Canalblog
Editer l'article Suivre ce blog Administration + Créer mon blog
Publicité
Alain.R.Truong
Alain.R.Truong
Publicité
Visiteurs
Depuis la création 50 863 684
Archives
Newsletter
Alain.R.Truong
12 septembre 2008

An Inlaid Gilt-bronze Vase (Fanghu). Qing dynasty, 18th century

29934484_p

An Inlaid Gilt-bronze Vase (Fanghu). Qing dynasty, 18th century

The faceted vessel of baluster shape, inlaid with 'Hundred Antiques' carved in jade, lapis lazuli, agate, and malachite, including bats, stylized shou characters, the endless knot, coins, wan emblems, and ruyi-heads, against a gilt ground of lingzhi sprays in low-relief, a continuous ruyi-head border at the base, a pair of handles on the slightly flared neck in the form of ruyi scepters, the flared foot inlaid with ruyi form hardstones, the recessed underside cast with a four-character mark ruyi baozun, which may be translated 'as you wish, treasure with honor' - height 15 in., 38.1 cm - Estimate: 50,000—70,000 USD

PROVENANCE : A. J. Speelman, London (until 1998).
Thereafter with the present owner.

NOTE : Very fine and elaborately inlaid vases of this type are extremely rare and the present piece is remarkable for its well-preserved gilding and inlay of semi-precious stones. Although it was a common practice to create vessels based on ancient bronze shapes, no other piece with decoration of this type appears to have been published. For examples of stone-inlaid metal vessels, see a gilt-bronze qilin censer, sold in our Hong Kong rooms, 10th April 2006, lot 1542; and a gilt-copper gu-shaped vase with lingzhi fungus, included in the exhibition A Special Exhibition of Incense Burners and Perfumers Throughout the Dynasties, National Palace Museum, Taibei, 1994, cat. no. 104.

The auspicious motifs of the 'Hundred Antiques' symbolize blessings and longevity.

Sotheby's. Fine Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art including Chinese and Japanese Art from The Collection of Frieda and Milton Rosenthal. 16 Sep 08. www.sotheby's.com

Publicité
Publicité
Commentaires
Publicité