Page 324 - Important Chinese Art Hong Kong April 2, 2019 Sotheby's

3713

PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT COLLECTION 十七世紀 竹根雕鍾魁像
A CARVED BAMBOO FIGURE OF ZHONG KUI
17TH CENTURY 來源：
香港蘇富比2002年5月7日，編號631
depicted seated on an elaborate jagged rockwork with an
infant seated on his knee and playing with the sash around
his loose robes with voluminous folds cascading around his Skillfully carved in the round from the root of the bamboo,
feet, the figure portrayed looking down at the infant with his this piece depicts Zhong Kui, the legendary scholar who
hand gently holding the back of the latter, the group further committed suicide on the steps of the Imperial Palace
carved with a grinning demon crouching at his feet, zitan after being deprived of holding the title for passing the civil
stand service examinations. After returning to the mortal world to
16 cm, 6¼ in.
save Emperor Xuanzong (685-762) from the evil spirits and
ghosts plaguing his sleep, he was posthumously restored to
PROVENANCE
his rightful position, and given the sobriquet ‘Demon Chaser’.
Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 7th May 2002, lot 631.
A similar carving of Zhong Kui was sold in these rooms, 7th
May 2002, lot 631; another signed Sansong (ca. 1573–1619),
HK$ 300,000-400,000 from the collection of Walter and Mona Lutz, was sold in
US$ 38,300-51,000
th
our New York rooms, 18 March 2008, lot 48; and a larger
th
example attributed to the 18 century, from the Simon Kwan
collection, was included in the exhibition Ming and Qing
Bamboo, The Art Museum, Chinese University of Hong Kong,
Hong Kong, 2000, cat. no. 70.