Page 60 - 2021 March 15th Fine Chinese Paintings and Works of Art, Bonhams NYC New York

ANOTHER PROPERTY PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE AMERICAN COLLECTION
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A ‘LINGBI’ SCHOLAR’S ROCK A PALE SOAPSTONE SEAL AND SLATE BOX AND COVER
The irregularly shaped rock wrought to stand on two points to Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Jian Chai (Studio of the Silkworm
resemble the side profile of a mythical beast, one side with furrows Cocoon) Mark
and protrusions, the wrinkled surface with a lustrous glossy black The small soapstone (steatite) seal of square shape with rounded
patina, the other side flat with knobbly reddish-brown outcroppings; canted top in imitation of a Warring states or Han dynasty seal, two
with a wood stand. simple incised lines to the sides, the underside carved in intaglio with
18 1/2in (47cm) high (2) the seal Bu Lu Wen Zhang Shi Yi Jing; the seal box probably made
from a red slate and then covered in a black pigment, the top carved
$2,000 - 3,000 in relief with two long-tailed birds standing on a bending branch amidst
further bamboo, the base with a two-character seal, Jian Chai; with a
靈璧賞石 hardwood box.
1 1/2in (3.8cm) square, the seal; 2 5/8in (6.6cm) square, the slate box
$2,500 - 3,500

清 《不露文章世已驚》方印 配雕竹鳥紋《繭齋》款石盒

The intaglio seal on the base of the soapstone seal which reads: Bu Lu
Wen Zhang Shi Yi Jing, can be translated as: It was surprise that he
doesn’t show his articles to the world

The two-character seal on the slate seal box is a studio name which reads
Jian Chai which can be translated as “The studio of the silkworm cocoon.”

58 | BONHAMS