Fine Chinese Paintings takes place on November 18 followed by a more varied Asian Art sale on November 19.
The paintings sale includes an album of 11 imperial flag designs, each painted on silk with a five-clawed dragon below a rank badge. This work from the end of the dynastic period (a hand-written annotation provides the date 1901) shows the differentiation of ranks who were sent abroad to represent Imperial state power.
They range from 1st order princes to 3rd class civilian and military orders. Another version of the album is held in the US library of Congress. Estimate £30,000–50,000.
Ovoid jar from the Chongzhen period - estimate £20,000–30,000 at Chiswick Auctions on November 19.
The sale on November 19 is led by a series of blue and white porcelains including a 10in (25cm) ovoid jar from the Chongzhen period (1628-44). Typical of the Transitional period it is painted with a continuous scene from the Three Kingdoms saga depicting the moment that Liu Bei jumps the Tan Stream on his horse Dilu as a retinue of soldiers look on. Estimate £20,000-30,000.
