Page 108 - Sotheby's October 3 2017 Chinese Art

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AN IMPERIAL INSCRIBED ZITAN 清乾隆 紫檀仿古萬壽鞘黃楊木刻詩劍 Wooden swords (mujian), also known as
AND BOXWOOD SWORD patterned swords (banjian) or kin-swords
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG 來源： (xiangjian), originated in the Jin dynasty. They
PERIOD 巴黎 Gerard Levy（1934-2016 年）收藏 served as accompanying accoutrements to
official court attire, and were later used as ritual
with a honey-brown boxwood blade of elongated 題識： accessories carried by warriors. Such swords
tapering form, carved on both sides with a poem 休明瑞器，輔翼文功；匪侔結綠，豈伍青萍。 were often bestowed by the Emperor to officials
followed by two seal marks reading qin shu 魍魎極迹，魑魅歲形；似矣寶之，百世永昌。 in recognition for their military achievements and
xiaosa and shanshui qingyin, fixed to a zitan hilt 詩吟古調，琴弄無弦；幽人高致，興趣天然。 contributions.
with a wide cross-guard and a flaring grip and 握斯瑜瑾，步武前賢；文光映斗，壯志彌堅。
pommel, the grip carved in low relief with a pair 「琴書瀟灑」、「山水清音」印
of confronting archaistic kui dragons, between
bands of ‘horse-hoof’ motifs encircling the cross- 木劍，又稱「班劍」或「象劍」，始於晉，
guard and pommel, the zitan scabbard similarly 朝服帶劍。後用於儀仗，由武士佩持，天子
carved with pairs of confronting archaistic kui 以賜功臣。
dragons, below shou characters flanking a central
band of ‘horse-hoof’ motifs
65.5 cm, 25¾ in.

PROVENANCE
Collection of Gerard Levy (1934-2016), Paris.

HK$ 500,000-700,000
US$ 64,000-89,500

Inscription 題識
106 SOTHEBY’S 蘇富比