Page 45 - Nov 28 Chinese Art Hong Kong

The two poems on the circular panels were
extracted from two separate prose works by the
Song dynasty scholars Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072)
and Wang Yucheng (954-1001) respectively, and
demonstrate the Qianlong Emperor’s breadth
of knowledge of literary sources as well as his
admiration and respect for past scholars. The
subjects of the poems relate to matters which
would have concerned the emperor: the pleasure
of an idealised retreat only to be enjoyed after the
completion of the official duties; the ancestral legacy,
with the reference to the last three generations
possibly to be interpreted in the light of the first three
Qing Emperors leading to the Qianlong Emperor;
and the pursuit of virtuous conduct and meritorious
actions for the benefit of the nation rather than the
aggrandisement of the individual.

The Imperial palaces were lit with lanterns made
of various prized materials including gilt-bronze,
cloisonné and champlevé enamel, woods, glass,
horn and jade. These would have adorned throne
rooms and Imperial halls and private quarters;
compare a related pair of gilt-bronze, cloisonné
enamel and glass lanterns, in the Yangxin dian,
‘Hall of Mental Cultivation’, illustrated in Classics of
the Forbidden City: Imperial Furniture of Ming and
Qing Dynasties, Beijing,2007, p.339, no.372.

The superb and lavish craftsmanship of the lanterns
is exemplified in the complex gilt-bronze openwork
moonflask form, possibly used in relation to the
moon mentioned in the prose, set against the lavish
red fabric, framing the incised and gilt jade panels.
The form of the lanterns and the use of inscribed
poems indicate that the lanterns would have been
placed on a table or stand, possibly within Imperial
private quarters rather than a public hall.

Compare a related pair of champlevé enamel and jade
‘pagoda-form’ lanterns, Qianlong, which was sold at
Christie’s New York, 20 October 2004, lot 451.

此對宮燈所嵌碧玉上的題詩取自唐宋時期之詩詞歌
賦，包括宋王禹偁《黃州新建小竹樓記》、宋歐陽
修《相州晝錦堂記》、唐薛存誠《仙石靈台賦》、
唐李程《石鏡賦》以及唐喬潭《群玉山賦》，題詩
所對應的玉璧上則陰刻描金山水亭台人物圖。燈身
銅胎鎏金，配以鏨花及鏤空如意紋、卷草紋、朵
花、蕉葉、蓮花等。燈內中空，燈頂有三金屬鍊用
以懸掛。紋飾繁複、裝飾華麗。

此類吊燈用於清宮內廷中宮殿的照明。清宮中所用
吊燈形制及材質多樣，大多用銅、木、玻璃、牙、
角等作裝飾。如八代帝居的養心殿中，即懸吊一對
銅鎏金鏨胎嵌玻璃吊燈，見《故宮經典：故宮明式
家具圖典》，北京，2007年，頁339，編號372。

參見紐約佳士得曾售出一對清乾隆銅鎏金鏨胎琺瑯
嵌玉塔式吊燈，2004年10月20日，拍品編號451。

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