Page 102 - Bonhams, FIne Chinese Art, Linda Wrigglesworth Collection, May 13, 2021 London

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A RARE CIVIL OFFICIAL’S ‘GOLDEN Compare with a similarly-embroidered ‘cloud Badges puzi displaying fabulous creatures,
PHEASANT’ EMBROIDERED RANK Goose’ rank badge for a civil official of the birds or animals were worn by the members of
the Qing ruling elites as part of their court dress.
BADGE, BUZI fourth rank, mid 19th century, illustrated by
Tongzhi M.Blackman, Emperor’s Court to Village The various species, whether real or imaginary,
Made for a civil official of the second rank, Festival. Chinese Costume and Textiles from signified the wearer’s rank and the badges were
worked in fine Suzhou satin stitch and couched the Collection of the Otago Museum, Dunedin, worn in pairs on the bufu. Accordingly, one
gold thread; the long-tailed, multi-coloured bird 2000, p.33, no.36. badge was attached to the back of the surcoat,
the other was made in two parts, which were
shown facing the magenta sun while standing respectively placed to the right and left hand
on a rock emerging from rolling waves above a 87 side of the opening on the chest. Badges
two-colour gold lishui stripe and surrounded by A RARE SILK KESI ‘QILIN’ FIRST-RANK made for military officials of the highest ranks
many details incorporating the Eight Buddhist MILITARY RANK BADGE, BUZI appear to have survived in lesser number than
Emblems, bats and flowers amidst ruyi clouds, 1820-1850 examples used by civil officials. They always
all picked out in shades of blue, green, pale Made for a military official of the first rank, the had a central animal, as opposed to birds
coral, yellow, white, black and magenta, within mythical creature standing beneath the sun which decorated the civil insignia. Symbolic
a flower-scroll border, mounted. on a rock emerging from froth-capped waves imagery was an important part of Chinese life
29.5cm (11 1/2in) x 30cm (11 7/8in). tossed with the Eight Buddhist Emblems and played a significant role in the design of
above a lishui stripe, surrounded by ruyi the badges. As the 19th century was a period
£800 - 1,200 clouds interspersed with the Eight Daoist of turmoil in China, with the Opium Wars and
CNY7,200 - 11,000 Attributes reserved on a ground of scrolling the Taiping Rebellion, it could be argued that
tendrils in gold wrapped thread, all in brilliant the political instability may have contributed
清同治 刺繡錦雉紋二品文官補子 shades of blue, coral-red, green and white, to the proliferation of lucky symbols and
auspicious plants employed as decorative
with painted details, within a border of gold
Provenance: Linda Wrigglesworth, London foliate scroll. 30.5cm (12in) x 29.6cm (11 6/8in). designs on badges. The trend is reflected in
the present example: one of China’s most
important mythological animals, the qilin was
Published and Illustrated: L.Wrigglesworth, £3,000 - 5,000 a mythical beast of great powers, representing
‘Making the Grade’. The Badge of Rank III, CNY27,000 - 45,000 prosperity, grandeur and wise administration.
London, 1996, p.9. In addition, floating above the waves and
1820至1850年 緙絲麒麟紋一品武官補子 around the qilin are the Daoist Attributes
來源：倫敦Linda Wrigglesworth relating to the Eight Immortals, namely the
Provenance: Linda Wrigglesworth, purchased fan representing Zhongli Quan, the bamboo
出版著錄：L.Wrigglesworth，《‘Making the in the 1980’s and rods of Zhang Guolao, the sword of Lü
Grade’. The Badge of Rank III》，倫敦，1996 Dongbin, the castanets of Cao Guojiu, the
年，頁9 來源：Linda Wrigglesworth，購於二十世紀 double-gourd of Li Tieguai, the flute of Han
八十年代 Xiangzi, the flower basket of Lan Caihe and
finally, the lotus of He Xiangu.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
98 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.