Lot 31. A rare red coral carving of a phoenix amidst clouds, Qing Dynasty; 27cm (10 5/8) long. Estimate HK$ 200,000-300,000. Sold for HK$ 250,000 (€ 29,701). Courtesy Bonhams.

Intricately worked as a descending phoenix emerging from clouds, its head turned left and neck twisted backwards, its plumage carefully incised in life-likeness at the wings and tail feathers, the coral of a salmon pink tone with natural white inclusions, wood stand.

Provenance: A European private collection

Note: Superbly carved, the coral carving of the phoenix flying amidst cloud scrolls is reminiscent in its quality of some of the finest jades carved during the mid-Qing dynasty. The masterful craftsmanship is evident in the finely detailed and naturalistic multi-layered carving rendered from an astonishing single large piece of coral. The exceptional quality of the carving, when combined with the deeply symbolic association of the phoenix with the empress, strongly indicates that this was probably made for the imperial court.

Compare a related red coral carving of a Buddhist lion, Qing dynasty, from the Qing Court collection, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Treasures of Imperial Court, Hong Kong, 2004, pl.48.

Bonhams. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Hong Kong, 3 December 2015