Page 84 - Bonhams, Fine Chinese Art, London November 3, 2022

Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

127 *
A VERY LARGE AND RARE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL ‘WATER Incense burners of comparable size and with designs as the present
BUFFALO AND HERDBOY’ INCENSE BURNER AND COVER lot are rare. For a nearly identical but mirror image of this lot, a possible
18th century pair with this lot, see a cloisonné enamel ‘buffalo and boy’ incense
The ‘water buffalo’ modelled standing with its head turned back, the burner and cover, 18th century, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art,
black body with pale patches and inlaid with wavy gilded cloisons New York, acc.no.30.128.2a–c.
representing the patterned skin and hair, surmounted by a gilded figure
of a seated herdboy playing a flute, removable, as the cover of the The refined quality of the enamels decorating the present buffalo and
incense burner. boy group highlights its skilful representation of an auspicious scene
40.5cm (15 15/16in) long, 42.9cm (16 7/8in) high. (2). in the natural world. The reclining buffalo, a symbol of strength and
tranquillity, is also associated with spring and agriculture because of its
£20,000 - 30,000 role in pulling ploughs. According to scholarly research, from the Ming
CNY160,000 - 240,000 dynasty, buffaloes were often depicted at rest with their head turned
90 degrees, as seen in the present lot, to indicate that the world was
at peace; see J.C.S.Lin, The Immortal Stone, Cambridge, 2009,
十八世紀 銅胎掐絲琺琅「牧童水牛」蓋爐 p.51. As a familiar beast of the fields, the buffalo underpinned rice
production and the rural economy. As such, the creature is emblematic
Provenance: Sir Michael Oppenheimer (3rd Baronet, 1924-2020) and of agriculture and spring time and represents strength, endurance,
Lady Helen Oppenheimer DD (1926-2022), and thence by descent dedication to hard work, prosperity and tranquillity. When depicted
with a young boy riding on its back, this motif represents obedience
來源：Michael Oppenheimer 爵士（三代從男爵，1924-2020年） and serenity. Even a small child can ride an animal of this size and
與Helen Oppenheimer爵士夫人（1926-2022年）舊藏，並由後人保 strength without fear.
存迄今
Buffalos are also used in artistic representation, in particular Chinese
paintings, to evoke a bucolic, idealised existence in the countryside.
This in turn feeds into a more mythical or spiritual side to the buffalo,
recalling both Buddhist and Daoist concerns with simplicity and retreat,
and the founder of Daoism, the philosopher Laozi, who departed from
the borders of the known world on a buffalo.

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