Page 235 - Bonhams London May 13th aqnd 14th 2019 Chinese Art

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TWO BAMBOO ‘PINE TRUNK’ LIBATION CUPS As early as the Tang Dynasty (618-907) the poet Bai Juyi (772-846)
17th/18th century summarized the merits of bamboo according to its characteristics:
Each cup finely and naturalistically carved as gnarled pine trunks with its deep root denotes resoluteness, straight stem represents honour,
knots and bark, the exterior carved in openwork with further twisting its interior modesty and its clean exterior exemplifies chastity - all
branches bearing sprays of needles, the patina of the bamboo a qualities a scholar should strive for in their daily life.
dark, warm coffee hue.
Each: 14cm (5 1/2in) wide (2). Bamboo came to be considered the ‘gentleman’ of the natural world
and appears in many famous visual puns frequently encountered in
£8,000 - 12,000 the decorative motifs of Chinese art including ‘The Four Friends’ of
HK$83,000 - 120,000 plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum and ‘The Three Friends
CNY71,000 - 110,000 of Winter’ consisting of pine, bamboo and plum.

Bamboo was used extensively in the Ming and Qing Dynasties In addition to the poetic attributes of bamboo, it figures large in the
material history of China having been used since at least the 12th
for carved scholar’s objects such as the cups in the present lot. century BC on-wards for food, clothing, housing, transportation,
Alongside being a highly suitable material for detailed carving work music instruments and writing materials.
that would delight the hand and eye, there is also strong symbolism
at play. A learned scholar observing the present lot could reflect Compare the present lot with a single carved bamboo libation cup,
on the positive connotations of the material that resonate through dated 17th/18th century, sold at Christie’s, 10 May 2011, lot 17.
Chinese culture.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue. ASIAN ART - PART II | 233