Chinese Carved Soapstone Figure of Shoulao, Daoist Immortal of Longevity
c. 17th/ early 18th century
Height: 16 ¼ inches (41 cm)
Finely carved in the full round and of impressive size. The Immortal is posed standing and holding a peach branch. He is dressed in a long robe with finely incised designs. Mounted upon a matching soapstone base with seated deer at his foot. (Peaches and deer are also symbols of longevity). Figures of this size and quality are rare. Soapstone figures of this period were popular for aristocrat’s Kunstkammers that showed marvels from around the world. The exoticness of the figure and fineness of carving would have created an appreciative and marveling reception in Europe.
Finely modelled and forming a true pair, right and left. Each posed on rockery with heads held straight and looking at the viewer. The birds with elaborately incised designs done to imitate plumage. Glazed in white with touches of beige/ gold and with black edges with gilt details. The rockeries in turquoise and blue.
Heights: 17 inches (43 cm.)
Ex: American Collection (acquired in London in the 1960s)
Similar examples of varying sizes may be found in many fine collections throughout the world including the Copeland Collection now at the Peabody Essex Museum, the Conde Collection, and the Chinese Pavilion at Drottningholm, Sweden.
PAIR OF CHINESE IMPERIAL GREEN ENAMELED PORCELAIN DRAGON DISHES
Qianlong mark and period, AD 1736-1795
Finely and thinly potted. Based on a Ming prototype: decorated with rampant five-clawed Imperial Dragons chasing a flaming pearl. Painted in a vibrant emerald green.
Diameter: 6 ⅞ inches (17.4 cm.)
Ex: Private American Collection (acquired from our gallery in 1967).
Prior in a New York Collection
Similar examples: Victoria and Albert Museum, London and the National Palace Museum, Taipei.
RARE VERY LARGE CHINESE BRONZE ARCHAISTIC VESSEL LEI
Ca: 17th / 18th century
Of unusual large and impressive size and finely cast. Based directly upon an archaic bronze type from the Shang dynasty. Lei vessels were used to hold wine for ritual purposes. Decorated overall with taotieh masks and embellishments, all finely detailed. Most archaistic versions of this type are found in much smaller size.
Height 29 ½ inches (75 cm.)
Ex: Private American Collection (acquired in Europe)
RARE CHINESE IMPERIAL ENAMEL ON COPPER LANTERN PAGODA
Qianlong four character mark and period, ca: mid-18th century
Of unusual and interesting architectural form, the pagoda structure with hinged door revealing a candleholder in the interior. Finely decorated with flower and tendril designs; the roof with straited colored designs imitating the beams. All finely decorated in bright colors.
Carved in the full round, the Lion is posed seated upon its haunches upon a balustraded base. Of powerful form, with animated face and well-defined features. The style is directly based upon Tang dynasty prototypes. The size and embellishments of the fur, flame designs at the shoulders, and bell collar are indicative of a Ming or early Qing date.
Height: 21 ½ inches (54.5 cm.) Large stone sculpture of this type is very rare. A related lion
(but only 12 inches high) was in the collection of George Eumorfopoulos and exhibited in Arts de la Chine Ancienne, at the Orangerie de Tuileries, Paris, 1937, No. D. 672.
Ex: Private American Collection
Ex Collection: Winston Guest
Ex: C.T. Loo/ Frank Caro, New York in the mid-1900s.
Listed in an inventory of the Guest Collection by Frank Caro. Illustrated in the Guest Long Island Estate: House and Garden, front cover October, 1988.
Finely modelled, the horse standing foursquare with head held straight and turned towards the viewer. The horse is saddled with bridal painted onto his head. The Groom, posed standing with arms raised as if holding the horse’s reins. The figure has non-Chinese features and is likely meant to depict a foreigner from the Silk Road. He is dressed in a long robe with peaked cap amusingly arranged in a zigzag. Both with considerable vestiges of red pigment and white slip.
Height: 15 ¼ inches (39 cm.)
