Page 76 - Sothebys Important Chinese Art London May 2018

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PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT ASIAN PRIVATE This charming piece also reß ects the major impact of
COLLECTION the a= uent and well-educated classes of merchants and
A DING!TYPE ‘LION’ CENSER AND COVER government o* cials on arts during the Song dynasty (960-
1279). Their increased interest in incense, the fragrance which
SONG DYNASTY
has been praised by poets and painters for its e* cacy in
the rounded body carved with lotus petals, supported on a artistic creativity stimulation and gloom dissipation, led to the
domed hexagonal plinth surmounted with lappets, the cover in production of a select group of apertures with sophisticated
the form of a crouching lion with its head slightly raised and its and detailed features which were used as domestic furnishing,
mouth agape such as the present censer.
(2)
Vessels with such delicate details were prone to distortion
17.8 cm, 7 in.
during the Þ ring process, hence their rarity. Qingbai Þ gures
of this type are also known; compare a smaller censer and
PROVENANCE
cover modelled in the form of a lion, seated on a cylindrical
Christie’s London, 13th November 2001, lot 17B.
base decorated with four masks in high relief, exhibited in Early
Robustly potted and intricately modelled, the present censer Chinese Ceramics. An American Private Collection, J. J. Lally
is a skilful creation that successfully captures the both the & Co., New York, 2005, cat. no. 37; and a larger example,
playfulness and the majesty of a lion through the animated supported on a lotus pedestal, sold in our New York rooms,
th
expression and upright posture. The lion is a popular emblem 11 September 2012, lot 139.
symbolising spiritual power and physical strength, and
the present interpretation appears to be associated with a ಴ £ 25,000-30,000
physically similar mythical beast, suan ni, one of nine sons HK$ 277,000-332,000 US$ 35,200-42,300
of the dragon. This legendary animal was said to be fond of
smoke and therefore frequently incorporated into censer
designs in ceramics and bronzes. ҂ ֛ӻͣཊ๿๸ᇳ७৷ԑᘟ
Ը๕
ࡐ౱Գɻ੻ ϋ ˜ ˚d ᇜ໮ #

74 SOTHEBY’S