Page 96 - Bonhams Chinese Art March 2016 New York

8136 PROPERTY FROM VARIOUS OWNERS

8137 8136
A WHITE BISCUIT PORCELAIN INKSTONE AND COVER
8138 1820-1880
94 | BONHAMS Of circular form, the exterior finely molded and carved with a butterfly
and flowers in bloom, the interior fashioned with an ink grinding
surface encircled by a groove, the base unmarked.
4 7/8in (10.2cm) diameter
$1,500 - 2,000

1820-1880年 瓷雕梅花紋硯台帶蓋

Provenance
Chu Family Collection, Shanghai, 1950s

The restrained carving and the unadorned biscuit porcelain reflects the
characteristically austere taste of the scholar, for whom an inkstone is
a crucial tool. Compare a related biscuit porcelain inkstone carved with
fruiting pomegranate on the cover from the collection of Humphrey K.
F. Hui and illustrated in Elegance in Relief, Hong Kong, 2006, no. 177.

8137
AN INKSTONE WITH HONGMU BOX
18th/19th century
Of rectangular form, the heavy stone carved on one side with a
recessed inkwell rendered in cloud shape surrounded by bats
among auspicious clouds design in relief, fitted within a hongmu
case and cover.
5in x 7in (12.5cm x17.5 cm) inclusive of wood case
$2,000 - 3,000

十八或十九世紀 硯台雕福運紋帶紅木盒蓋

Provenance
From a private Los Angeles collection

PROPERTY FROM A NORTHERN CALIFORNIAN GENTLEMAN

8138
AN ARABIC-INSCRIBED CIRCULAR BRONZE COVER AND A BOX
The cover, Ming dynasty
The box of short cylindrical form and the cover crisply cast in elaborate
calligraphy on a stippled ground, with rich dark brown patination.
5 1/4in (13.3cm) diameter
$2,000 - 3,000

明 銅阿拉伯文盒蓋

The inscription on the cover repeats twice the phrase Allahu Akbar
(Allah is Great). Compare a group of three Arabic-inscribed bronze
covered boxes, from the Estate of Ms. Naomi Lindstrom, sold in our
San Francisco rooms, 23 June 2015, sale 22411, lot 7110.