16th Oct, 2021 10:00
TWO-DAY AUCTION - Fine Chinese Art / 中國藝術集珍 / Buddhism & Hinduism
353
A GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF A RECUMBENT ‘LONGEVITY’ RAM, MING DYNASTY
明代鎏金銅臥羊
Sold for €12,008
including Buyer's Premium
China, 1368-1644. Deftly and naturalistically cast as a ram seated on its haunches with the front legs bent. The ram with well-defined facial features, marked by bulging eyes with incised pupils and a prominent snout, framed by a pair of coiled horns above small pointed ears. The spine accentuated by curly fur hanging on either side of the body, each lock of hair finely detailed to display the thickness and tactile quality of the wool. The tail is designed in the shape of a peach, symbol for longevity.
Provenance: From a Hungarian collection.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and casting flaws, small nicks, and light scratches.
Weight: 438.9 g
Dimensions: Length 10.5 cm
The ram is a popular motif in Chinese jade carving, not only because its pronunciation sounds close to the pronunciation of the word ‘xiang’ (auspicious), but also as a symbol of filial piety, patience, and kindness. The ram is further a traditional emblem of good luck, since the Chinese term for ram (or goat), ‘yang’, is also a homophone of ‘yang’ (sun), and represents the male or positive principle in the yin-yang duality.
Expert’s note: The tail is distinctively designed in the shape of a peach, the main symbol of longevity in ancient China. The ability of ‘hiding’ auspicious symbols and meanings in skillfully executed depictions of Zodiac animals is one of the most accomplished regalia of Chinese art and culture overall, which has been passed on from generation to generation, literally across several millennia.
Auction result comparison: Compare a related figure of a ram, dated to the 15th century, at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, in Gods And Beasts – Gilt Bronzes From The Speelman Collection, on 8 April 2014, lot 84, bought-in at an estimate of HKD 1,600,000-2,400,000.
明代鎏金銅臥羊
中國，1368-1644年。巧妙而自然地鑄造成一隻臥著的公羊，前腿彎曲。 公羊面部輪廓分明，其特點是凸出的眼睛和突出的鼻子，小而尖耳朵上方有一對盤繞的角。身體兩側捲曲的毛皮，脊柱清晰，每一綹毛都非常細緻，顯示了羊毛的厚度和觸感。 尾巴成桃形，象徵長壽。
來源：匈牙利私人收藏
品相：狀況極好，有輕微磨損和鑄造缺陷、小刻痕和輕微劃痕。
重量：438.9 克
尺寸：長10.5 厘米
專家注釋：羊的尾巴設計獨特，呈桃形。桃是中國古代長壽的象徵。 這類生肖動物中“隱藏”的吉祥符號和意義是中國藝術和文化中最為常見的手段，它代代相傳，跨越了幾千年。
拍賣結果比較：一件十五世紀鎏金銅立羊，見香港蘇富比Gods And Beasts – Gilt Bronzes From The Speelman Collection 2014年4月8日lot 84，估價 HKD 1,600,000-2,400,000。
China, 1368-1644. Deftly and naturalistically cast as a ram seated on its haunches with the front legs bent. The ram with well-defined facial features, marked by bulging eyes with incised pupils and a prominent snout, framed by a pair of coiled horns above small pointed ears. The spine accentuated by curly fur hanging on either side of the body, each lock of hair finely detailed to display the thickness and tactile quality of the wool. The tail is designed in the shape of a peach, symbol for longevity.
Provenance: From a Hungarian collection.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and casting flaws, small nicks, and light scratches.
Weight: 438.9 g
Dimensions: Length 10.5 cm
The ram is a popular motif in Chinese jade carving, not only because its pronunciation sounds close to the pronunciation of the word ‘xiang’ (auspicious), but also as a symbol of filial piety, patience, and kindness. The ram is further a traditional emblem of good luck, since the Chinese term for ram (or goat), ‘yang’, is also a homophone of ‘yang’ (sun), and represents the male or positive principle in the yin-yang duality.
Expert’s note: The tail is distinctively designed in the shape of a peach, the main symbol of longevity in ancient China. The ability of ‘hiding’ auspicious symbols and meanings in skillfully executed depictions of Zodiac animals is one of the most accomplished regalia of Chinese art and culture overall, which has been passed on from generation to generation, literally across several millennia.
Auction result comparison: Compare a related figure of a ram, dated to the 15th century, at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, in Gods And Beasts – Gilt Bronzes From The Speelman Collection, on 8 April 2014, lot 84, bought-in at an estimate of HKD 1,600,000-2,400,000.
明代鎏金銅臥羊
中國，1368-1644年。巧妙而自然地鑄造成一隻臥著的公羊，前腿彎曲。 公羊面部輪廓分明，其特點是凸出的眼睛和突出的鼻子，小而尖耳朵上方有一對盤繞的角。身體兩側捲曲的毛皮，脊柱清晰，每一綹毛都非常細緻，顯示了羊毛的厚度和觸感。 尾巴成桃形，象徵長壽。
來源：匈牙利私人收藏
品相：狀況極好，有輕微磨損和鑄造缺陷、小刻痕和輕微劃痕。
重量：438.9 克
尺寸：長10.5 厘米
專家注釋：羊的尾巴設計獨特，呈桃形。桃是中國古代長壽的象徵。 這類生肖動物中“隱藏”的吉祥符號和意義是中國藝術和文化中最為常見的手段，它代代相傳，跨越了幾千年。
拍賣結果比較：一件十五世紀鎏金銅立羊，見香港蘇富比Gods And Beasts – Gilt Bronzes From The Speelman Collection 2014年4月8日lot 84，估價 HKD 1,600,000-2,400,000。
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