Page 28 - Fine Chinese Ceramics Sept 2016

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A SMALL ZITAN LOTUS LEAF-
FORM BOX 1212
QING DYNASTY (1644-1911) A RARE SMALL ZITAN BOX
The cover is carved in high relief as the back 18TH-19TH CENTURY
of a lotus leaf borne on a stem, and with two The box is meant to be suspended, and
crabs. The low sides of the conformingly each of the convex sides has a sliding
lobed box are plain and raised on four cover and is carved allover with two bats
shaped supports. swooping amidst clouds, while the narrow
3Ω in. (9 cm.) wide sides are carved with angular scrolls. A
$4,000-6,000 scrolled suspension loop is carved on top
and a smaller one on the bottom. Three of
PROVENANCE the bats have mother-of-pearl ears.
3¿ in. (8 cm.) high
Private collection, Massachusetts, 1980s. $4,000-6,000
The juxtaposition of the crab (xie) and lotus 清十八/十九世紀 紫檀雲蝠紋小盒
(he), represents the rebus hexie, which
means harmony. The crab’s hard shell
is represented by the word jia, meaning
armor, which is a homophone for ‘frst’.
This refers to achieving frst place in the
civil service examinations.
清 紫檀荷蟹紋蓋盒

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