Page 108 - Yamanaka co Auction catalog

ISO-ANTIQUE CHINESE IVORY BIRDCAGE (Ch'ien-lung)
A rare and precious production, built with utmost delicacy
and care, and in its lines with artistic restraint, and orna-
mented with tireless fertility of imagination in restricted
area. Square, on low feet, the heavier member inlaid with
ebony. In the decoration appear medallions and the lozenge
symbol, vases in the forms of ancient bronzes, set on stands
and holding branches of the blossoming mei; the ancient
thunder-scroll, and cooing bird. The base i skirted by
stems of the gourd-vine in bearing, carved in openwork; a
perch is formed of an entire miniature wild plum tr c carved
flat in openwork and projected horizontally; a water cup
is in the shape of a folded lotus leaf in which appear a crab
and a frog; a worm holder is formed of a branch of the
Buddha's-hand fruit, affixed to a figure. A seed chute di -
plays trees and figures, the stork and the spotted stag turn-
ing toward the sacred fungus.
Height, 131/2 inches; dimensions, 7% inches square.
(Illustrated)

lSI-ANTIQUE CHINESE BLACK LACQUER BIRDCAGE (Ch'ien-lung)
Dome-sha pe, on ivory feet carved with figures in pine
groves; metal mounting for hanging. Around the ba c ar
carved ivory groups of ladies and children in garden , in
one two boys appearing supporting a mammoth bouquet in
white j adc. Other ivory adornments include the ancient
Han design of squirrels among t the grapes, the god of
longevity with his emblematic peach, accompanied by a
spotted deer; flying bats; the Taoist immortal mounted on
his familiar the toad, a spotted tag and a stork each hold-
ing a branch of fungus in it mouth, and worm tong in-
tricately carved. Porcelain seed cups of the period.
Height, 22% inches; diameter, 14 inches.