Page 32 - Bonhams Los Angelis December 14, 2022

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A GROUP OF THREE CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER WALL All three of the present vases display the vibrant vermillion color and
VASES nuanced multi-level carving of the High Qing period. The double-gourd
Late 18th - 19th century vase is particularly interesting. It bears the first half of a poem titled
Comprising a small double-gourd wall vase, each bulb of the vase Jin gui (‘Golden Osmanthus’), written by the Qianlong emperor (r.
centered with a blue lacquer panel, the upper panel inscribed ‘yuzhi 1736-1795), and recorded in the ‘Imperial Poems’ section of the Siku
shi’ (‘imperial poem’), the lower bulb with the poem, the incised quanshu, 3 ji juan, 76 ye (Complete Library in Four Sections, coll. 3,
strokes of the characters gilt, the panels reserved against a cinnabar p. 76). It is likely that this wall vase was originally one of a pair, with
lacquer ground carved with lotus scroll in high relief against a diaper its companion bearing the remainder of the poem. This and the other
ground, the reverse gilt metal with a keyhole-form recession for two wall vases are carved with typical motifs of the period, including
suspension; a globular wall vase supported on a spreading foot and scrolling lotus and Bronze Age-inspired chilong, reflecting the parallel
rising to a waisted neck set between gilt-metal foliate handles, the enthusiasm for Buddhist and classical themes during the Qing dynasty.
body carved with lotus scroll in high relief against a wanzi diaper
ground, the neck carved with upright cicada lappets, the foot carved The poem on the double-gourd vase reads:
with archaistic chilong, a wood stand applied to the foot, the reverse 粟想芳 金想黄西風常與逐蜂狂誰知一種江南卉也做中秋塞北香
gilt metal with a keyhole-form recession for suspension; and a large
cinnabar lacquer baluster wall vase carved with alternating bands of
lappets and chilong against a diaper ground, positioned atop a multi-
tier wood stand, the reverse lacquered red and carved with a recessed
notch for suspension.

5 1/2in (14cm); 6in (15.2cm); 11 1/2in (29.2cm) high, overall (3).
$12,000 - 18,000
Provenance:
Sara Fredericks (1903-1986), likely acquired in the 1960s in New York,
thence by descent

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