Imperial Splendor and Personal Passion: Freeman's Presents Asian Works of Art, and Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Estate of Dr. Thomas Klein in New York
Freeman's will present two Asian art auctions this September in its New York saleroom: Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Estate of Dr. Thomas Klein, sold to benefit the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, on Thursday, September 17, followed by Asian Works of Art on Friday, September 18. Bringing together imperial porcelain, museum deaccessions, a rediscovered piece from the collection of J. Pierpont Morgan, and snuff bottles from a connoisseur's lifetime pursuit, the two sales offer collectors a wide-ranging and historically rich selection heading into the fall season.
Annie Wu, Senior Vice President and Head of Asian Art, commented: "We are pleased to present Asian art of this caliber for the fall season. Bringing together important works with significant historical provenance, from the Yamanaka-Shelton 'nine dragon' vase to the Koger Dehua porcelains, offers an excellent opportunity for collectors. Our goal is to offer high-quality, desirable Asian art that is accessible for all buyers. Whether you are an established institution or a new enthusiast, this auction provides an opportunity to acquire notable objects with confidence."
Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Estate of Dr. Thomas Klein — September 17
Freeman's is privileged to bring Philadelphia collector Dr. Thomas Klein's collection of Chinese snuff bottles to auction. On September 17, some of Dr. Klein's finest examples will be made available in New York for the next generation of enthusiasts. Many of these bottles were previously held in some of the most important collections assembled in the last quarter of the 20th century, including the Bloch, Grimberg, J & J, and Bob C. Stevens collections, and were handled and published by leading dealers in the field such as Hugh Moss, Robert Kleiner, Robert Hall, Clare Chu, and Susan Page.
Dr. Klein was known as a determined competitor for puddingstone bottles, and his broader interest in mineralogical examples is evident in the jasper, agate, jade, and jadeite bottles offered in the sale. Glass — particularly monochrome, overlay, and carved examples — was also a focus of his collecting, as were "organic" materials such as amber, coral, and carved bamboo. Molded and enameled porcelain bottles round out this wide-ranging collection.
Ben Farina, Senior Vice President and International Representative, Asian Art, commented: "Snuff bottles have been a relatively overlooked segment of the market for Chinese antiques and works of art, still offering great opportunities for both beginning and advanced collectors. The variety of materials and techniques, historical and cultural references, and accessible scale make snuff bottles an appealing area for exploration. The jade, hardstone, glass, porcelain, and other examples of bottles offered in New York on September 17th illustrate this range.
Highlights Include:
Lot 24 | An Unusual Chinese Hexagonal Puddingstone Snuff Bottle, Qing Dynasty,
Circa 1750–1860 | Estimate: $2,000 – $3,000
Puddingstone was a particular passion of Dr. Klein's, its mottled inclusions cut by the lapidary into painterly, near-abstract patterns. This hexagonal example shows off the stone's dense speckling and Dr. Klein's eye for material and pattern.
Lot 37 |An Imperial Chinese Carved Yellow Glass Snuff Bottle, Qing Dynasty, Circa 1750–1820 |Estimate: $1,500 – $2,000
Carved from a rich imperial yellow glass, this bottle belongs to a group of monochrome glasswares made for court use in the mid- to late Qing dynasty; its saturated color and confident carving reflect the imperial glassworks at their best.
Lot 58 |A Chinese White Overlaid Blue Glass Snuff Bottle, Qing Dynasty, 18th Century |Estimate: $2,500 – $3,500
A fine example of overlay glass, pairing a deep blue ground with crisply carved white relief — a technique Qing glassworkers used to evoke the look of carved hardstone.
