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PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF GORDON GETTY the rescue of Bai Suzhen from the Leifeng pagoda, the right
case depicting other moments from legend among them,
A RARE AND LARGE ‘LEGEND OF THE WHITE the disapproving monk Fa Hai wielding a sword, comprising
SNAKE’ AUTOMATON papier-mâché, silk, wire, glass, gilt and polychrome paint, the
QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY entire landscape dotted with king sher feather ornaments
(later added from a headdress), the central case electrically
the narrative scenes from The Legend of the White Snake set wired, now mounted on a later ‘Hongmu’ stand (2)
within three hinge-connected hardwood and glass casements, Height 37½ in., 95.3 cm; Width 71½ in., 181.6 cm;
the central and largest depicting the famous battle between Depth 15½ in., 39.4 cm
Bai Suzhen and her nemesis, the immortal amasses an army
of underwater creatures and demons, shown in the roiling PROVENANCE
waves at the base, to attack the monastery of her enemy Fa
Hai, attempting to submerge the temple but the attack fails as Christie’s Hong Kong, 28th-29th April 1996, lot 559.
Fa Hai magically commands the mountain to rise out of harm’s
way, the temple depicted in lavish detail amidst towering, Ⴚ$ 60,000-80,000
rocky mountains painted in shades of blue and green,
varying trees and foliage and swirling colorful clouds, the left
casement illustrates further scenes from the drama including
1996 4 28 29 559
116 SOTHEBY’S
