Page 118 - Yamanaka co Auction catalog

192-ANTIQUE CHINESE BIRDCAGE (Ch'ien-lung)
In horn of the water buffalo, and lacquer. Dome-shape with
flattened top; metal mounting and carved rhinoceros-horn
feet. The lacquered rim of the base is decorated with gourd-
vines in bearing in lacquer painting and mother-of-pearl
inlay, and with a poem, and the metal mounting includes
decora tions of cloisonne enamel. Cups of white jade are
carved one with the lotus, and one with a monkey climbing
over the rim of the cup, and there is a water cup of cloisonne
enamel. The top is surmounted by a rhinoceros-horn finial
carved with the grapes-and-squirrel motive, rhinoceros-horn
worm-tongs are carved in openwork and undercut with the
wistaria vine and its seed-pods, and numerous other acces-
sories and ornaments are beautifully and intricately carved
in the same material, including a tall feed-chute which
is incised with many characters. These express on one side
wishes of wealth and a life of prolonged springtime. On
the other a bard falls into poetic fancy and calls up a land-
scape of twilight in the mountains, in reverie likening the
songs of birds to the rippling colors of water and the beauti-
ful illustrations of books. One of the rarest cages of the
extraordinary collection.
H6ightJ 211,4 inches; diameter, 141f2 inches.
(Illustrated)

193-ANTIQUE CHINESE TORTOISE-SHELL BIRDCAGE (Ch'ien-lung)
High dome-shape; the structure tortoise-shell and black
lacquer. The lacquer base is inlaid with mother-of-pearl
in bamboo, mei, lotus, and other forms, including fruit
as well as flowers, and butterflies fluttering about the
branches. Blue and white porcelain feed cups. The carved
ivory accessories and decorations include a boatload of fig-
ures being propelled under a rocky ledge, immortals, birds,
animals and fruits; the central post-perch is in the form
of a boy juggler standing on his head on a batrachian-
the Gama Sennin motive-balancing the bird-platform or