Page 176 - Christie's, NYC Important Chinese Works Of Art Sept. 22-23, 2022

Important Chinese Rank Badges and Textiles

from The David Hugus Collection

大衛
大衛·許格珍藏重要中國官服補子及織繡
許格珍藏重要中國官服補子及織繡
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(Lots 848–862)

After a long and decorated military career, Dr. David Hugus began an even more comprehensive survey of rank badges, he continued
collecting rank badges in 1991. His interest began after reading articles to expand his knowledge and to build an encyclopedic collection of
on the subject by Professor Schuyler Cammann of the University of badges with the intention of again publishing a text that would stand
Pennsylvania, which inspired his thirty-year pursuit of learning, teaching as the most comprehensive on the subject. In 2021, David published
and collecting Chinese rank badges. Together with the support of his Chinese Rank Badges: Symbols of Power, Wealth, and Intellect in the
wife of over fifty years, Nancy, the study and collecting of rank badges Ming and Qing Dynasties, Hong Kong, 2021, which now stands as
became a hobby as well as a mission-- to decode and publish on the the most comprehensive text ON THE SUBject of rank badges in the
sparsely written field of rank badges. In 2000, Hugus co-authored with English language and is being published in Chinese by Social Sciences
collector Beverley Jackson, Ladder to the Clouds: Intrigue and Tradition Academic Press, Beijing. Christie’s is honored to offer the second of
in Chinese Rank, considered one of the foremost English-language four sales of Chinese rank badges and textiles from the David Hugus
texts on the history of Chinese rank badges and one of five non-fiction collection. Another selection of rank badges will be offered concurrently
finalists for the Kiriyama Book Award in 2000. Seeing the need for in the Art of China online sale, which runs from 14-29 September 2022.

PROPERTY FROM THE DAVID HUGUS COLLECTION
848
A BROCADE RANK BADGE OF A QILIN, BUZI
MING DYNASTY, 17TH CENTURY
Made for a nobleman, the badge is boldly worked with a recumbent qilin above
waves, between rock formations and lotus scroll, all below ruyi-shaped clouds.
15¬ x 15º in. (40 x 39 cm.)

$10,000-15,000
PROVENANCE:
Vancouver collection (by repute).
John Eric Riis.
LITERATURE:
D. Hugus, Chinese Rank Badges: Symbols of Power, Wealth, and Intellect in the
Ming and Qing Dynasties, Hong Kong, 2021, p. 59, no. 5.3.
Insignia badges were first introduced shortly after the establishment of the
Ming dynasty in 1368. The earliest laws governing insignia badges date from
1391,which specified that imperial dukes were permitted to wear badges PROPERTY FROM THE DAVID HUGUS COLLECTION
decorated with the mythical qilin. However, during the Ming period, the right
to actually wear the appropriate badge also had to be granted by the emperor ~849
himself as an honor. Rank itself did not entitle even the highest noble to wear A VERY RARE EMBROIDERED GOLD-GROUND RANK BADGE OF The orientation of the animal depicted on this rank badge depended on
insignia badges. A LEOPARD, BUZI where the wearer would be seated in proximity to the Emperor, as the animal
KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722) on the badge was not permitted to face away from the Emperor. For example,
A nearly identical badge was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 30 May 2012, lot Made for a third-rank military official, the badge is woven with a leopard with when the badge would have been worn in court, the official would have sat to
4029. Another badge of this design, but woven on a red ground, in the Chris spotted fur, shown on top of a rock formation emerging from waves tossed the right of the Emperor, and when worn in a social setting, the official would
Hall Collection, is illustrated in B. Jackson and D. Hugus, in Ladder to the with auspicious emblems, all against a ground of gold-wrapped threads have sat to the left of the Emperor. The present badge, which features a
Clouds, 1999, p. 111. interspersed with ruyi-shaped clouds and flames. Details of the leopard, rock leopard of the third rank facing to the right, would have been worn for social
formation, and borders are worked in green peacock feather filament. occasions when the official was seated to the left of the emperor.
DAVID HUGUS 珍藏 12 in. (30.5 cm.) square A very similar leopard badge, but dating slightly earlier in the Kangxi period,
明十七世紀 刺繡麒麟方補 is illustrated by B. Jackson and D. Hugus, Ladder to the Clouds: Intrigue and
$12,000-18,000 Tradition in Chinese Rank,1999, p. 227, no. 15.008.
來源:
溫哥華私人珍藏 (傳) PROVENANCE: DAVID HUGUS 珍藏
John Eric Riis Jon Eric Riis, San Francisco, acquired prior to 2012.
展覽: LITERATURE: 清康熙 金地繡武三品豹子方補
D. Hugus, 「Chinese Rank Badges: Symbols of Power, Wealth, and D. Hugus, Chinese Rank Badges: Symbols of Power, Wealth, and Intellect in the 來源:
Intellect in the Ming and Qing Dynasties」, 香港, 2021年, 頁 59, 編號 5.3 Ming and Qing Dynasties, Hong Kong, 2021, p. 75, no. 7.11. Jon Eric Riis, 舊金山, 2012年以前入藏
出版:
D. Hugus, 「Chinese Rank Badges: Symbols of Power, Wealth, and
Intellect in the Ming and Qing Dynasties」, 香港, 2021年, 頁 75, 編號 7.11

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