Page 210 - 2018 Hong Kong Important Chieese Art

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A FINELY CARVED IVORY BRUSHPOT 清康熙 牙雕故事人物圖八吉祥筆筒
QING DYNASTY, KANGXI PERIOD
來源：
of cylindrical form, the exterior densely carved in various 美國東岸收藏
levels of relief with a continuous heavenly landscape scene
with figures, depicting on one side a procession of peasants
and ladies riding on scrolling clouds carrying various tools and
weapons, journeying towards a city gate, in a distance further
figures seated on a cart following another group climbing up
the mountains, opposite another group on the other side of the
mountain about be engaged in combat with a troop of warriors,
the reverse with two fully armed warriors carrying weapons
threatening a group of ladies in the city, all amidst elaborate
tiered pavilions and cragged rockwork with trees and shrubs,
the rim encircled by the beribboned bajixiang (Eight Buddhist
Emblems), the stepped foot with a key-fret band between lotus
lappets, the ivory patinated to a creamy tone
17.5 cm, 6⅞ in.
PROVENANCE
An American east coast collection.

HK$ 800,000-1,200,000
US$ 102,000-153,000

Masterfully carved with a dense landscape scene inhabited
by figures that unravels like a traditional scroll painting, the
present brushpot is an outstanding and rare example of ivory
scholarly objects from the Kangxi period. An otherworldly
quality is captured in through the enigmatic landscape, created
through the varying depths of carving of mountains, openwork
trees and ruyi clouds, which form an attractive contrast with
the intricately carved diaper ground. As such, it is reminiscent
of the finest lacquer carving. A great sense of naturalism has
also been dexterously captured in the figures, as seen through
the folds of their garments and animated poses.
A brushpot carved in a similarly complex style, depicting Daoist
immortals in a landscape, the rim also fashioned with a narrow
band enclosing Buddhist and Daoist emblems, attributed to
the 17th/18th century, was sold at Christie’s New York, 25th
March 2010, lot 854. See further related ivory brushpots,
such as one decorated with scholars and attendants under
pine trees, attributed to the early Qing dynasty, from the Qing
Court collection and still in Beijing, illustrated in The Complete
Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Bamboo, Wood,
Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Carvings, Shanghai, 2001, pl. 142;
and another carved with figures and an ox amidst pavilions in
a landscape, but without a border encircling the rim, attributed
to the first half of the 18th century, from the Irving collection,
included in the Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition Chinese
Ivories from the Shang to the Qing, British Museum, London,
1984, cat. no. 176.

208 SOTHEBY’S 蘇富比