Page 137 - Sothebys Speelman Gems of Chinese Art

Ruyi sceptres made of the treasured
small segments. Thus, the present sceptre is
chenxiangmu are extremely rare as the wood a rare extant example from the Ming dynasty
is brittle and thus difficult to carve. The present which is particularly notable for its well-preserved
piece is outstanding for the level of detail and condition. A smaller ruyi sceptre, but carved in
three-dimensionality the carver has managed to simulation of a lingzhi head and attributed to the
achieve. Chenxiangmu, also known as eaglewood eighteenth century, was sold in these rooms, 8th
or aloeswood, is one of the most valued types April 2010, lot 1974; and another fashioned with
of wood in China due to its aromatic and finger citrons on the head, was sold at Christie’s
medicinal qualities. It is formed in response to Hong Kong, 28th November 2012, lot 2388.
a parasitic mould infection, which causes the
Additional chenxiangmu objects for the scholar’s
pale and odourless heartwood of aquilaria trees
table include a brushrest published in Arts
to produce a dark aromatic resin (aloes) that
from the Scholar’s Studio, Hong Kong, 1986,
infuses the wood, resulting in this dense, dark
pl. 199; three small libation cups included in Bo
and scented version. According to Sheila Riddell
Gyllensvard, ‘Two Yuan Silver Cups and Their
in Dated Chinese Antiquities 600-1650, London,
Importance for Dating of Some Carvings in Wood
1979, p. 228, the best quality wood was sourced
and Rhinoceros Horn’, Bulletin of the Museum of
from modern-day Cambodia, according to Chau
Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm, 1971, no. 43,
Ju-Kua, the renowned 12th century traveller.
pp. 223-233; another, from the Water, Pine and
Chenxiangmu was used for the production Stone Retreat collection, sold in these rooms, 8th
of scholarly objects, the appeal of the wood October 2010, lot 2223; an incense holder sold in
lying in both the beauty of the raw material as our New York rooms, 19th March 2007, lot 703,
well as the elegant and unrestrained forms in from the Albright Knox Art gallery, Buffalo, New
which they were carved. Often fashioned into York; and a carving of scholars within a boulder,
naturalistic forms, this style of decoration was in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, included
a sophisticated play on the nature of the wood in Jiangxin yu xiangong Ming Qing diaoke zhan.
itself while highlighting the momentary nature Zhu mu guohe pian/Uncanny Ingenuity and
of life. Due to its hard and fragile properties, Celestial Feats: The Carvings of Ming and Qing
chenxiangmu objects are vulnerable to cracking Dynasties: The Art of Bamboo, Wood and Fruit
and generally formed by piecing together several Stones, Taipei, 2009, pl. 26.
GEMS OF CHINESE ART — THE SPEELMAN COLLECTION I 135