Page 50 - Bonhams Fine Chinese Art London Nov. 2019

29
A TORTOISE-SHAPED POTTERY The result of ASA Authentication et a long life, tortoises symbolised longevity
INK-STONE AND COVER Datation d’Objects d’Art et d’Archaeologie but also immutability and steadfastness. The
Han Dynasty par Methodes Scientifiques, Paris, use of the tortoise as support, such as in the
Naturalistically modelled as a tortoise standing thermoluminescence test no.14.24.27- present example, probably derives from the
four-square on short legs, the head gazing TL 102.062, dated 19 February 2001, is observation of the animal’s habit of burying
upward, the back hollowed to form the inkwell, consistent with the dating of this lot. itself under the ground and re-emerge at
the cover incised with hexagrams and trigrams. certain times. The use of the tortoise as an
23.5cm (9 1/4 in) long (2). 巴黎ASA Authentication et Datation ink-stone probably derived from the tortoise’s
d’Objects d’Art et d’Archaeologie par further association with water. For reference
£15,000 - 20,000 Methodes Scientifiques熱釋光檢測結 see C.Michaelson, Gilded Dragons. Buried
CNY130,000 - 180,000 果（2001年2月19日，編號14.24.27- TL Treasures from China’s Golden Ages, London,
102.062）顯示年代與本拍品年代一致。 1999, pp.54-55.

漢 陶胎龜形硯連蓋 Tortoise-shaped ink-stones appear to have A similar but slightly larger tortoise-shaped
been in use in China for many centuries, from ink-stone and cover, Han dynasty, from the
Provenance: Gisèle Croës Arts d’Extrême- the Han dynasty (206 BC –AD 220) onwards, collection of the Miho Museum, Kyoto, is
Orient, Brussels, 18 May 2001. and are known both with and without cover, illustrated in Catalogue of the Miho Museum
John J. Studzinski CBE, London in stone and in pottery. Since the very early (The South Wing), Kyoto, 1997, pl.119.
literary references, the shell of the tortoise
來源：比利時布魯塞爾古董商，Gisèle Croës was considered evocative of the cosmos, with Compare with a related tortoise-shaped
Arts d’Extrême-Orient，2001年5月18日 the upper surface reminiscent of the vaulted pottery ink-stone, Han/Tang dynasty, which
大英帝國司令勳章受勳者John J. Studzinski heaven, and the underside analogous to the was sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 2-3 June
珍藏 flat disc of the earth. As animals living 2016, lot 693.

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