Page 106 - Important Chinese Art Sothebys March 2019

548

propertY oF a GentLeman the Buddha holding a blossoming lotus spray, 清乾隆丙寅年（1746年）
AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE AND an imperial seal reading qinwen zhixi (‘seal of 御書《大方廣圓覺修多羅了義經》
IMPORTANT COMPLETE SET imperially-written text’) following the name of 兩冊全
the sutra, the second album text closing with an
OF THE SUTRA OF PERFECT inscription translating to ‘Qianlong commenced
ENLIGHTENMENT writing on the nineteenth day of the first month 高宗弘曆寫本 每半開四行 經折裝
BY THE QIANLONG EMPEROR, of the bingyin year and concluded on the 萬壽字織錦面 附原配織錦經函
DATED QIANLONG BINGYIN YEAR, fifteenth day of the second month’, followed by
CORRESPONDING TO 1746 three seals reading qian, long, and jigu youwen 題識：
zhixi (‘respect tradition and value classical 乾隆歲在丙寅正月燕九日書起至
comprising two volumes of leporello albums, literature’), with a further illustration of the 二月花朝竟
sumptuously bound in gilt-wrapped-thread guardian king Weituo, all between illustrations
brocade woven with multi-colored diaper of the ‘eight Buddhist emblems’ painted in 印文：
patterns enclosing hexagonal reserves gilt on indigo-dyed paper to the interiors of
of sinuous dragons each in pursuit of a the covers, both albums fitted in a matching 欽文之璽
‘flaming pearl’ alternating with wan and shou brocade-bound hard board case with stained 乾
characters, centered with a black title slip with ivory tabs and a title slip inset to the top (3) 隆
a gilt inscription reading yushu yuanjuejing Length of each 8⅛ in., 21.5 cm; Width 3⅞ in., 稽古右文之璽
shangce and xiace (Imperially written sutra 9.8 cm
of perfect enlightenment, volume one and 來源
volume two), each album inscribed in regular PROVENANCE Bernard Quaritch Ltd.，倫敦
script executed in black ink on dyed paper Bernard Quaritch Ltd., London. Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) 收藏，
beginning with the full name of the sutra and Collection of henry Yates thompson (1838- 1882年購於上述處
attributing the translation to Buddhatrāta of 1928), acquired from the above in 1882.
Jibin, continuing into a neat structure of four Collection of James r. herbert Boone (1899- James R. Herbert Boone (1899-1983) 收藏
columns of text per leaf, the first album with a 1983). 紐約蘇富比1988年10月19日，編號23
frontispiece finely painted in baimiao style with sotheby’s new York, 19th october 1988, lot 23.
敬請注意，本拍品禁止出口至美國境外。
◉ $ 300,000-500,000
please note that this lot is limited to buyers in
the United states only and cannot be exported.

104 SOTHEBY’S Important ChInese art