Page 90 - Sothebys Speelman Gems of Chinese Art

3420

A RARE AND EXCEPTIONAL 十七世紀
INSCRIBED GOLD AND 鎏金銅錯金銀嵌寶象首如意

SILVER-INLAID COPPER 銘「德粹乹清，昭昭成象」
‘ELEPHANT’ RUYI SCEPTRE

17TH CENTURY

well cast with an elephant-head terminal, the animal with long
slit eyes and a curled trunk between protruding tusks, set with
an elaborate bridle suspending beaded tassels and further
embellished with semiprecious cabochon, the curved shaft
intricately inlaid in gold and silver with interlocking archaistic
dragon and ruyi scrolls, the opposite end terminating with
a ruyi head set with a semiprecious cabochon and pierced
with an aperture suspending a dragon bead and silk tassel,
the reverse inscribed with eight characters reading de cui
Qianqing, zhaozhao chengxiang (‘the brightness of the virtues
gathered at the Palace of Heavenly Purity is discernible’)
31.8 cm, 12½ in.
HK$ 800,000-1,000,000
US$ 103,000-128,000

Mark

88 SOTHEBY’S 蘇富比