Page 158 - Christie's July 9th 2020 Hong Kong Important Chinese Works of Art

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A FINELY CARVED AND INSCRIBED From the poetic inscription the two figures depicted can be identified
as the two legendary beauties of the Han dynasty. Known as Da Qiao
BAMBOO 'TWO LADIES' BRUSH POT and Xiao Qiao. They were the daughters of Qiao Xuan, and were
EARLY QING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY immortalised in the classical novel, Sanguo Yanyi, 'The Romance of the
Three Kingdoms' as their respective planned marriages were one of the
The exterior is carved with a reduced background to reserve factors that influenced Cao Cao to begin his first southern campaign
a scene in relief of two ladies in discussion, each dressed in which culminated in the spectacular battle of the Red Cliffs.
a voluminous robe and their hair dressed in high chignons, There are two comparable examples carved with this subject-matter of
one reclining on a day-bed further detailed with neatly piled two ladies seated on a day-bed, the first inscribed with the name of Wu
manuscripts beside lotus flowers placed inside an archaistic gu-form Zhifan is illustrated by Wang Shixiang, Zhuke Jianshang, Taiwan, 1996,
vase, her companion seated to one side, pointing with one finger no. 14; the other is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, illustrated by C.
Clunas, Chinese Carving, London, 1996, p. 48, fig. 46.
to an open book held by the other hand, the reverse with a short
inscription in running script.
5 √ in. (15 cm.) high 清初 竹雕二喬並讀圖題詩筆筒
HK$250,000-300,000 US$33,000-39,000
來源
PROVENANCE 莫士撝，1970 年代
Hugh Moss, 1970s 好善簃竹雕珍藏，香港佳士得，2008 年 12 月 3 日，拍品
Fine Chinese Bamboo Carvings from the Personal Collection of 2332 號
Mr and Mrs Gerard Hawthorn, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong,
3 December 2008, lot 2332 陰刻銘文：
蘭兮蒹兮，雙雙凭几。同披贊，共收放。參微。

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