Chinese, Republic period. A porcelain bowl with ruby red ground having sgraffito decoration of brocade patterns and scrolling, reserves of famille rose enamel of stylized flowers, with Yongzheng mark on base; dia. 5.75 in.

Indian, 19th century. A pair of painted miniatures on ivory depicting Mumtaz Mahal, the empress of India during the Mughal dynasty, unsigned with handwritten descriptive info on verso of one; 4.25 x 3 in.

Mumtaz Mahal, was the name given to the Persian princess Arjumand Banu Begum, the third wife of Shah Janan. A Shia Muslim, Mumtaz Mahal died during childbirth in 1631. In memory of her, Shan Jahan built the Taj Mahal from 1632-1653 as a mausoleum for his beloved wife.

Japanese, 19th century. A Satsuma vase with relief dragons, a dense enamel decoration showing a picturesque battle scene. Unmarked; ht. 7.25 in.

Japanese, 20th century. Eight posthumous prints of woodblocks by Ando Hiroshige (1797-1858). Inscriptions u.r.; 13.5 8.5 in. (sight; largest).

Hand-painted vase with a 4-footed pedestal and handles with lion's heads, painted scene on one side depicting two cherubs, the other depicting a bird with a nest, marked on bottom and stamped, also inscribed 2892, 2/6, Du. 3938; Ht. 14 in.

Late 19th/early 20th century.  Four pieces of rice decorated porcelain consisting of wine cups and covered teacups and stands, all with underglaze blue geometric decoration,all but dishes with four character marks; largest ht. 3 in.

Property of Conner Prairie Historical Site, Fishers, IN, sold to benefit the collections.

Collected by Eli Lilly (Indiana, 1885-1977), ca 1920s-1940s to furnish the "Chinese House" on the Conner Prairie Historic Park property.  

Eli Lilly's core Collection was gifted to the Indianapolis Museum of Art after his passing.  He had an intimate relationship with important dealer C.T. Loo (1880-1957) and it is possible that some of this material offered here was purchased from Loo.

 

France, 19th century. Housed in a gilded bronze frame, in the rococo style; dia. 2 in.

Chinese, 20th century. A footed porcelain compote dish decorated with green, red, blue, and yellow floral motifs. Ht. 5.5 in.; dia. 10 in. 

Chinese, 20th century.  A finely carved and pierced white jade with apple green and russet highlights carving in the shape of two leaves, unmarked; lg. 3.25 in. 

Chinese.  Two painted, porcelain brush pots including a cylindrical brush pot with orange and green dragon motifs and calligraphic script, and a pierced, faceted brush pot with floral motifs and calligraphic script, each with a four-character Chinese mark on bottom. PLUS a two handled faceted vase with painted landscape scenes on two sides and calligraphic script, unmarked; tallest ht. 12.5 in.

Chinese, 20th century. A lapis rectangular snuff bottle tapering toward the base with relief archaic scrollwork decorations. Ht. 2.25 in.

Chinese, a large floor vase with peacocks and flowers against a blue ground, unmarked, on a 20th century wooden stand; ht. 23.75 in.

20th century. An incense tube of white to light celadon jade with reticulated dragon and foliage carving, double sided caps, each with small porcelain balls and silk strings attached; lg. of jade 5.5 in.

Chinese, 19th century. A pair of carved cinnabar vases; ht. 5 in. (12.7 cm).

Early 20th century. A carved ivory scene study of Mi Lo Fu playing with two children, well polished and on hardwood stand; ht. of ivory 12 in.

Chinese, Qianlong period. A porcelain dish decorated with green dragons chasing celestial pearls, having a six-character Qianlong mark to underside; diameter 7.25 in.

Thai, 14th-15th century. Unglazed brown pontil with five feet. Ht. 1 in.; dia. 2.75 in. 

Cowan’s is pleased to present a part of the collection of Dr. Konrad and Sarah Bekker. Sarah McInteer was born in Meade County, Kentucky in 1923. She eventually attended the University of Kentucky where she met Konrad Bekker, an instructor in economics and philosophy of music. She went on to become a social psychologist. Konrad joined the army and served overseas in Southeast Asia, which began his lifelong devotion to the study of Asian music. A shared love for travel and Eastern cultures led Sarah and Konrad to work for the Foreign Service in several parts of Asia. During this time, Sarah’s interest in Southeast Asian religions and social customs expanded to a passion for its visual culture. After returning to the United States, she became a lecturer on Asian art and worked for the Smithsonian, leading educational tours to Thailand and Burma. While Konrad passed away in 1981, Sarah continued her work, travelling and collecting. At the time of her death last year, she was considered an authority on Burmese Buddhism and its visual culture. Accumulating a large art collection through a lifetime of travel, the Bekkers were generous donors to many institutions but often favored university collections where they believed their objects would be studied and appreciated by those who shared their enthusiasm for Asian art. Objects from their collection are now in the Freer and Sackler Galleries, the Walters Museum of Art and the museums of the University of Michigan, Northern Illinois University and Denison University, among others.

Indian, 18th century. Ivory house shrine with Shiva holding Ganesha, with two attendants. 5 x 7.75 x 1.75 in. 

Chinese, late 19th century, a pierced ceramic brush pot with a male figure standing near a flowering tree, signed on bottom by the artist Wang Binrong (active during 1890s); ht. 6.25 in.

Chinese, a pair of blue and white vases with figures in a landscape, the side with six character mark, the base unmarked; ht. 16 in.