Arts for the Scholar
Asian Art in London, November 2007

For the tenth Asian Art in London we chose the theme of scholars objects. This is an area that has fascinated and intrigued us over the years. These pieces exemplify all that is exciting in the applied arts of China.

Whether through the skill of the bamboo carver or the deftness of the lapidary in releasing the natural beauty of a piece of rough hardstone, we must revel in the wondrous creations of these craftsmen. This exhibition gives a brief glimpse of a time of true artistice excellence underpinned by Imperial patronage.

Exhibition catalogue

Please note all pages are PDF downloads.

1. A Lobed Canton Enamel Dish (616k)
2. A fine Cast-Iron and Silver-Gilt-Bronze Inlay Ruyl Scepter (512k)
3. A rare Cast-Iron ans Silver Inlay Ruyl Scepter (660k)
4. A fine Silver Inlay Bronze Brushpot (664k)
5. A pair of very Important Imperial Fan Paintings (6.7mb)
6. A Collection of Articles describing Imperial Battles of the later Zhou Dynasty by Zhang Shu Ping (560k)
7. A fine Book describing 'The Stations of the Quianlong Emperor's second Tour of the Southern Provinces' (1.4mb)
8. Prose Commemorating the Sixtieth Birthday of the Jiaqing Emperor by Xu Faji (908k)
9. A highly important Handscroll with Sixteen Lohans by Wang Jian (1mb)
10. A very rare Book of the Emperor Qianlong's Poem "Ya SongLui Fen" (2mb)
11. A very fine Carved Soapstone Dragon and Phoenix Box and Cover marked Shang Jun (ZhouBin) (988k)
12. An important finely carved Tianhuang Imperial Lion Seal (452k)
13. An important finely carved Tianhuang Imperial Dragon Seal (596k)
14. A pair of Black Soapstone Dragon Seals (544k)
15. A fine Agate Washer in the shape of a Double Gourd with finely carved wooden stand (396k)
16. A very rare Group of three Lozenge shaped Lacquer Brushpots, Bitong Wanli six-character mark and of the Period (984k)
17. An Imperial Zitan wood Bamboo Box and Cover (392k)
18. A well carved Bamboo Brushpot, Bitong (1.4mb)
19. A fine and rare Huali Brushpot Carved by Cho Zi Yan (668k)
20. A finely carved Bamboo Message Holder (356k)
21. A fine and rare Imperial Cinnabar Lacquer Box and Cover with Qianlong six-character Mark and of the Period (1.4mb)
22. An Inscribed Bamboo Wristrest (920k)
23. An unusual Duan Inkstone with carved Kui Dragons (628k)
24. A rare Song Mine Inkstone carved with Five Arhats (1mb)
25. An octagonal Inscribed Duan Inkstone Qianlong mark and of the Period (780k)
26. An Imperial Ink-Cake in form of a Round Disc Qianlong four character mark and of the Period (924k)
27. A very fine carved 'Chicken Bone' and Russet Jade double Carp Vase (376k)
28. A very fine White Jade Censer and Cover (332k)
29. An Archaistic carved Jade and Cover (400k)
30. A rare Large Grayish-Green and Russet Jade Figure of a Recumbent Elephant (396k)
31. A Pale Celadon and Russet Jade Boulder (464k)
32. A White and Spinach Jade Brush (292k)
33. A fine White Jade and Russet Dragon Brush Rest (284k)
34. A fine White Small Jade Dish (228k)
35. A Celadon Pomegranate shaped Brush Washer Qianlong mark and of the Period (272k)
36. An unusual Carved Tourmaline Triangul (264k)
37. A Gilt-Splash Bronze Goose Form Censer and Cover (224k)

• Chronology (508k)
• Chinese text of catalogue (19mb)
  

Chinese text of catalogue (PDF - 19mb)

Lot 5, Fan Paintings


Lot 11, Carved Soapstone Box and Cover


Lot 19, Huali Brushpot


Lot 27, Double Carp Vase


Lot 30, Figure of a Recumbent Elephant


Lot 31: Pale Celadon and Russet Jade Boulder