Page 160 - Sotheby's Speelman Collection Oct. 3, 2018

3439

A RARE GILT-BRONZE 明宣德 鎏金銅嵌寶臥獸水滴

‘MYTHICAL BEAST’ 《宣德年製》款
WATERDROPPER

MARK AND PERIOD OF
XUANDE

skilfully cast in the form of a recumbent mythical beast with
a gently upturned head, portrayed ferocious with piercing
eyes set with glass paste above a prominent snout, the body
masterfully rendered with powerful claws and muscular
limbs, the sides emblazoned with flame-like hair, the hollow
body set with a small circular opening on the back encircled
with a section of its bifurcated tail, the mouth with a further
small aperture flanked by its fangs, the underside with a four-
character reign mark within a curved recessed rectangular
panel
11.6 cm, 4½ in.

HK$ 700,000-900,000
US$ 89,500-115,000
While a small group of gilt-bronze scholar’s objects from the stones, illustrated in Rose Kerr, Later Chinese Bronzes,
Xuande period exists, the quality of the casting, boldness of London, 1990, p. 88, pl. 72 (Salting Bequest, museum no.
the detailing and brilliance of the gilding distinguishes this M.741-1910). See also a Yuan to early Ming dynasty gilt-
embellished waterdropper from its peers. The Xuande reign bronze and hardstone-inlaid paperweight in the form of two
mark on this gilt-bronze waterdropper is superbly articulated. young mythical beasts depicted in confrontation, sold in these
It is clearly an independently conceived piece, produced as a rooms, 31st October 2004, lot 14, which is closely related
unique example or as a small number for the Xuande court. to the current piece in terms of the bold and naturalistic
articulation of the muscular body and fur, through varying
In terms of form, it is closely related to its jade counterparts;
see a waterdropper in the collection of the Victoria and Albert layers of relief. See also a Xuande reign-marked paperweight
Museum, worked in the form of a beast with similar crouching from the Xiaogushan Guan studio collection, in the form of a
posture and muscular body as the current piece, attributed to crouching beast with similar curly mane, included in Rochers
the 16th century and included in Ming Wilson, Chinese Jades, de lettrés, Itinéraires de l’Art en Chine, Musée des Arts
London, 2004, no. 65 (museum no. C.144-1913). Asiatiques Guimet, Paris, 2012, cat. no. 58, and a gilt-bronze
incense burner and cover in the form of a xiezhi mythical
The museum also has an early Ming dynasty bronze beast, sold in these rooms, 8th April 2014, lot 233, from the
paperweight modelled as a beast with comparable proud, Water, Pine and Stone Retreat collection.
alert facial features, partially gilt and inlaid with semi-precious

Mark

158 SOTHEBY’S 蘇富比