China, 18^th-19^th century. Each supported on a domed lotus-petaled base bordered with lappet bands, the scrolled openwork standard rising to a large lotus pod enclosed by layered petals, the body lacquered in a thick layer of gilt. (2)

Provenance: Collection of Frederick W. Hinke, and thence by descent in the same family. Frederick William Hinke (1900-1960) was an American diplomat and the son of Dr. William John Hinke, a prominent scholar and close friend of many of Washington D.C.’s politicians, including the well-known Dulles family. Frederick Hinke became politically active and served as U.S. Vice Consul from 1926-1929 and as U.S. Consul in Guangdong Province, China in 1932, before moving to Tianjin in 1938. His work allowed him to build a collection of Chinese works of art which was kept in the family for around 70 years before it first entered the art market.
Condition: Some old wear, chips, light scratches, few losses here and there, expected age cracks, flaking to the lacquer, one stand with losses to the scroll-form supports.

Weight: 1,486 g and 1,488 g
Dimensions: Height 36.3 cm and 35.9 cm

Emblem stands such as the present pair are usually found in Buddhist altars where they are used as bases to hold the Seven Emblems of Imperial Power (qizhengbao), which according to the Buddhist Sutra, are the accessories of the universal monarch, the Chakravartin. The Seven Emblems represent the different abilities or aides that a king must possess in order to stay in power and can be symbolically offered to the Buddha. The Seven Emblems include the Precious Wheel, the Precious Jewel, the Precious Queen, the Precious Minister, the Precious General, the Precious Elephant and the Precious Horse. For a related gilt-lacquered wood ceremonial vessel, see lot 284 in this catalog.

Closely related sets of gilt-lacquered wood emblem stands are in situ in various halls of the Yonghegong Lama temple in Beijing. It was built in 1694 on the site where originally stood an official residence for court eunuchs of the Ming dynasty, and converted into the residence of Prince Yong, who would later become the Yongzheng Emperor. In 1711, Hongli, the fourth son of Yongzheng, the future Qianlong Emperor, was born in the East Academy of the building. In 1744, the Qianlong Emperor issued an edict converting the Palace of Peace and Harmony into a lamasery. Subsequently, the monastery became a residence for large numbers of Tibetan Buddhist monks from Mongolia and Tibet, and so the Yonghe Lamasery became the national center of Lama administration. Since 1792, with the foundation of the Golden Urn, the Yonghe Temple also became a place for the Manchu government to exert control over the Tibetan and Mongolian Lama reincarnations.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 29 June 2016, lot 9282
Price: USD 18,750 or approx. EUR 21,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pair of gilt lacquered wood lotus stands with Buddhist emblems, late Qing/Republic period
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, decoration, and lacquer. Note the emblems on top of the stands and the sizes (55 and 53 cm).

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 24 March 2018, lot 1784
Price: USD 6,875 or approx. EUR 7,400 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pair of gilt-lacquered carved wood altar emblem stands, Qing dynasty, 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form, decoration, and lacquer. Note the size (50.2 cm).



一對清代木雕漆金蓮花供座
中國，十八至十九世紀。仰覆蓮花供座，四重蓮瓣組成，瓣葉飽滿規整，蓮瓣端頭尖挺有力。供座通體施一層厚厚的金漆。(2)

來源：Frederick W. Hinke收藏, 在同一家族保存至今。Frederick William Hinke (1900-1960) 是美國外交官，William John Hinke 博士的兒子。William John Hinke博士是一位著名學者，也是華盛頓特區許多政客的密友，其中包括著名的杜勒斯家族。 Frederick Hinke 在政治上十分活躍，曾於1926 年至 1929 年擔任美國副領事，並於 1932 年擔任美國駐中國廣東省領事，之後於 1938 年移居天津。這件拍品在其家族中保存了大約 70 年。
品相：一些磨損、缺口、輕微的劃痕和缺損，老化裂縫，漆面剝落。一個供座在鏤空裝飾有缺損。

重量：分別為1,486克與1,488克
尺寸：高 36.3 釐米 and 35.9 釐米

這樣的供座，多見於佛壇，用作供奉七政寶的底座。根據佛經，當威德自在的轉輪聖王出現於世，將有輪王七政寶（輪寶、象寶、馬寶、君寶、臣寶、摩尼寶、後寶）隨同，輸誠護持。輪王七政寶亦可作人心七種譬喻：知足、感恩、精進、服從、忠實、滿願、柔軟。能有這七種心者，是人中之王。在北京雍和宮的各個大殿內，都擺放著成套木雕鎏金供座。相關的木雕漆金供座，參見本圖錄中的拍品284號。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：舊金山邦瀚斯，2016年6月29日，lot 9282
價格：USD 18,750（相當於今日EUR 21,000）
描述：一對鎏金漆木蓮花檯
專家評論：比較非常相近的外形，裝飾和金漆。請注意頂部的佛教圖案和尺寸(55 and 53毫米)。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比 ，2018年3月24日，lot 1784
價格：USD 6,875（相當於今日EUR 7,400）
描述：清十九世紀木漆金蓮花臺一對
專家評論：比較非常相近的外形，裝飾和金漆。請注意尺寸(50.2毫米)。