Page 92 - Important Chinese Art Sothebys March 2019

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A RARE TIBETAN-STYLE ZITAN AND GILT- the Qianlong emperor’s devotion to tibetan Buddhism
BRONZE EWER AND COVER directed the production of many sophisticated ritual
QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD implements. the form of the present ewer originates from
a tibetan wood and metal vessel which was used to store
of square section, rising to a lobed rim evocative of a ‘monk’s butter and for making traditional buttered tea for religious
cap’, the exterior divided into three main registers by two ceremonies. this humble prototype was transformed into
gilt-bronze bands delicately detailed with floral motifs, a splendid ceremonial vessel under the Qianlong emperor,
each register finely carved with dense archaistic motifs of but manufactured using the highest quality materials and
kui dragons amid angular scrollwork, one side set with a techniques of the time; for example see an exceptional gold-
gilt-bronze curving spout issuing from an incised monster bodied duomu decorated with cloisonné and Beijing enamels,
mask, the opposite with two gilt-bronze floral roundels included in the exhibition China. The Three Emperors, royal
suspending a loose ring, all between two further gilt-bronze academy of arts, London, 2006, cat. no. 54, and sold in our
bands bordering the rim and base, the slightly domed cover hong Kong rooms, 11th april 2008, lot 2842; and a famille-
similarly decorated and surmounted with a coral finial rose decorated porcelain version in the palace museum,
height 16¾ in., 42.7 cm Beijing, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures
of the Palace Museum. Porcelains with Cloisonné Enamel
this ewer is a rare and unusual interpretation of the Decoration and Famille Rose Decoration. hong Kong, 1999,
tibetan ritual vessel, duomu. made of highly prized zitan, pl. 98. a shorter ewer with two registers, made from gilded-
it has transformed the cylindrical vessel into an archaistic copper, in the tibet museum, was included in the exhibition
version of square section. such adaptations of traditional Treasures from Snow Mountains. Gems of Tibetan Cultural
objects reflect the style of the Qianlong emperor, who had Relics, shanghai museum, shanghai, 2001, cat. no. 105,
a penchant for novelty. elegantly designed vessels of this together with a gilded silver example, cat. no. 106.
type would have enjoyed a place of prestige in Buddhist
ceremonies at court during his reign. $ 40,000-60,000

清乾隆 紫檀雕夔龍紋鑲銅鎏金多穆壺

90 SOTHEBY’S Important ChInese art