Chine, Objets de lettrés / Treasures of the Chinese Scholar

  Opium Pipe, 19th century, China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Wood with silver and enamel ferrules, 59.8 cm (23 9/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of Cornelia Blakemore, Warner 1947.586.  Opium Pipe, 19th century, China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Horn (?) with silver decoration, 52.8 cm (20 13/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of Cornelia Blakemore Warner 1947.589. Opium Pipe, 19th century, China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Wood, jade and silver decoration, 62.2 cm (24 1/2 in.). The... [Lire la suite]

Brush Rest, China, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279). Glazed stoneware, Guan ware. Diameter: 2.8 x 7.6 cm; Overall: 6 cm. The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 1957.42. There are twelve "hills" on this mountain-shaped brush rest. In China, access to political power was granted to those who passed the civil service examinations, a system that offered official service only at a high level of education. Chinese literati-officials, whose daily routine involved administrative work in an office, enjoyed precious... [Lire la suite]

Rock Stone. Gift of the Wan‑go H. C. Weng Collection and the Weng family, in honor of Weng Tonghe. Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. BOSTON, MASS.- In China, rocks in their natural form are objects of great aesthetic appreciation. As far back as 1,000 years ago, serious art collectors and critics acquired and competed for rocks with the same passion they afforded great works of painting and calligraphy. Rather than celebrating superficial beauty, collectors exalted imperfection for its expressive possibilities and... [Lire la suite]

Lot 9861. Chinese Yingde limestone scholar's rock, Northern style wood stand, overall height 16.25". Sold for $1,100 (Estimate: $800 - $1,200). © Clars Auction Gallery. Lot 9862. Three Chinese beige limestone scholar's rocks, each arranged horizontally resembling a mountain range, Northern style wood stands, widest 10.25". Sold for $325 (Estimate: $600 - $800). © Clars Auction Gallery. Lot 9863. Chinese yellow wax stone scholar's rock, the top... [Lire la suite]

Lot 226. A nanmu root 'lingzhi' ruyi sceptre, Qing dynasty, together with two paintings by the Master of the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat, with five seals of the artist; ruyi: 57 cm, 22½ in., paintings: 69.5 by 76.8 cm, 27⅜ by 30¼ in.; 77.5 by 61 cm., 30½by 24 in. Lot sold: £37,800 (Estimate: £40,000 - 60,000). © 2022 Sotheby's. formed from a natural hollowed root, the fine grained wood of golden- brown tone with a slight greenish tinge. ... [Lire la suite]

Lot 225. Liu Dan, Scholar's Rock in the Xiao Gushan Guan Collection, ink on paper, framed, painted in 2022, signed, titled and inscribed in Chinese, marked with one seal of the artist, 47 by 68 cm, 18½ by 26¾ in. Lot sold: £94,500 (Estimate: £50,000 - 80,000). © 2022 Sotheby's. Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist. Note: As an intellectual painter, Liu Dan chooses to portray subjects that seem deceptively simple in form, yet upon further inspection, or realisation of physical... [Lire la suite]

Lot 224. An inscribed Lingbi scholar's rock. The Lingbi: Possibly Song-Yuan Dynasty. The Yumu stand: Qing Dynasty, 18th-19th Century. Height 36.5 cm, 14¼ in. Lot sold: £94,500 (Estimate: £70,000 - 90,000). © 2022 Sotheby's. the base with an eight-character inscription reading Yuanfu Ernian, Mifu and Tuiweng. Provenance: The Richard Rosenblum Collection. Literature: Valerie C. Doran, 'Exploring the Magic Mountain: An Interview with Richard... [Lire la suite]

Lot 177. A huanghuali brushpot, Late Ming dynasty (1368-1644); d. 23.6 cm, h. 22.4 cm. Lot sold: 478,800 HKD (Estimate: 100,000 - 150,000 HKD). © Sotheby's 2022 of cylindrical form, the thick walls rising from a flat base fitted with a central plug, the densely grained wood patinated to a rich warm honey-brown colour. Provenance: Eastern Pacific Co. (Hei Hung-Lu), Hong Kong, 12th May 1981. Sotheby's. HOTUNG  The Personal Collection of the late Sir Joseph... [Lire la suite]

Lot 131. A large huanghuali 'mallow' brushpot, 17th century; d. 25.5 cm, h. 21.6 cm. Lot sold: 1,260,000 HKD (Estimate: 200,000 - 300,000  HKD). © Sotheby's 2022 carved in the form of a blossoming mallow flower with eight partially overlapping petals, the exterior further decorated in relief with prunus, begonia, magnolia and orchid, set in a continuous garden scene with craggy rockwork, the wood of an attractive chestnut-brown tone. Provenance: Eastern Pacific Co. (Hei Hung-Lu),... [Lire la suite]

Lot 130. A carved lapis lazuli boulder, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736-1795); 12.3 cm, overall 15.1 cm. Lot sold: 1,512,000 HKD (Estimate: 300,000 - 400,000  HKD). © Sotheby's 2022 skilfully carved with a mountainous setting, the idyllic scene featured a secluded pavilion amongst jagged rockwork and gnarled trees, the stone of a rich blue colour accentuated with streaks of gold flecks and milky-white inclusions, with a boxwood stand carved in the form of a rockwork issuing entwined pine... [Lire la suite]