Page 122 - Fine Chinese Works of Art Bonhams Hong Kong May 2018
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A VERY RARE QUARTZ CARVING OF THE HEHE ERXIAN ON A The present lot is superbly carved, cleverly utilising the different
‘DRAGON’ BOAT natural colours of the translucent quartz stone, with the warm tones
Qing Dynasty differentiating the Immortals and boy from the colder pale green tones
The boat modelled in the form of a scaly dragon with the powerful of the dragon boat.
head as the prow and the upturned bushy tail as the stern, the hull
depicted with Hehe Erxian, one boy holding a box and the other The use of this exceptional stone and the subject matter of the Hehe
holding a lotus stalk, the third boy in a kneeling position propelling the Erxian in a dragon boat is very rare. The Hehe Erxian, known as the
boat with an oar, each with a jovial expression, all above swirling waves Two Immortals of Harmony and Unity, were often represented carrying
on the underside, wood stand. a lotus and a box. The lotus (he 荷) is a homophone for the words for
16.7cm (6 1/2in) long (2). togetherness (he 合) and harmony (he 和). The Dragon Boat Festival
traditionally occurs near the summer solstice, commemorating fealty
HK$200,000 - 300,000 and filial duty. A boat race is held during the Festival as a re-enactment
US$25,000 - 38,000 of a legendary event that happened in Chinese history when people in
boats searched for the drowned body of the patriotic statesman Qu
Yuan of the fourth and third century BC. The race is held annually on
清 晶石雕仙童龍舟船形擺件 the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar to commemorate
Qu’s death, and a loud noise of drums and paddles splashing on water
Provenance: is made to ward evil spirits away. Food is thrown into the water as an
A distinguished European private collection, acquired by the offering to distract the fish from eating his body.
grandparents of the present owner and thence by descent
See a jade dragon boat, late 18th/ early 19th century, of similar size,
來源： which was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 1 June 2011, lot 3748.
顯赫歐洲私人收藏，由現藏家祖父母獲得並由其家族繼承
(two views)
