Page 242 - Christies September 13 to 14th Fine Chinese Works of Art New York

(two views)

PROPERTY OF AN IMPORTANT AMERICAN COLLECTOR
1247
A CARVED BAMBOO POEM SLIP CONTAINER The scene on this poem slip container is flled with symbols of longevity
18TH-19TH CENTURY which are associated with birthday gifts and congratulations. Pine, bamboo
and prunus are known as the ‘Three Friends of Winter’, as both bamboo
The slender container is raised on three low feet, the sides are well carved in
liuqing technique with a moonlit scene of two cranes standing on either side and pine are evergreens and prunus or plum is the frst tree to bloom each
of a rushing stream beside a large rock that partially obscures bamboo and year, and all are known to last a long time. The pine (song) and cranes (he)
fowering prunus branches that extend behind a towering pine tree with lingzhi together also symbolize longevity, and the pine tree (song), bamboo (zhu),
growing near its base, the moon above is partially hidden by trailing clouds. rock (shoushi) and fungus (lingzhi) together represent the wish
‘May the aged pine honor you with longevity (songling gongshou).
4æ in. (12.1 cm.) high
清中期 竹刻留青賀壽圖小筆筒
$4,000-6,000

PROVENANCE
Private collection, Germany. Nagel Auktionen, Stuttgart, ‘From the Scholar’s
Studio, 88 Objects for Use and Inspiration’, 6 June 2005, lot 239.
Private collection, America, 2005-2013.
Nicholas Grindley, London, June 2014.
LITERATURE
N. Grindley, June 2014, London, no. 8.

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