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

15
AN IMPORTANT CANTON SCHOOL ‘21-LAYER’ MAGIC IVORY BALL
ON A TALL STAND, QING DYNASTY
Carved ivory with detailed openwork, reticulation and incising, partially
inked. This set of carved openwork concentric ivory balls with cloud-and-
dragon decoration consists of one larger set of concentric balls, a supporting
plate, a stand, a smaller set of concentric balls, and a base.
China, Guangdong, mid- to late-Qing dynasty ca. 1840-1900

The larger set of concentric balls is carved with several entwined sinuous
dragons amid clouds on the outside, revealing 20 (in words: twenty) smaller,
nested openwork balls inside, each manually and differently carved, one
inside the other from the largest to the smallest, ingenuously carved from
one single piece of ivory.
The stand shows several scenes including wandering scholars and
attendants in a mountainous landscape, several pavilions, groups of weiqi 16
players. A SMALL ROCK CRYSTAL ‘CHILONG’ BRUSH
The base shows further sinuous dragons in openwork carving. WASHER IN LIBATION CUP SHAPE, 18 CENTURY
TH
The smaller set of concentric balls is carved with floral décor on the Transparent rock crystal with natural inclusions, carved in
outside and a smaller set of 7 balls hidden inside. high relief and openwork, with nicely incised detail work
This type of ivory balls was made in the Guangdong region during the mid- China, 18th century
to late-Qing dynasty. The most puzzling thing about this amazing piece of
craftsmanship is probably how these delicate balls were made one inside the This archaistic vessel is carved from rock crystal and
other. This technique fascinated the Chinese as well as the Europeans in th shows an intricately incised geometrical pattern on the
th
19 century and its earliest nickname was the “demon’s balls.” The process outer body. The two handles are formed by chilong
of making a demon’s ball usually consists of the following six stages: dragons, confronting each other, with their bifurcated
tails circumventing the vessel in high relief.
1. Selection and cutting down of material Rock crystal objects were highly sought after by Qing
2. Using a lathe to turn the cylinder into a sphere Dynasty literati who referred to the material as ‘water
3. Boring holes turned to stone’.
4. Carving inner spheres using a curved cutting tool Shape: Rounded, libation cup shape with figural handles,
5. Decorative carving of outer layer raised oval foot rim
6. Decorative carving of inner layers Dimensions: 4,2 cm (height), 10,5 cm (length)
Condition: Fantastic condition with fine patina, remainder
Steps two to four consist of the intricate cutting necessary to produce of old stains, and two microscopic nibbles to lip, as well
nested balls. These steps require the use of a lathe. Another important trick as some natural flaws to the mineral
is the drilling of evenly spaced perpendicular holes into the outer surface. Provenance: Austrian Private collection
In fact, this is based on an ingenious, secret geometrical concept which is
believed to have been lost at some point history, making it impossible to Auction result comparison: A similar cup, sold in these
ever reproduce these balls again. rooms on June 16 2018, lot 69.
th

Shape: Ball on stand, which can be dismantled into 10 parts, which are 18ᶾ䲨㯜㘞”䤅⢥㜗”䫮㲿 17
being held together via original ivory screws 檀㴖晽德㖶㯜㘞炻晽ⶍ䱦䳘 A ROCK CRYSTAL ‘LINGZHI’ BRUSH Auction results comparison: Chinese
Weight: 1119 grams ᷕ⚳炻18ᶾ䲨 WASHER, QING DYNASTY Ceramics, Works of Art and Textiles.
Dimensions: Total height 57 cm ⑩䚠㤝Ἓ炻⊭㻧䳘兑 The crystal of good purity with few Christies, London, 14 May 2010, lot 319.
Condition: Superb, complete and original condition with some losses to ⤏⛘⇑䥩Ṣ㓞啷 natural clouds. Good surface finish both (for a ‘bat’ brush washer of same material,
inner balls, few age cracks and some chipping to exposed areas in- and outside. period and size)
th
th
Provenance: French private collection EstimateġEUR 400,- China, 18 – 19 century
Starting price EUR 200,- 㶭ẋ㯜㘞晽”曰剅”䫮㲿
Literature comparison: The National Palace Museum, Taipei, recently The washer vigorously carved to depict 䲼㶐㯜㘞炻ℏ⢾⸛㹹䢐⃱
produced an interesting video, explaining the concept and technique of lingzhi fungi growing from a gnarly stem. ᷕ⚳炻18-19ᶾ䲨
ancient demon balls: http://npm.nchc.org.tw/newest_en.aspx?vid=85 Wooden base. (2) ⑩䚠列⤥炻㚱ṃ姙䢐䕽
劙⚳䥩Ṣ㓞啷
㶭ẋ⺋ⶆ㳦”21Ⰼ”掌晽䈁⣿䎫 Shape: Sculptural vessel
⺋ⶆ㳦(⋿㳦)尉䈁晽炻21Ⰼ櫤ⶍ䎫炻䎫ℏ⣿䎫炻徸Ⰼ掌䨢炻㏕惵䳘兑晽⇣䘬䎫㞙 Dimensions: Length 7,5 cm EstimateġEUR 200,-
⍲⸽⹏炻厗渿℠晭ˤ Weight: 108, 5 grams Starting price EUR 100,-
ᷕ⚳炻⺋㜙炻㶭ẋᷕ㛇军㘂㛇炻䲬1840⸜军1900⸜ Condition: The rim with one chip and
⑩䚠⬴伶 minor nibbling. The small lingzhi with a
㱽⚳䥩Ṣ㓞啷 second chip
Provenance: United Kingdom private
EstimateġEUR 1.000,- collection
Starting price EUR 500,-

26 27