Page 85 - Bonhams September 10 2018 New York Chinese Works of Art
P. 85
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A SET OF ENAMELED SILVER FIGURES OF THE EIGHT
IMMORTALS
Republic period 民國 銀加琺瑯彩八仙像一套
Each hollow figure portraying one of the immortals in an animated 《北京天寶》 《北京天寶足紋》 《巳》 《足紋》《長足紋》《天寶》款
pose, with removable heads, some with removable hands and
attributes, clad in finely chased and brightly enameled robes and The bases of the some of the figures in the present lot are marked
skirts, the bases of seven with cash-shaped apertures and bearing with the seal of the metal atelier Tianbao, located in Beijing.
various combinations of seals reading changzuwen, Beijing Tianbao,
si, zuwen, Tianbao and Beijing Tianbao zuwen. Figures of the Eight Immortal are popular decorative motifs, because
8 3/4in (22.2cm) high it is believed that they can bestow blessings. They represent the
spectrum of the human condition - young and old, rich and poor, civil
$20,000 - 30,000 and military, learned and uncultivated, male and female.
CHINESE WORKS OF ART AND PAINTINGS | 83