Asian Works of Art—September 18
Freeman's Asian Works of Art auction features over 290 carefully curated lots tailored for discerning connoisseurs, collectors, and institutions. Leading the sale is a remarkable group of individual masterpieces distinguished by significant historical provenance. Highlights include a magnificent Jiaqing/Daoguang period blue and white 'Nine Dragons' vase (Lot 286) tracing back to Yamanaka & Company, a pair of Mid-Tang Dynasty engraved 'Ladies' tomb doors (Lot 212) formerly with Ton-Ying & Co. and J.T. Tai & Co., and an impressive Qing Dynasty green-enameled yellow-ground 'Dragon' moon flask (Lot 386) from the prestigious J. Pierpont Morgan Collection.
Highlights Include:
Lot 286 | A Magnificent, Monumental, and Extremely Rare Chinese Blue and White 'Nine Dragons' Vase, Qing Dynasty,Jiaqing/Daoguang Period 清嘉慶/道光 巨型青花九龍大瓶（附山中商會1943年圖錄) | Estimate: $40,000 – $60,000 | Property from the Collection of The Honorable Robert C. Shelton, Jr.
The centerpiece of the sale, this monumental blue-and-white vase is accompanied by a 1943 Yamanaka & Co. catalogue documenting its distinguished history. Painted with nine dragons in a composition long associated with the emperor and his heirs, the vase was an extraordinary technical achievement, built in three luted sections and successfully fired intact. The central, frontal-facing dragon and the smaller, upward-gazing five-clawed dragon rising from the waves below evoke the design known as "the Emperor instructing the Crown Prince," reserved for only a select few imperial commissions. Comparison of its ruyi-head borders, wave bands, and archaistic scrolling handles to related imperial and high-quality unmarked wares supports a dating to the late 18th or early 19th century — a reminder that not every porcelain of imperial quality and dramatic scale from this era left the kiln bearing a reign mark.
Lot 250 | A Rare Chinese Blanc-de-Chine Porcelain Oil Lamp and Stand, Mid 17th–Early 18th Century 清早期 德化白瓷暗刻花卉紋帶座油燈
Estimate: $6,000 – $8,000 | Property Deaccessioned from The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art / Florida State University
This finely potted Dehua "blanc-de-chine" oil lamp and stand, carved beneath its glaze with subtle floral decoration, comes to auction after being deaccessioned from the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art at Florida State University. Its inclusion in the sale reflects Freeman's collaboration with museums and public institutions nationwide, relationships considered important for bringing well-documented works to market.
Lot 386 | An Impressive Chinese Green Enameled Yellow Ground Porcelain 'Dragon' Moon Flask, Qing Dynasty 清 黃地綠彩龍紋大抱月瓶
Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 | Property from a Philadelphia Main Line Collection
Consigned without any accompanying history, this striking yellow-ground moon flask, enameled in green with dragon roundels, presented a research challenge for Freeman's specialists. The investigation traced the flask back to the collection of financier J. Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913), confirming its inclusion in an early catalogue of his holdings. This discovery gives the consignment a documented pedigree extending back over a century to one of the most important collections of Chinese Porcelain assembled in the United States at the turn of the 20th century.
Auction Dates
Chinese Snuff Bottles from the Estate of Dr. Thomas Klein: Thursday, September 17
Live | New York | 9:30 AM ET
Asian Works of Art: Friday, September 18
Live | New York | 10 AM ET
Previews
32 East 67th St | New York | NY 10065
September 11-12, 10 AM- 5 PM
September 14-17, 10 AM- 5 PM
For more information or to browse the full catalogues, visit freemansauction.com.
How to Bid
Both auctions will be offered in Freeman's New York saleroom. Bidding will be available in person, over the phone, and via absentee or live online bidding. For more information, please visit freemansauction.com.
About Freeman’s
Freeman’s is a premier American auction house offering services in multiple categories including fine art, jewelry, design, books and manuscripts, furniture, decorative arts, antiquities, couture, and Asian works of art. With 16 regional locations nationwide, the firm provides auctions, appraisals, private sales, and art advisory services, connecting clients to the global art market. Freeman’s strives to bring art, history, and design to life by connecting people with extraordinary objects through exceptional service and expertise.