Page 48 - Bonhams, Fine Chinese Art, London November 3, 2022

Giuseppe Castiglione (1688-1766), ‘White Falcon’;
image courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

114 TP Y
A RARE HUANGHUALI ‘FALCON STAND’, YINGJIA Hunting and falconry were important pastimes of the Qing dynasty,
18th century both as a form of entertainment and as a way of learning military
The two slender posts, fitted with bronze ‘mythical beast’ finials, skills. It served to maintain and develop Manchu martial tradition. A
framing two horizontal stretchers, the top one fitted with a knob, related falcon stand with similar decoration is depicted in a painting
enclosing a panel carved with a hunting scene on one side and a by the Italian Jesuit Court painter Giuseppe Castiglione 郎世寧 (1688-
gilded landscape on the other, joined by two rails above and below 1766), of a white falcon; see He Chuanxin, ed., Portrayals from a
the panel, framing ‘cloud’ and ‘scrolling chrysanthemum’ spandrels, Brush Divine: a Special Exhibition on the Tricentennial of Giuseppe
the toprail padded with rope and fitted with a metal ring, all set on two Castiglione’s Arrival in China, Taipei, 2015, pp.228-231. The detailed
solid feet decorated with two pairs of Buddhist lions. line drawings of the bronze ‘mythical beast’ finials fitted to the posts
114cm (44 7/8 in) high x 110cm (43 5/16 in) wide x 43cm (3 15/16 in) deep. and the two pairs of Buddhist lions on the stand are both similar to the
present lot. The padded rope on the top rail is for the falcon to grip
£40,000 - 60,000 and protect its talons, while the knob on the horizontal panel is said to
CNY310,000 - 470,000 be for the hood for the bird.

清十八世紀 黃花梨鷹架

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
46 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.