The Cadle Family Collection of Chinese Monochromes took center stage at a recent Sotheby’s auction, boasting an impressive array of imperial porcelain pieces. The collection, largely acquired in the 1980s with the guidance of advisor James J. Lally, achieved a 95.6% sell-through rate, with only one of the 23 lots remaining unsold. The highlight of the event was the sale of a sacrificial-red-glazed bowl from the Xuande period of the Ming dynasty, once owned by Hong Kong shipping tycoon T.Y. Chao. The bowl sold for an astounding $1.88 million, surpassing its estimated value of $400,000.
The red glaze used in the Ming dynasty was considered a significant technical and artistic achievement, requiring a high degree of skill and expertise to produce. Unlike iron, which is also used as a glaze pigment but occurs naturally in ceramic materials, copper has to be deliberately added to the glaze to achieve the desired color. Although only a small amount of copper is required, the fugitive component has a tendency to vaporize during firing, making it extremely difficult to produce a strong, even color. The copper-red monochromatic glaze was one of the greatest technical and aesthetic accomplishments of the early Ming dynasty (1368-1644), with its intense and brilliant red color being likened to rubies.
Due to the high failure rate, pieces with this rich red glaze were exceedingly rare and highly sought after. The “sacrificial red” color was used for ceremonial vessels, primarily for sacrifices to the Altar of the Sun in China, though it is unclear if this particular bowl was used for this purpose or for everyday use. While ceramics with copper-red monochrome glaze from Ming dynasty are rare, all handed-down pieces, including the present lot, are of exceptional quality, which reflects the rigorous quality control at the time.
The current bowl’s exceptional quality is a testament to the collector’s discerning eye and meticulous attention to provenance. The bowl was part of the Ming and Ch’ing Porcelain exhibition at the Hong Kong Museum of Art in 1978 and was later sold at auction, achieving remarkable results. The blue-and-white “winged dragon” jarlet dated between the Yongle and Xuande periods, for instance, attracted heavy interest and changed hands at an impressive HK$26.6 million against a low estimate of HK$8 million.
The provenance of the collection, which was advised closely by James J. Lally, also contributed to the impressive sale results. Lally is a renowned specialist in Chinese art and has worked with Sotheby’s for many years. He was a consultant for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, among other institutions, and has written several books on Chinese art.
The Cadle Family Collection of Chinese Monochromes represents a remarkable spectrum of monochromatic imperial porcelains, showcasing the exquisite beauty and craftsmanship of Chinese ceramics. The success of this auction is a testament to the enduring appeal of Chinese art and the continued demand for high-quality pieces among collectors.
