Page 46 - 2019 September 9th Bonhams Important Chinese Works of Art

PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF DRS. EDMUND
AND JULIE LEWIS
845
A PARCEL-GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF A FOREIGNER
17th/18th century
The hollow-cast figure made as a container with the coiled conical hat
forming the cover, the face of the foreigner with large eyes and broad
prominent nose with stern pursed lips between bushy eyebrows and
curled beard, wearing a belted robe, open to expose his chest and
belly, the long sleeves with circular openings appearing to swing as the
figure dances with a playful lion lying on its back, the figure’s boot-clad
right foot resting on the lion’s left paw, all supported a hexagonal base
made to resemble an incense stand, the figure’s torso, belt accessory
and boots accented with gilt.
19in (48.2cm) high

$10,000 - 15,000

十七/十八世紀 局部鎏金銅胡人形投壺

Provenance:
Willard D. Straight Collection, acquired before 1914
The India Club House Collection, New York
Christie’s New York, 20 September 2013, lot 1526

來源：
Willard D. Straight 珍藏， 1914年前入藏
紐約The India Club House 收藏
紐約佳士得，2013年9月20日，拍品編號1526

The figure is likely a pitch pot for the game of touhu, with a central
vessel flanked by two loops. For a discussion of the game, refer to
Colin Mackenzie and Irving Finkel, Asian Games: The Art of Contest,
Catalog, 14 October 2004 - 16 January 2005, Asia Society, New York,
pp. 274-81.

A similar figure in the Musee Cernuschi dated 13th-15th century is
illustrated by Michel Maucuer, Bronzes de la Chine imperiale des Song
aux Qing, Paris, 2013, p. 149. A related figure, dated 17th century,
was sold at Sotheby’s Paris, 18 December 2009, lot 255, and another,
also dated 17th century, from the Robert H. Blumenfield Collection
was sold at Christie’s New York, 25 March 2010, lot 866.

44 | BONHAMS