Page 264 - Imperial Sale Chinese Works of Art June 1 2016 HK

~ 3378

A RARE VIETNAMESE QINAN INCENSE WOOD
FORMATION
The naturally formed wood has been meticulously trimmed to
leave the densely formed dark resin and carved in the form in
reminiscence of a pierced scholar’s rock.
12 ¬ in. (31.9 cm.), 1434 g, Japanese wood box

HK$8,000,000-12,000,000
US$1,100,000-1,600,000

Chenxiang and qinan are essentially the same type of resinous
substances, produced by certain trees in the subtropical and tropical
regions as a self-defense/healing mechanism when injured or
infected. The highest grade of chenxiang/qinan, however, was the
result of the wood, for reasons unknown, producing so much of these
resins that they eventually choke the life out of the tree. As the tree
fibers disintegrate, the resinous substances remain and mature while
exposed to the elements. These substances produce strong, complex
aromas which have been admired by different cultures through the
centuries. While in many other cultures they were mainly used in
religious ceremonies, it was in China that they were appreciated in
their own right. They were so prized in the Song period that they were
already said to be worth their weight in gold, and many poems were
written alluding to their quality.

究其本質，沉香與棋楠均是熱帶及亞熱帶幾種香木，當受到
傷害或病菌感染時，所分泌的一種膏脂狀結塊。最高級的沉
香或棋楠，則是樹木在原因不明的情況下，過度地產生這些
膏脂，使得樹木本身枯死，木纖維腐爛後，留下有香味的香
脂。這種變異情況非常少見，不但須時漫長，也不是人為所
能致，故格外珍稀。這些香料散發一種醇厚，複雜的香氣，
在許多古文化中都受到推崇。雖然在其他文化裡，沉香多是
用在宗教祭典之中，在中國則自古便受文人喜愛欣賞，許多
詩人都曾賦詩贊賞它。宋朝俗諺說，一兩沉香一兩金， 極稱
其貴重。

越南綠油棋楠擺件（1434克）

~ This item is subject to CITES export/import restrictions. The historical another view
CITES paperwork for this lot is not available and it will not be possible 另一面
to obtain a CITES export permit to ship this item to addresses outside
Hong Kong post-sale. This item can only be shipped to addresses within
Hong Kong or collected from our Hong Kong saleroom and office.
Please contact the department for further information.

拍賣品描述通知
~ 本拍賣品受制於CITES出入口限制。由於本拍賣品無法提供先前的CITES
歷史證明交件，因此本拍賣品將不能獲取允許其於拍賣後運送至香港境外的
CITES出口許可證。本拍賣品只可運送至香港境內的地址或從我們的香港拍
賣場提取。請與專家部門聯繫以了解詳情。

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