Page 62 - Bonhams Sept 2016 CHINESE WORKS OF ART AND PAINTINGS

8074 The phoenix (feng) has been an aspect of Chinese culture since
A HARDSTONE-INLAID GILT BRONZE PHOENIX-FORM before the evolution of the written language. It is the second of
CANDLE HOLDER the four heavenly spirits, along with the dragon, qilin, and tortoise.
Qianlong period Exhibiting supernatural characteristics, the phoenix harms neither
Cast as two phoenixes, each standing on one leg upon a rocky insects nor a blade of grass, subsisting on bamboo seeds and
outcrop, the birds facing one another with heads cocked, their bodies water; and it appears only to mortals in advance of an auspicious
confronting on a tangled mass of lingzhi fungus sprouting from their occurrence. Likely inspired by the red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus), the
backs, the lingzhi bunch containing the recess for a candle, the birds’ phoenix’s resplendent features were otherworldly.
bodies’ delicately chased with feather patterns, the birds and lingzhi
forms embellished with multi-colored hardstone inlay. This candle holder belongs to group of finely crafted, double-phoenix-
6 1/2in (16.5cm) high form, gilt-bronze luxury articles that are decorated with polished
hardstone. A very similar vessel, but adorned with recumbent birds,
US$60,000 - 90,000 was sold at Bonhams London, 6 November 2014, sale 21355, lot
270. A nearly identical candle holder was sold at Sotheby’s Hong
清乾隆 銅鎏金嵌雜寶鳳形燭台 Kong, sale HK0308, lot 1734. A further pair of candle holders of
almost the exact same design was sold at Christie’s New York, 26
March 2010, sale 2297, lot 1179. There is also a vessel in the Victoria
and Albert museum that follows this model very closely (museum
number M.743-1910).

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