11th Apr, 2024 11:00
TWO-DAY AUCTION: Fine Asian Art, Buddhism and Hinduism
100
A RARE WHITE MARBLE FIGURE OF A FROG, TANG DYNASTY
Sold for €2,860
including Buyer's Premium
China, 618-907. Finely carved as a frog seated on its hind legs atop a rectangular base, its head slightly raised, well detailed with an angular face and bulging eyes, the opaque stone of a creamy-beige tone.
Provenance: From an important south German aristocratic collection, assembled between 1950 and 1990.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Old wear, chips, losses, nicks, scratches, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations. Fine, naturally grown patina overall.
Weight: 324 g
Dimensions: Height 6.9 cm
Expert’s note: This piece is a charming example of a Tang animal carving which, despite its small size, possesses the sense of vitality and imminent movement that is characteristic of the period. However, the subject of a frog is rare in Tang art and no examples in white marble are recorded in public collections. For an earlier example from the Shang dynasty, see a marble sculpture of a recumbent frog, dated to the Shang dynasty, at Sotheby’s New York, 19 September 2023, lot 219. Compare also a frog-form water pot and dropper dated to the Eastern Han dynasty at Christie’s New York, 19 September 2013, lot 1111.
Literature comparison:
Compare a bronze bell in the form of a frog, 4.1 cm high, dated to the Tang dynasty, in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, object number O.214-1946. Compare a related stoneware frog of slightly smaller size, dated to the Tang dynasty, in the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, accession number S2012.9.3200a-b.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s London, 1 November 2022, lot 136
Price: GBP 10,710 or approx. EUR 13,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A white marble figure of a lion, Tang dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the related modeling with similar pose and base, manner of carving, zoomorphic subject, and material with similar wear and weathering. Note the size (11.4 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 20 September 2013, lot 1511
Price: USD 30,000 or approx. EUR 36,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A marble carving of a rabbit on a lotus base, Tang dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the related modeling with similar pose and base, manner of carving, zoomorphic subject, and material with similar wear and weathering. Note the size (13.8 cm) and lotus petals.
China, 618-907. Finely carved as a frog seated on its hind legs atop a rectangular base, its head slightly raised, well detailed with an angular face and bulging eyes, the opaque stone of a creamy-beige tone.
Provenance: From an important south German aristocratic collection, assembled between 1950 and 1990.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Old wear, chips, losses, nicks, scratches, signs of weathering and erosion, encrustations. Fine, naturally grown patina overall.
Weight: 324 g
Dimensions: Height 6.9 cm
Expert’s note: This piece is a charming example of a Tang animal carving which, despite its small size, possesses the sense of vitality and imminent movement that is characteristic of the period. However, the subject of a frog is rare in Tang art and no examples in white marble are recorded in public collections. For an earlier example from the Shang dynasty, see a marble sculpture of a recumbent frog, dated to the Shang dynasty, at Sotheby’s New York, 19 September 2023, lot 219. Compare also a frog-form water pot and dropper dated to the Eastern Han dynasty at Christie’s New York, 19 September 2013, lot 1111.
Literature comparison:
Compare a bronze bell in the form of a frog, 4.1 cm high, dated to the Tang dynasty, in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, object number O.214-1946. Compare a related stoneware frog of slightly smaller size, dated to the Tang dynasty, in the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, accession number S2012.9.3200a-b.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s London, 1 November 2022, lot 136
Price: GBP 10,710 or approx. EUR 13,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A white marble figure of a lion, Tang dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the related modeling with similar pose and base, manner of carving, zoomorphic subject, and material with similar wear and weathering. Note the size (11.4 cm).
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 20 September 2013, lot 1511
Price: USD 30,000 or approx. EUR 36,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A marble carving of a rabbit on a lotus base, Tang dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the related modeling with similar pose and base, manner of carving, zoomorphic subject, and material with similar wear and weathering. Note the size (13.8 cm) and lotus petals.
Zacke Live Online Bidding
Our online bidding platform makes it easier than ever to bid in our auctions! When you bid through our website, you can take advantage of our premium buyer's terms without incurring any additional online bidding surcharges.
To bid live online, you'll need to create an online account. Once your account is created and your identity is verified, you can register to bid in an auction up to 12 hours before the auction begins.
Intended Spend and Bid Limits
When you register to bid in an online auction, you will need to share your intended maximum spending budget for the auction. We will then review your intended spend and set a bid limit for you. Once you have pre-registered for a live online auction, you can see your intended spend and bid limit by going to 'Account Settings' and clicking on 'Live Bidding Registrations'.
Your bid limit will be the maximum amount you can bid during the auction. Your bid limit is for the hammer price and is not affected by the buyer’s premium and VAT. For example, if you have a bid limit of €1,000 and place two winning bids for €300 and €200, then you will only be able to bid €500 for the rest of the auction. If you try to place a bid that is higher than €500, you will not be able to do so.
Online Absentee and Telephone Bids
You can now leave absentee and telephone bids on our website!
Absentee Bidding
Once you've created an account and your identity is verified, you can leave your absentee bid directly on the lot page. We will contact you when your bids have been confirmed.
Telephone Bidding
Once you've created an account and your identity is verified, you can leave telephone bids online. We will contact you when your bids have been confirmed.
Classic Absentee and Telephone Bidding Form
You can still submit absentee and telephone bids by email or fax if you prefer. Simply fill out the Absentee Bidding/Telephone bidding form and return it to us by email at office@zacke.at or by fax at +43 (1) 532 04 52 20. You can download the PDF from our Upcoming Auctions page.
How-To Guides
How to Create Your Personal Zacke Account
How to Register to Bid on Zacke Live
How to Leave Absentee Bids Online
How to Leave Telephone Bids Online
中文版本的操作指南
创建新账号
注册Zacke Live在线直播竞拍（免平台费）
缺席投标和电话投标
Third-Party Bidding
We partner with best-in-class third-party partners to make it easy for you to bid online in the channel of your choice. Please note that if you bid with one of our third-party online partners, then there will be a live bidding surcharge on top of your final purchase price. You can find all of our fees here. Here's a full list of our third-party partners:
- 51 Bid Live
- EpaiLive
- ArtFoxLive
- Invaluable
- LiveAuctioneers
- the-saleroom
- lot-tissimo
- Drouot
Please note that we place different auctions on different platforms. For example, in general, we only place Chinese art auctions on 51 Bid Live.
Bidding in Person
You must register to bid in person and will be assigned a paddle at the auction. Please contact us at office@zacke.at or +43 (1) 532 04 52 for the latest local health and safety guidelines.
