Page 26 - Fine Chinese, Japanese and Buddhist Art September 28, 2018 Galerie Zacke

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AN IVORY DOUBLE-SIDED ‘ROMANCE OF THE
WESTERN CHAMBER’ SCREEN PLAQUE, KANGXI
Ivory engraved and carved in low relief. Good patina
China, Kangxi, around 1700

The rectangular plaque carved with a scene from the
Xi Xiangji, the reverse with a vase and fan and a short
poetic inscription. The Story of the Western Wing
(traditional Chinese: 大⹪姀; pinyin: X xi ng Jì), also
translated as Romance of the Western Chamber, is one of
the most famous Chinese dramatic works. It was written
by the Yuan dynasty playwright Wang Shifu (䌳⮎䓓) and
set during the Tang dynasty. Known as “China’s most
popular love comedy,” it is the story of a young couple
consummating their love without parental approval, and
has been seen both as a “lover’s bible” and “potentially
lethal,” as readers were in danger of pining away under
its influence.

Shape: Table screen plaque
13 Weight: 149,7 grams
AN IVORY DOUBLE-SIDED ‘PRACTICING Dimensions: Height 19,5 x 11 cm
CALLIGRAPHY’ TABLE SCREEN, KANGXI Condition: Some age cracks, one chip to edge. Generally
Artist signature on the stand. Ivory engraved and carved in very good condition
in low relief. Good patina Provenance: United Kingdom private collection
China, the screen Kangxi, around 1700, the stand Qing
Dynasty Literature: Chinese Ivories from the Kwan Collection.
December 1990. By Simon Kwan, Peter Y. K. Lam and
The rectangular plaque carved with a villa scene, with Yang Boda. (for a comprehensive overview of Chinese
two scholars conversing and practicing calligraphy ivories and many interesting examples from the Kangxi
surrounded by servants, the reverse with a calligraphic period)
inscription and a scene with birds and flowers, mounted
in a partially reticulated stand with archaistic carving and Auction result comparison: CHINESE ART. Sotheby’s, 3
two Buddhist lions guarding the screen. DECEMBER 2015, HONG KONG, lot 445. (for a related
table screen)
Shape: Table screen
Weight: 440 grams ⹟䅁⸜攻尉䈁晽”大⹪姀”䠗⯷
Dimensions: Height 27 cm 尉䈁㶢㴖晽炻刚㽌列⤥
Condition: Some age cracks, the stand with minor losses. ᷕ⚳炻⹟䅁炻䲬1700⸜
Generally in good condition 側朊⇣㚱䘥⯭㖻˪㜕ⶆ㗍㛃˫曺㕿㱥惺崩㡐剙
Provenance: United Kingdom private collection ⑩䚠⬴┬
劙⚳䥩Ṣ㓞啷
Literature: Chinese Ivories from the Kwan Collection.
December 1990. By Simon Kwan, Peter Y. K. Lam and EstimateġEUR 400,-
Yang Boda. (for a comprehensive overview of Chinese Starting price EUR 200,-
ivories and many interesting examples from the Kangxi
period)

Auction result comparison: CHINESE ART. Sotheby’s, 3
DECEMBER 2015, HONG KONG, lot 445. (for a related
table screen)

⹟䅁⸜攻尉䈁晽”㔯Ṣ佺㚠䔓”䠗⯷
尉䈁㶢㴖晽炻➢⹏⇣㚱晽侭⎵炻列⤥⃱㽌
ᷕ⚳炻⯷ⷽ䁢⹟䅁⸜攻墥炻➢⹏䁢㶭㛅墥
⑩䚠列⤥
劙⚳䥩Ṣ㓞啷
EstimateġEUR 800,-
Starting price EUR 400,-

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