Page 245 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Art Nov 2013 Hong Kong

431
A partially-gilt bronze ‘yulong’ water coupe
Late Ming/early Qing dynasty, attributed to Hu Wenming
Heavily cast in the form of a small guan with waisted neck and lipped
rim, the sides with a pair of taotie mask handles, the exterior decorated
with the transformative dragon fish rising from splashing waves, all
above floral diaper ground, the base with a two-character apocryphal
mark.
5.9cm high.
HK$60,000 - 80,000
US$7,700 - 10,000

明末清初 銅鎏金飛龍紋獸耳小罐 陽文「宣德」篆文款

The carp or liyu transforming into a dragon or long is associated with
passing the Civil Service examinations, hence forming the pun yutiao
longmen. According to traditional folklore, carp swim upstream in the
Yellow River at Hunan towards the Dragon Gate waterfall at Longmen.
It is said that the first carp which successfully surpasses the rapids
will transform into a dragon fish or yulong. Such legend has led to
the common saying, ‘a student facing his examinations is like a carp
attempting to leap the Dragon Gate’, which is a metaphor for a poor
scholar who passes the Civil Service examinations and becomes a high
official.

Compare a similarly-designed partial-gilt incense burner also attributed
to Hu Wenming, formerly in the Plesch collection, exhibited by the
Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong and Fung Ping Shan Museum at
the University of Hong Kong (24 October 1986 - 13 December 1986),
illustrated in Arts from the Scholar’s Studio, Hong Kong, 2011, pp.134-
135, no.103.

432
A gilt-bronze ‘mythical beasts’ paperweight
17th century
Realistically cast in the form of two fighting mythical beasts, the inferior
creature lying down, the dominant opposition with muscular body and
powerful limbs above, each with claws and ferocious faces with jaws
revealing sharpened teeth.
7cm wide.
HK$80,000 - 120,000
US$10,000 - 15,000

十七世紀 銅鎏金雙端獅紙鎮

Compare a gilt bronze mythical beast paperweight dated to the early
Ming dynasty or earlier, exhibited by the Oriental Ceramic Society of
Hong Kong and Fung Ping Shan Museum at the University of Hong
Kong (24 October 1986 - 13 December 1986), illustrated in Arts from
the Scholar’s Studio, Hong Kong, 2011, pp.90-91, no.51. The authors
Hugh Moss and Gerard Tsang believe the current lot is likely to be a later
model based on the earlier prototype.

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