Page 428 - Bonhams Chinese Art London May 2013

Reverse 391
A rare Imperial double-gourd gilt-bronze zitan and
The plaque, Lot 391 in situ, in the family’s residence, early hardwood ‘Da Ji’ plaque
20th century 18th century
424 | Bonhams Shaped as a double gourd with a high border enclosing
the recessed plaque, decorated on one side with two
applied gilt medallions carved with the characters Da and
Ji surrounded by cloud scrolls in a key-fret border and
separated by a soapstone bi disc attached to a twisted
carved gilt rope across the neck of the double gourd,
the upper medallion surrounded by applied soapstone
carvings of the Eight Daoist symbols and the lower
medallion by the Eight Buddhist Emblems, bajixiang, the
other side of the plaque similarly applied with a soapstone
bi disc dividing the two halves containing a single scene
of a prunus tree of wood issuing applied quartz blossoms
growing in a rocky soapstone landscape, the gilt rope
knotted and suspending a fish inlaid with patches of
turquoise enamel on each side, the plaque surmounted
by a separate gilt bronze repoussé cap elaborately formed
on each side with five turquoise enamel bats surrounding
a stylised shou character and above two Buddhist wan
symbols all against cloud scrolls, the wood stand carved
with archaistic scrolls below lappets beneath the waisted
neck and supporting a pedestal with gilt floral scrolls
shaped to fit the plaque.
Overall 56cm (22in) high (3).
£15,000 - 25,000
HK$180,000 - 290,000 CNY140,000 - 240,000

十八世紀 御製紫檀嵌鎏金及壽山石暗八仙紋「大吉」葫
蘆插屏

Provenance: Luis Valera y Delavat (1870-1926), Marquis
de Villasinda, Spanish diplomat in Beijing, circa 1900, and
thence by descent. According to the family, the plaque
was acquired at that time and originated in the Forbidden
City.

來源：Luis Valera y Delavat (1870-1926)藏品，並由
其家族繼承下去。Luis Valera y Delavat來自Marquis de
Villasinda，是約1900年西班牙駐北京的外交官。根據其家
族，此拍品於當時獲得，並來自紫禁城。

The present Da Ji plaque is an outstanding example
of the sumptuous taste of the Imperial Court at its
height of prosperity and as a result, the apex of Qing
Dynasty artistic craftsmanship. The plaque is charged
with layers of symbolism and auspicious wishes, from
the five bats adorning the gilt-bronze crest, standing for
the five wishes (old age, wealth, health, love of virtue,
and a peaceful death). The wish for longevity is further
reinforced by the double-gourd form as well as the Shou
character; these wishes are multiplied by a thousand
by the wan emblems; the Eight Buddhist Emblems, the
bajixiang, and the eight attributes of the Eight Immortals
surround the characters Da Ji, meaning Great Fortune.
The rare double-catfish gilt-bronze handles stand for the
blessing: may you have plenty year after year (‘niannian
youyu’). It is therefore probable that this highly auspicious
plaque was made in celebration of an Imperial birthday.

A very similar pair of catfish gilt-bronze and enamelled
handles can be seen on a cloisonné enamel jar and cover
in the Qing Court Collection, mid Qing Dynasty, illustrated
by Zheng Xinmiao, ed., Compendium of Collection in
the Palace Museum: Enamels 3 - Cloisonné in the Qing
Dynasty (1644-1911), Beijing, 2011, pl.278.