Page 185 - Fine Chinese Art Bonhams London May 2018

retaining the special collection of Chinese jade and hardstone representing the Han dynasty statesman, traveller and explorer
boats, offered now in our May 2018 sales in New Bond St and Zhang Qian, shown floating down the Yangtze river on a raft
Knightsbridge, London and Hong Kong. to explore the Western Regions, Xiyu 西域, and known for
later playing an integral role in establishing an east-west route
The passion for collecting nautical related carvings was no opening China to the world of commercial trade and major trade
coincidence, as it combined the family passion for Chinese art routes such as the renowned Silk Road. These carvings were
with their occupation relating to maritime trade. likely inspired by the well-known silver example formerly in the
collection of Lady David, inscribed with a poem and artist’s seal
Chinese sampans and sail boats are a subject matter which Bishan denoting Zhu Bishan, a silversmith active during the 14th
features prominently in a wide range of mediums from paintings century, illustrated in Chinese Art Under the Mongols: The Yuan
to works of art and porcelain, often associated with river and Dynasty (1279-1368), Cleveland Museum of Art, 1968, no.37.
lakeside vistas, invoking the idyllic nature retreat the literati would
aspire to retire to. Fishermen also represent one of the ‘Four Noble Related carvings of jade sampans from the Qing Court Collection
Occupations’ comprising the Chinese four-layered traditional are still extant in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing,
society (also including the woodcutter, farmer and scholar). and illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the
Palace Museum: Jadeware (III), Hong Kong, 1995, no.32, and
An exceptional Imperial white jade carving and an aventurine Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum: Jade 8 Qing
glass carving, both to be offered in Hong Kong, are rare in Dynasty, Beijing, 2010, no.125.