Page 211 - Sothebys Important Chinese Art April 3 2018

Superbly carved with a delicate figural scene, this piece is pigmentation of the oxidised pebble skin subtly contrasts
a rare example of the masterful workmanship of craftsmen with the boulder of slightly darker tone. This sensitive
active in the eighteenth century. The sheer skill of the carver is preservation of the skin on the present piece creates a subtle
demonstrated through his success in taking an image derived three-dimensionality appropriate to the scene presented. The
from a painting or woodblock and successfully transcribing delicacy of femininity is suggested through the exquisitely
it onto a three-dimensional object whilst preserving the most rendered branches which frame the ladies’ activities.
desirable features of the natural golden pebble.
See a boulder carving rendered with pine trees growing from
Essentially retaining the original shape of the asymmetrical rocky grounds and five bats flying amidst wispy clouds, sold at
boulder, the carver has masterfully worked through the Christie’s Hong Kong, 27th May 2008, lot 1901. Seals were also
convoluted surface of the stone to create a continuous, carved in a similar style; for example one, depicting the scene
three-dimensional canvas for the relief decoration. This Qiujian daidu [Waiting for the ferry on an autumn river], in the
treatment deviated from the conventional technique where Palace Museum, Beijing, is published on the Museum’s website
the boulder was usually cut into cuboid shapes and carved http://www.dpm.org.cn/collection/seal/228550.html;
with three-dimensional finials for seals. This acute utilisation and another carved with dragons, attributed to the Kangxi
of the natural shape of the stone fully exemplifies the artist’s period, from the Water, Pine and Stone Retreat collection,
understanding of the material and his technical perfection. was included in the Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong
exhibition Arts from the Scholar’s Studio, Fung Ping Shan
Moreover, the pale ochre-yellow skin of the stone (pu) is
Museum, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 1986, cat. no.
seamlessly incorporated into the overall design, creating
54.
an effect similar to that of a cameo relief. The natural, paler

IMPORTANT CHINESE ART 209