Korean crane-and-tortoise jar leads ACES Gallery sale at $344,400

A rare 18th century Joseon Dynasty Korean crane-and-tortoise jar led ACES Gallery’s Fall Estates Auction in Stamford, Connecticut, on Oct. 18, finishing at $344,400. The 452-lot sale totaled $940,000, with strong results also for works by Paul Horiuchi and Kazuya Sakai.

Why it matters: - The auction showed strong demand for rare Asian art, mid-century abstraction and quality estate material. - The top lot sold for more than 34 times its $10,000 high estimate, signaling intense bidding for standout objects with clear provenance and rarity. - The sale’s $940,000 total across 452 lots points to broad buying interest, not just one headline result.

What happened: - ACES Gallery held its Fall Estates Auction on Oct. 18 in Stamford, Connecticut. - An 18th century blue and white Korean ovoid “Crane and Tortoise” jar from the Joseon Dynasty sold for $344,400, including buyer’s premium. - The jar was the top lot in the sale. - The auction included 452 lots and finished at $940,000. - Bidding was virtual-only through telephone, absentee, LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com and Drouot.com.

The details: - The Korean jar measured 13 ½ inches tall and 13 ½ inches in diameter. - The vessel was decorated in underglaze blue with alternating circular medallions featuring tortoises and cranes, each with cloud or auspicious vapor motifs. - The iconography placed the piece in the Shipjangsaeng tradition, tied to the Ten Symbols of Longevity in late Joseon Dynasty art. - Paul Horiuchi’s mixed media collage on canvas, Remnants of Order, sold for $67,650 against a $10,000 high estimate. - The Horiuchi work measured 66 ½ inches by 79 inches, was signed and dated ‘66 lower left, and came in a frame. - Kazuya Sakai’s mixed media and collage on canvas, New York II (1964), brought $86,100 after carrying a $10,000 high estimate. - The Sakai work measured 59 inches by 49 inches and combined gestural paint with newspaper clippings and typographic fragments. - James Bama’s oil on panel, The Rookie Bronc Rider – Stampede Grounds, Cody Wyoming, sold for $30,750, doubling its $15,000 high estimate. - Alexander Calder and Bon Art’s tapestry Floating Circles reached $26,880, more than double its $12,000 high estimate. - A bronze statue by Yevgeny Alexandrovich Lanceray, Zaporozhian Cossack After Battle (1874), brought $20,480, also doubling its $10,000 high estimate. - A 19th/20th century Korean School chaekgeori four-panel screen sold for $10,455 against a $1,200 high estimate. - A photographic portrait of Kaiser Wilhelm II in admiral’s uniform also sold for $10,455, well above its $500 high estimate. - A Tiffany Studios damascene favrile art glass lamp shade and bronze harp floor lamp base sold for $8,960 against a $4,000 high estimate. - A Qing Dynasty style or Republic Period Hongmu settee brought $8,610 versus a $1,000 high estimate. - A diamond eternity band sold for $5,888, far above its $900 high estimate. - A Chelsea Works figural soft-paste porcelain scent bottle sold for $1,890 against a $400 high estimate. - The sale drew material from nearly 50 prominent local estates. - Categories included contemporary and fine art, Western art, decorative arts, Asian art, silver, watches and timepieces, jewelry, collectibles and books. - All prices quoted were inclusive of the buyer’s premium.

Between the lines: - The strongest results came from pieces with clear visual appeal, strong attribution and a compelling story of discovery or provenance. - ACES Gallery leaned on both Asian art and 1960s abstraction, suggesting the market rewarded depth across multiple collecting categories. - The firm’s mix of local estates and online bidding widened the pool of potential buyers beyond Stamford.

What's next: - ACES Gallery says it is seeking quality merchandise for future auctions, including single pieces, estates and collections. - The company continues to conduct more than 50 auctions a year through ACES Auction Group. - More information is available in the company's announcement.