Page 82 - Chinese Works of Art and Buddhist sculpture, June 18, 2018 Galerie Zacke

75
A FINE QING DYNASTY AMETHYST
CARVING OF HE XIANGU
Amethyst of purple color in the upper and
clear color in the lower part, natural inclusions
China, Qing Dynasty

This finely carved amethyst sculpture features
He Xiangu, the only female immortal of the
Baxian. She is portrayed, holding a vase with
a lingzhi spray in her right hand and is leaning
against a rock formation overgrown by more
of the fungus of immortality. Especially the
neatly incised hair and the vivid facial features
attest to the artist’s capability.

The artist has cleverly used the natural color
play of the stone to highlight the upper part of
the figure which stands out due to its purple
hue whilst the rock and the lower part of the
gown are of near clear color.
Shape: Figural shape
Dimensions: 12 cm (height), 8 cm (length), 4
cm (width)
Condition: Good condition with fine hand
patina
Provenance: Old Austrian Private collection,
assembled in the 1930s to early 1950s

Literature comparison: For an interesting
article on Chinese Hardstone Carvings and
specifically on the artists’ use of Amethyst
material with its purple / clear color scheme
73 74 see: Sun, Jason. “Chinese Hardstone
A ROCK CRYSTAL ‘GUARDIAN LION’ A FIGURAL QING DYNASTY Carvings.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art
SCULPTURE AMETHYST BEAD WITH DOUBLE- History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum
Transparent rock crystal, excellent surface polish FACE LUCKY GOD of Art, June 2016.
China, late Qing Dynasty or early Republic period Amethyst of even purple color, natural ġ
inclusions 㶭ẋ䳓㘞晽ỽẁ⥹
Besides one tiny natural inclusion on the back China, Qing Dynasty ⑩䚠列⤥炻⊭㻧㹓㼌
this rock crystal sculpture showcases flawless ⤏⛘⇑䥩Ṣ侩㓞啷炻ᶲᶾ䲨ᶱ⋩⸜ẋ军Ḽ⋩⸜
material. Depicted is a guardian lion of whimsical This finely carved amethyst bead shows ẋ⇅岤ℍ
appearance with one paw slightly raised. Running the two-sided portrayal of a youthful
through his mouth is a channel for a string, so lucky god with a third eye in flower Estimate EUR 500,-
that he could be worn as a pendant. Due to the shape. There is a vertical channel for a Starting price EUR 250,-
carving’s generous size and heavy weight a use as string and the original silk tassel is still
a paperweight appears more feasible. in place. Another small hole is drilled to
one side, where the ears of the faces
Rock crystal objects were highly sought after by meet.
Qing Dynasty literati who referred to the material
as ‘water turned to stone’. Shape: Figural, rounded shape, drillings
for suspension
Shape: Figural shape Dimensions: 2,3 cm (diameter)
Dimensions: 5,5 cm (height), 10 cm (length), 4,5 Condition: Good condition with fine
cm (width) hand patina
Condition: Excellent condition Provenance: Old Austrian Private
Provenance: Old Austrian Private collection, collection, assembled in the 1930s to
assembled in the 1930s to early 1950s early 1950s
ġ
㶭ẋ㘂㛇ㆾ㮹⚳⇅㛇㯜㘞晽䋭⫸ 㶭ẋ䳓㘞晽暁朊䤷㗇䎈
⑩䚠㤝⤥ ⑩䚠列⤥炻⊭㻧㹓㼌
⤏⛘⇑䥩Ṣ侩㓞啷炻ᶲᶾ䲨ᶱ⋩⸜ẋ军Ḽ⋩⸜ẋ ⤏⛘⇑䥩Ṣ侩㓞啷炻ᶲᶾ䲨ᶱ⋩⸜ẋ军Ḽ
⇅岤ℍ ⋩⸜ẋ⇅岤ℍ

Estimate EUR 200,- Estimate EUR 200,-
Starting price EUR 100,- Starting price EUR 100,-

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