Page 96 - Chinese Art Paris Auction Christie's December 2017

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SIX RARES ET IMPORTANTES FEUILLES D’ALBUM,
HUANGCHAO LIQI TUSHI
CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, EPOQUE QIANLONG (1736-1795)
Encre et gouache sur soie.
Comprenant trois doubles feuilles, illustrant un foulard, un Chaogua
(tunique sans manche) et un jifugua (robe oficielle) destinés à
l’épouse du Beile (prince du troisième rang), chaque feuille est
accompagnée d’un descriptif calligraphié sur la page de gauche.
Dimensions: circa 42 x 41 cm. (16Ω x 16¿ in.)
€20,000-30,000 $24,000-35,000
£18,000-27,000
SIX RARE AND IMPORTANT ALBUM LEAVES,
HUANGCHAO LIQI TUSHI
CHINA, QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)
清乾隆 皇朝禮器圖式冊頁 一組六頁

These present leaves seem to be part of the Huangchao Liqi
Tushi, the Illustrated Regulations for Ceremonial Paraphernalia of the
Present Dynasty, which is an illustrated manuscript commissioned
by the Qianlong Emperor between 1750 and 1759. The original work
consists of six categories: ceremonial vessels, scientifc equipments,
dress, musical instruments, insignia, and weaponry, with more than
1300 leaves of illustrations and explanatory texts. Included in The
Complete Library of the Four Treasures (Siku Quanshu) in 1773, these
monumental books gathered all the ritual rules and procedures in
diferent areas and fully embody Qianlong’s continuous pursuit of a
highly codifed lifestyle.
Several incomplete versions of the manuscript leaves can be found
today in Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Library, the National
Museums of Scotland and in the National Museum of Ireland.
The current three double pages bear an explanatory text about a
Beile’s (prince of the third rank) wife’s dress and accessory.
The text may be translated as follows:
1. ‘Beile’s wife’s pointed kerchief must be in accordance with the
regulation of the present Dynasty.
This dynasty sets the rule for Beile’s wife’s pointed kerchief.
The consort of a prince uses the colour of azurite blue.
Same rule applied to the fuguogong and xiangjun.’
2. ‘Beile’s wife’s Chaogua must be in accordance with the regulation
of the present Dynasty.
This dynasty sets the rule for Beile’s wife’s chaogua as in azurite
blue.
The consort of a prince uses embroidered four-clawed dragon and
an azurite blue silk ribbon behind the collar.
Same rule applied to the fuguogong and xiangjun.’
3. ‘Beile’s wife’s jifugua must be in accordance with the regulation of
the present Dynasty.
This dynasty sets the rule for Beile’s wife’s jifugua as in azurite blue.
A roundel depicting a front facing four-clawed dragon is used in
front and behind the jifugua.
Same rule applied to junjun.