Page 193 - Christie's Hong Kong November 29, 2022 Fine Chinese Works of Art

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A RARE GILT-BRONZE TRIPOD OFFERING 明永樂 鎏金銅魚龍形三足供座 「大明永樂年施」楷書刻款
STAND

YONGLE INCISED SIX-CHARACTER PRESENTATION MARK AND OF 此座鑄工精巧，每足作摩羯魚狀，口啣寶珠，魚身及尾飾流雲紋，圈托內壁
THE PERIOD (1403-1424) 陰刻「大明永樂年施」橫款，為明代宮廷作品。應用以承托法器如海螺或缽
The elegant legs of the stand are formed as three, evenly spaced, 等，作佛前供奉。參考兩外兩件造型一樣的鎏金銅魚龍形三足，同樣刻永
makara dragons. Each vertical-form dragon is raised from an 樂年款，一件(13.5公分)著錄於《Chinese Imperial Patronage, Treasures from
elaborately scrolled tail that transforms into an arched neck before Temples and Palaces》，卷二，Christopher Bruckner, Asian Art Gallery，倫敦，
emerging into upright head. Its partially open mouth exposes its 圖版4號，同書圖版5號為一件掐絲琺瑯座，紋飾設計與鎏金銅例子相同，
teeth and grasping one of the circular beads that form the circular 缺款，定年明初；及香港佳士得2017年5月31日拍賣一件，拍品2806號。亦可
ring platform. The interior of the ring is inscribed with the Yongle 參考國立故宮博物院藏一對明代銅鍍金燭台，其龍形足的造型與本器上
presentation mark. 的魚龍形足略為相似，見1995年台北出版《金銅佛教供具特展》，頁96，
5¬ in. (14.4 cm.) high 圖版16-2-3號。
HK$500,000-800,000 US$64,000-100,000
In Buddhist practices, the present stand is probably used for the support
of a conch shell, an offering bowl or a kapala, and placed on altar tables.
Compare to two other similar stands, one (13.5 cm. high) is illustrated
in Chinese Imperial Patronage, Treasures from Temples and Palaces, vol.
II, Christopher Bruckner, Asian Art Gallery, London, no. 4; where it is
illustrated with a similarly sized cloisonne enamel example dating to circa
1400, no. 5; and another sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 31 May 2017, lot (mark)
2806. Compare also related upright dragon supports forming the base of
a pair of Ming dynasty candlesticks as part of a garniture set, included in
the exhibition, A Special Exhibition of Buddhist Gilt Votive Objects, National
Palace Museum, Taipei, 1995, and illustrated in the Catalogue, p. 96,
pl. 16-2-3.

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