Page 10 - Bonhams The Zuiun Collection NYC March 2017

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5007 5008
A HARDWOOD SCEPTER
China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644), 17th century A BOXWOOD SCEPTER
Carved in hardwood as a branch of lingzhi fungus, the cloud-form China, Ming (1368–1644) or Qing (1644–1912) dynasty, 17th–18th
head with deep whorls and a twisting stem with smaller sprouting century
branches, with a purplish-brown patina Carved as a gnarled and twisted branch of lingzhi fungus, the stem
With a Japanese wooden storage box covered by smaller cloud-like sprouts of lingzhi, the head with
15 3/4in (40cm) long a deeply furrowed surface resembling a stylized bat, finished in
US$3,500 - 4,500 reddish brown patina, the reverse carved with an allusive poem by Li
Shangyin 李商隐 (812–858) about family rivalries during a banquet
8 | BONHAMS at the court of the Tang Emperor, Xuanzong (685–762): Longchi
cijiu changyunbing jiegu shenggao zhongyueting yeban yangui
gonglouyong Xuewang shenzui Shouwangxing 龍池賜酒敞雲屏羯
鼔聲髙衆樂停夜半宴歸宫漏永薛王沈醉壽王醒 (They pour wine by
the Dragon Pond and set out mica-encrusted screens, the sound of
barbarian drums rises to the rafters and the other music stops; at
midnight the banquet guests depart but in the palace the night drags
on: Prince Xue gets dead drunk but Prince Shou remains sober);
signed and sealed
With a Japanese wooden tomobako storage box, the exterior of the
lid inscribed Jidai ōyōboku (tsugeki) reishi nyoi 時代黄楊木雲芝如意
(Antique boxwood lingzhi scepter)
13 3/4in (34.9cm) long

US$4,000 - 5,000