Ex: Private New York Collection
Ex Collection: Arthur Newman
Ex: James Reardon Collection
Ex: J.J. Lally (acquired in the late 1980s)
Chinese Export Porcelain American Market Sailor’s Farewell Teapot
CA. Late 18th century
H: 5 ⅜ inches (14.5 cm)
Decorated with a sailor and his love embraced in anticipation of his departure on a voyage. They are situated on a hill next to harbor with his ship visible and notably flying the American flag. This is a rare early depiction of a scene more often found with British ship.
Summer is here, and so are we: both in the gallery and at the Newport Show later this month! We are pleased to announce the our new SUMMER BOOKLET was just published and can be viewed here.
We have been keeping busy with new acquisitions in many directions, including porcelains and later bronzes. Also have a look at the many varied objects on our site in the Catalog section of our site. You may find one or more to match an occasion or simply add enjoyment into your own collection!
Should you be in New York this month, we invite your visit to our gallery to see our entire current collection. We look forward to welcoming you soon!
The Newport Show
July 26 – 27, 2025 Gala Preview: Friday, July 25 from 6-9pm Fair Hours: Saturday, July 26 & Sunday, July 27 from 10am-5pm
St. George’s School Ice Rink – 375 Purgatory Road, Middletown, RI
Our summer exhibition schedule is changing this year and we will be exhibiting for the first time at the Newport Show, from July 26-27 with the Gala Preview on July 25!
The show is a high point of the summer social season and a not to be missed opportunity for fine art and antiques aficionados. It is the main fundraiser for its two beneficiaries, the Newport Historical Society and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County.
Spring Exhibition of Chinese Porcelain and Works of Art
March 13 – 21, 2025 Asia Week hours: 10am-6pm, daily (otherwise by appointment)
This Asia Week is especially significant for our gallery as we celebrate our 115th Anniversary year! Founded in 1910 by our namesake Ralph M. Chait, it continues now into its fourth generation.
Commensurate with this theme, we are delighted to present in our exhibition and accompanying catalogue a variety of fine Chinese porcelains and works of art including Imperial works and the highest quality decorative arts that found their way into important collections in Europe, and in time, important American collections as well. Some highlights are shown on this web page.
Additionally, we include superb examples in many other directions. And most gratifying and connected to our history, many of these pieces in this exhibition passed through out gallery many decades ago. Our 115-year history is indeed intertwined with our present, and we look forward to the generations ahead as well.
We welcome your inquiries and visits to our gallery during this Asia Week and year-round!
2025 marks an extraordinary milestone since our founding in 1910! Above are some vintage photographs of our founder along with his famous office with its dragon mural wall in a previous gallery location from the 1930s.
We look forward to marking this remarkable period of time with an active year of exhibitions of fine porcelains and works of art!
Publications
We invite you to browse through our deeply researched collection of catalogues, showcasing a stunning array of fine antique Chinese porcelain and works of art. If you have any questions or would like further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone or email.
The Ralph M. Chait Galleries, established in 1910, holds the distinction of being the oldest specialist gallery in the United States focusing on fine antique Chinese porcelain and works of art. Founded by Ralph M. Chait, a self-taught connoisseur with an impeccable eye for quality, the gallery quickly gained prominence. Chait’s expertise and taste attracted notable collectors of his time, including John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and President Herbert Hoover, as well as an array of influential political figures, scholars, and artists. Today, the gallery continues to serve a distinguished global clientele, maintaining its legacy of excellence.
The gallery’s storied history is reflected in its enduring traditions and the prominent individuals who have frequented it. A central table, present since the early days, has served as a gathering point for collectors from varied backgrounds to examine and discuss pieces. Over the decades, the gallery has sold significant works to many major museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. Additionally, it has collaborated with renowned architects and designers like Frank Lloyd Wright and Sister Parish, cementing its role as a trusted authority in the field of antique Chinese art.
A third-generation family business, now led by Steven and Andrew Chait, the gallery has not only survived but thrived through diverse historical and economic challenges. Its involvement in prestigious antique fairs and organizations, such as the National Antiques and Art Dealers Association of America, underscores its commitment to the art community. With over a century of history, the Ralph M. Chait Galleries continues to honor its rich heritage while looking forward to a promising future in the world of fine Chinese antiques.
