Christie's Hong Kong to Offer Important Private Collection of Rhinoceros Horn Carvings Christie’s announces that it will offer Important Chinese Rhinoceros-Horn Carvings from the Songzhutang Collection on May 27 in Hong Kong.
adopt such a theme as it
involved numerous figures, elaborate scenery, and an extremely complex composition,
therefore requiring superior carving skills. Above all, such a composition required an
extraordinarily large rhinoceros horn of fine quality, making this example not only rare, but
true masterpiece with great artistic value.
Of particular note in this collection is a Ming
dynasty, 17th century vessel fashioned in the form
of a large inverted lotus leaf (illustrated left,
HK$4,000,000 - 5,000,000). The material used in
this work is smooth and lustrous, with a fresh and
elegant design that shows great animation. It is
skillfully rendered and highly naturalistic flora and
fauna including a butterfly in flight. The interior
features a lively image of a Praying Mantis
climbing over a long bladed leaf. The up-bending stem of the large lotus leaf has been
hollowed out to form a spout, with the narrow channel connected to a hole in the base of
the vessel so that liquid can be poured through it. The vessel bears the maker’s sealmark Zhi
Sheng, the style name of You Kan, considered perhaps the greatest carver of the period. This
cup, formerly in the E.T. Chow Collection, is exceptional in its superb quality, naturalistic
detail and subject-matter.
Also of note is a rare rhinoceros horn figure of a Budai
(illustrated right, estimate: HK$3,000,000-4,000,000). The
monk Budai, also known as the Laughing Buddha, is
depicted seated amidst the spreading loose folds of his
robes, his chest and large belly exposed, clutching in his
right hand a tasseled rosary while five laughing boys
clamber up his body.
The sale also includes a large libation cup with a dragon motif from
the Qianlong period (illustrated right, estimate: HK$3,000,000-4,000,000).
This enormous cup of archaic bronze form has a beautifully contoured
interior, and depicts thirty-nine lively chi -dragons of various sizes and
shapes climbing around the sides and over into the interior of the
vessel.
Images are available at
Auction Important Chinese Rhinoceros Horn Carvings May 27, 2008
from the Songzhutang Collection
Viewing New York: Christie’s New York, Rockefeller Plaza March 14-17
Beijing: Sofitel Wanda Beijing April 24-26
Shanghai: Hyatt on the Bund April 28-29
Taipei: Fubon Life Insurance Building May 17-18
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center May 22-24, 2008
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