Page 87 - Wannenes Asian Art Milan, Oct 2020

FROM THE PRIVATE COLLECTIONS OF A FLORENTINE GENTLEMAN AND
THENCE DESCENDENTS

89 PREMIUM LOT * §
IMPONENTE SCULTURA IMPERIALE IN CORALLO DI DRAGO E PERLA INFUOCATA, XVIII SECOLO INIZIO XIX SECOLO

A STUNNING AND IMPRESSIVE IMPERIAL CORAL CARVING OF A DRAGON AND FLEAMING PEARL, 18TH CENTURY
EARLY 19TH CENTURY
The beast finely and elaborately carved in the round as a scaly dragon writhing sinuously amidst swollen waves and
flames, with its ferocious expression depicted with bearded chin and a pair of horns with its bulging eyes, and a long
nose, rendered in the act of following the magic pearl, between swirls cresting waves, the long body on the underside
reveals holding in one of its three-clawed paws the magic pearl between a tumultuous cresting waves, and finishing
with a long scaly tail, the round body reveal the coral of a beautiful red-orange tone, under the corresponding dragon
head, two Chinese characters: brightness (guan) and benefit (li) . The dragon poses on a good carved wood base,
following the motif of swollen cresting huge waves. In very good condition for a coral piece of this large size, a small
piece missing on the top of a dragon-horn approx. 0,4 cm. and a small hairline on the head, the dragon has been
broken in half and re stuck in the far past time, but not from a professional restorer, where it is the join we can see still
remaining traces of glue, another two or three very small chip, including one on a wave, tiny nicks and very minor
surface wear.
73,2 cm wide, 3.244,20 gr

€ 15.000 – 20.000
Provenance: from the private collections of a Florentine gentleman and thence descendents

Note: Coral carvings of figures and animals, designed as decorative additions to a scholar's table are relatively common, but it
is extremely rare to find a piece of this outstanding size and quality. The subject matter of the powerful dragon strongly points to it
being the product of the Imperial Workshops. For a larger example sold at auction, see the coral dragon sold at Christie’s
London, 19th October 1959, lot 89 and again in Christies London 8 November 2011 Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
lot 80
Further examples of coral animal carvings include one of a Buddhist lion, sold in Sotheby’s New York, 19th/20th October
1988, lot 345; and a figure of a recumbent ox from the Robert H. Blumenfield collection, sold at Christie’s New York, 22nd
March 2012, lot 1217.

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