Page 229 - Bonhams Chinese Art NYC Nov 9 2017

160

161 Y Ф
A CANTON IVORY PUZZLE BALL
19th century
The main sphere enclosing several intricately pierced balls, the outer
skin profusely carved with figures, pagodas and sampans in scenes
of daily life, the inner layers pierced with various geometric designs,
all between two pierced drums, one beneath a carving of an Immortal
and attendant attached to chain suspended from a fish-hook terminal.
51cm (20in) long.
£3,000 - 5,000
CNY27,000 - 45,000

十九世紀 象牙鏤雕亭台人物紋套球

Provenance: a European Private Collection

來源： 歐洲私人收藏

‘Devil-work Balls’ were highly admired in Europe. In 1872, C.Alabaster
wrote in his Catalogue of Chinese Objects in the South Kensington
Museum, ‘for deep and delicate carving there is no foreign work
equal to or even approaching the fan sticks and small jewel boxes
to be bought in the Hong Kong and Canton shops, and the art of
cutting ball within ball, as the Chinese are fond of doing, has not even
been attempted by Europeans.’ Compare with a similar pendant of
concentric balls, early 19th century, in the Victoria and Albert Museum
and illustrated in Chinese Ivories: from the Shang to the Qing, London,
1984, p.187, no.266. 161

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue. FINE CHINESE ART | 227