Page 68 - 2020 December 1 Bonhams Hong Kong, Eternal Music in Chinese art

Timepieces provided a bridge between Western and Chinese culture, Sophisticated timepieces initially brought from Europe were
with the European Jesuits utilising the sophisticated and exotic clocks subsequently produced and re-interpreted in their decorative motifs,
as a means to gain access to the Imperial court. The first to initiate this by local workshops in Guangzhou, Yangzhou and Beijing. In addition
was the Jesuit priest Matteo Ricci, who presented two chime clocks to to the Beijing Imperial Workshops, fine clocks made in Guangzhou
the court of the Wanli emperor in 1601, and the same judicious choice were also presented to the emperor as Imperial tribute, demonstrating
of acceptable gifts was used also during the 18th century, from the the outstanding level of craftsmanship achieved by the Chinese
Kangxi reign onwards. The passion for European clocks was driven by clocksmiths, as well as their familiarity with European - and in this case
the Qing court and the Qianlong emperor, but also extended to high- English - clocks of the late 18th century.
ranking officials and wealthy merchants.
It is not surprising that the present clock was made after an English
Clocks were symbolic of the ability to master the time and the prototype, such as the one from the Nezu Museum, Tokyo, which
calendar; they solidified the emperor’s position as the Son of Heaven, was later sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 27 May 2008, lot 1515. China
having divine powers and the ability to control the transcendence of became Britain’s chief export market for its timepieces in the 18th
time in the universe. They also represented the relationship between century.
time and good governance, as demonstrated in a poem composed by
the Kangxi emperor titled ‘The Chanting of the Chiming Clock’: Compare with a related clock in the Palace Museum, Beijing, illustrated
by Lu Yangzhen, Timepieces Collected by the Qing Emperors in the
‘Methods originating from the West, taught to us with a keen heart. Palace Museum, Hong Kong, 1995, p.170; see also another example
Wheels circle on a quarterly basis, hands move according to minutes. in the Qing Court Collection with similar form and feet but with a
Dawn needs not to be announced, the golden clocks report in lacquered wooden body, illustrated in Moments of Eternity: Timepieces
advance. Working hard on government affairs in the morning, Collection from the Palace Museum, Macao, 2004, p.297, pl.107.
memorials are never completed in a late manner.’
See a related large chased and engraved ormolu musical cloc, Henry
The Qianlong emperor inherited from his grandfather his passion Borrell, London, made for the Chinese market, circa 1795, which was
for science and clocks. The Imperial court also indulged in luxuries sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 26 November 2019, lot 877. Another
including extravagant mechanical toys and amusements. The related ormolu and paste-set striking and musical clock, Qianlong, was
emperor not only had many clocks imported from Europe, but sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 9 October 2012, lot 3021.
specifically ordered by decree that both his Chinese and European
clockmakers from the Imperial Workshops should create and replicate
these timepieces. These skilled artisans were given priority access
to an assortment of expensive raw materials, including gold, jade,
lacquer, ivory, gemstones and zitan wood. References to the Imperial
Workshops making timepieces are found dating back to 1723, during
the Yongzheng period. It is also recorded that there were once as
many as 3,431 timepieces on display within the Forbidden City; see
Moments of Eternity: Timepieces Collection from the Palace Museum,
Macao, 2004, pp.448-449.

此鐘整體造型為亭式建築式樣，通體鍍金。瓶形花蕾作鐘頂，鐘上部 猶如其祖父，乾隆皇帝歷來熱衷收藏西洋鐘錶及其他奇器，作為其閒
亭頂四面飾飛鳥，飛鳥下飾團花，四角及頂端嵌銅鍍金飾件。鐘正面 逸消遣的高級玩具及奢侈擺設。此期間宮廷除了大量進口歐洲鐘錶之
飾鍍金鏤花，正中為白色琺瑯鐘盤，鐘盤四周嵌料石一周。底座嵌萱 外，亦命宮廷造辦處以及位於揚州、廣州的作坊製作鐘錶。中國工匠
草紋一周，底座正面有嵌料石轉花一朵。底座側面為上弦器。 挖盡心思，配合黃金、玉、漆、象牙、寶石、紫檀等名貴材料，製作
出大量供賞玩的各式時鐘，此轉花鐘正是廣州製作用於進貢宮廷之其
西洋時鐘的引進是西方傳教士通往中國皇宮貴胄的橋樑。早在明代末 中一例。此轉花種裝飾及形制明顯受到英國時鐘影響，類似一例見日
期，天主教傳教士利瑪竇就將西方所製兩件自鳴鐘獻予萬曆皇帝，從 本根津美術館舊藏一件嵌寶石鐘，後於香港佳士得售出，2008年5月
此打開了西方使者與上至皇宮貴族、下至黎明百姓溝通的話題，為中 27日，編號1511。
西文化交流敲開大門。清代以降，西洋時鐘不當成為清廷統治者的喜
愛之物，亦受到達官顯貴及商販的追捧。 北京故宮博物院清宮舊藏藏有一例可資比較，見陸燕貞，《清宮鐘
錶珍藏》，香港，1995年，頁170；而北京故宮清宮舊藏另一件清乾
西洋時鐘能够準確的呈現時曆，這與中國統治者對天文、曆法等相關 隆木樓嵌銅活三套鐘，雖為木製，但整體形制及四足與本拍品極為
支持的壟斷和掌握一脈相承。天子對時間及曆法的掌握，蘊含其君權 相似，見澳門藝術博物館，《日升月恆：故宮珍藏鐘錶文物展》，
神授的象徵意義，因此受到歷朝歷代統治者的喜愛。康熙對西方科學 澳門，2004年，頁297，圖107。香港邦瀚斯曾售出一件英國Henry
技術即抱有極大的熱忱，他曾作詩《詠自鳴鐘》一首，曰：「法自西 Borrell生產用於出口中國的十八世紀銅鎏金報時音樂座種，其風格與
洋始，巧心授受如。輪行隋刻轉，表指按分移。絳幘休催曉，金鐘預 本拍品類似，2019年11月26日，拍品編號877。另見香港蘇富比曾售
報時。清朝勤政務，數問奏章遲。」由此看出，自鳴鐘已成為康熙帝 出一件清乾隆銅鍍金嵌寶石塔式樂鐘，2012年10月9日，編號3021。
安排生活及工作的必須之物。

66 | BONHAMS