coming up in the highlights section, I would go for the 19th century Chinese carved hardstone figure modelled as an immortal. As mentioned previously I always get amazed by the intricate craft work that makes up a piece. An unusual 19th century Chinese carved hardstone figure modelled as an immortal
  1. What have you done this year to promote Asian Art Week?
  We will be marketing using multiple platforms as well as using various Asian Art dedicated websites. We have selected highlights from our December 3rd Antiques, Silver, & Collectables sale which we will give extra promotion to during the week. Our aim will be to ensure we give Asian Art Week a push on our various successful social media platforms. Furthermore, we will create slide shows for televisions around our Birmingham and London offices promoting the event.
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A coral and jade necklace sold at auction in Birmingham for an amazing £5,000*, with the proceeds benefitting charity. The item was estimated at £200 – £300 and was being auctioned on behalf of St Michael’s Hospice. The item was consigned with several other pieces of jewellery by Herefordshire jeweller Mike Gell, on behalf of the hospice. Mike is assisted by Philomena Kearne from the Whitecross branch of St Michael’s Hospice. The hospice cares for individuals over the age of 18 in and around the Hereford area. The hospice also helps the family and children of patients. Hundreds of volunteers assist in the care and support that they provide. There was shock across the saleroom as the beautiful necklace sold for way over twenty times its estimate. There were multiple phone bids, as well as bidders online and in the room. The offers came in thick and fast, before a final tense battle between two customers on the phone commenced. The Jade necklace sold for a hammer price of £5,000. Nicola Whittaker of Fellows Auctioneers, said: “We have been working with St Michael’s Hospice since 2014. Hereford jeweller Mike Gell helps St Michael’s by sorting through their donations and identifying anything that may achieve more at auction than in one of the St Michael’s 17 Shops and Home and Living Stores.” Nicola added: “The hospice have received these goods as gifts in wills or as donations, and we are delighted that this generosity has resulted in such great prices. We have achieved some excellent results for the hospice and are so thrilled to be able to help them and other charities with a discounted seller’s commission. Charities such as Cancer Research UK and Save the Children also use Fellows to help their legacies department achieve as much as possible.” Fellows have a timed sale of Jewellery and Costume Jewellery, with proceeds mainly to benefit charities such as Heart Research UK, Alzheimer’s society and St Michael’s Hospice. The sale has the potential to reach a hammer price of £20,000 – and Fellows are delighted to be doing all they can to support such amazing causes. The timed sale starts on Friday 10th August and runs until Thursday 16th August. To donate and assist in the running of St Michael’s Hospice, click here. *Please note the hammer price mentioned excludes Fellows’ seller’s charge. Fellows offers registered charities a heavily discounted seller’s commission. Please contact nicola@fellows.co.uk for more information.
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The beauty of jade has made it treasured worldwide for over 7000 years. A representation of the many secrets of elegant gemstones can be shown when deconstructing the different types of jade. According to experts, jade comes in three main types: A – A piece of rock, cut and polished, with no treatments. B – The rock is treated with a wax or resin (and/or bleached) to improve the appearance of surface reaching fissures in the stone, making it less cloudy with a slightly better colour, getting rid of browns in the rock. C – The piece is bleached and dyed, then treated with resin to improve the colour. Type C is unpopular with the majority of jade collectors, who are often purists, and wouldn’t buy a heavily treated ruby if they could buy one they knew had just been plucked from the earth and fashioned for them. Lot 66 – A jade and diamond pendant, with chain. Continue reading →
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