Chinese Calligraphy
See also : Autograph China Song and Yuan Early Ming Japan and Korea
Buddhism Religious texts Landscape
Chronology : 1000-1150 1150-1300 14th Century 15th century 1430-1459 1740-1749 1770-1779
Buddhism Religious texts Landscape
Chronology : 1000-1150 1150-1300 14th Century 15th century 1430-1459 1740-1749 1770-1779
1080 Calligraphy Letter by Zeng Gong
2016 SOLD for RMB yuan 207M including premium by China Guardian
Post sale press release.
ca 1080 Nine Words for the Palace Administrator
2013 SOLD 8.2 M$ including premium
The Song era was intellectually brilliant and refined. Politically engaged, Su Shi was a universal spirit of that time, altogether writer, traveler, poet, engineer and gourmet.
On September 19 in New York, Sotheby's sells a hanging scroll autographed by Su Shi, 28 x 9.5 cm. In nine words written about 930 years ago, the author identifies himself and bids his farewell to Gong Fu, then administrator of the palace of Duanzhou.
Calligraphy means "beautiful writing". In these early days, the styles are already established since a long time. The beauty of the line is essential, more than the text, to honor the addressee. Su Shi practices with the required virtuosity a writing that combines running and standard styles.
Indeed, each of the nine words is a work of art, but their disposition, here in two columns, is also important because it brings a musicality to the whole message.
Like all outstanding documents from ancient China, the scroll is accompanied by seals and colophons. Its oldest collector's stamp dates from the Ming dynasty. Its earliest colophon, during the reign of Qianlong, is a detailed expert study comparing the biographies of the two men in order to establish the date of the work.
The document is in superb condition despite its age.
POST SALE COMMENT
This ancient example of beautiful writing made by an outstanding man in Chinese history was sold for $ 8.2 million including premium.
In the video below, Sotheby's summarizes with some examples the unique characteristics of the art of Chinese calligraphy for introducing this lot and demonstrating its importance.
On September 19 in New York, Sotheby's sells a hanging scroll autographed by Su Shi, 28 x 9.5 cm. In nine words written about 930 years ago, the author identifies himself and bids his farewell to Gong Fu, then administrator of the palace of Duanzhou.
Calligraphy means "beautiful writing". In these early days, the styles are already established since a long time. The beauty of the line is essential, more than the text, to honor the addressee. Su Shi practices with the required virtuosity a writing that combines running and standard styles.
Indeed, each of the nine words is a work of art, but their disposition, here in two columns, is also important because it brings a musicality to the whole message.
Like all outstanding documents from ancient China, the scroll is accompanied by seals and colophons. Its oldest collector's stamp dates from the Ming dynasty. Its earliest colophon, during the reign of Qianlong, is a detailed expert study comparing the biographies of the two men in order to establish the date of the work.
The document is in superb condition despite its age.
POST SALE COMMENT
This ancient example of beautiful writing made by an outstanding man in Chinese history was sold for $ 8.2 million including premium.
In the video below, Sotheby's summarizes with some examples the unique characteristics of the art of Chinese calligraphy for introducing this lot and demonstrating its importance.
Northern Song - The Tree of the Calligrapher
2018 SOLD for HK$ 460M including premium
Under the Song, the literati are philosophers and humanists who sometimes have the audacity to oppose imperial politics. Their supreme mode of expression is calligraphy, which conveys to their readers the firmness and rhythm of their thought.
In 1071 CE, Su Shi had been expelled from the capital, starting at the age of 34 a second career as a provincial servant with increasingly mediocre missions despite his immense talent. He died in 1101. His younger friend Mi Fu escaped political persecution by his reputation for eccentricity. They were the two best calligraphers in their lifetime.
A nine-character autograph message on a 28 x 9.5 cm sheet sent by Su Shi to the governor of a locality that he was leaving was sold for $ 8.2M including premium by Sotheby's on September 19, 2013.
Graphic art is exceptional in their works. The movement of the artist's hand is the same as for calligraphy. The rare drawings by Su Shi translate emotions too deep to be expressed in words. Mi Fu will only paint in the last years of his life, mostly after Su Shi's death.
On November 26 in Hong Kong, Christie's sells as lot 8008 a 26 x 50 cm ink on paper painted by Su Shi. This piece is extended by many colophons including an appreciation calligraphed by Mi Fu, and includes many seals. Please watch two videos shared by the auction house.
The image consists of two elements that join together : a leafless tree twisted into several undulations and a bulky rock. The dryness of the tree expresses the desolation of the artist in his exile while at the opposite edge on the left flank of the rock the sparse bamboos bring the hope of a new vitality.
In 1071 CE, Su Shi had been expelled from the capital, starting at the age of 34 a second career as a provincial servant with increasingly mediocre missions despite his immense talent. He died in 1101. His younger friend Mi Fu escaped political persecution by his reputation for eccentricity. They were the two best calligraphers in their lifetime.
A nine-character autograph message on a 28 x 9.5 cm sheet sent by Su Shi to the governor of a locality that he was leaving was sold for $ 8.2M including premium by Sotheby's on September 19, 2013.
Graphic art is exceptional in their works. The movement of the artist's hand is the same as for calligraphy. The rare drawings by Su Shi translate emotions too deep to be expressed in words. Mi Fu will only paint in the last years of his life, mostly after Su Shi's death.
On November 26 in Hong Kong, Christie's sells as lot 8008 a 26 x 50 cm ink on paper painted by Su Shi. This piece is extended by many colophons including an appreciation calligraphed by Mi Fu, and includes many seals. Please watch two videos shared by the auction house.
The image consists of two elements that join together : a leafless tree twisted into several undulations and a bulky rock. The dryness of the tree expresses the desolation of the artist in his exile while at the opposite edge on the left flank of the rock the sparse bamboos bring the hope of a new vitality.
Christie’s Announces 1000-year-old $50m Su Shi Scroll https://t.co/eVdovdYFyr pic.twitter.com/XpeTTOdBby
— Art Market Monitor (@artmarket) August 30, 2018
1095 Ancient Chinese Calligraphy
2010 SOLD 436 M RMB yuan including premium
The East Asian calligraphy can be interpreted as a means of linking poetry to graphic art. In fact, it is a form of art by itself, although not available and rarely commented on the Western market. Come directly to Beijing.
Exactly one year ago, Poly sold a fine collection of Qing calligraphy made in very large letters by the emperors themselves in order to spread moral slogans. Such imperial calligraphy is a very ancient tradition as some writings by the second Tang emperor are known.
A scroll of paper from Song period is for sale at Beijing by Poly International Auction on June 3. 37 cm high with a length exceeding 8 meters, it is completely covered with characters drawn in ink by Huang Tingjian, one of the most famous master calligraphers of his time. It is a fine example of his art consisting of semi-cursive letters in an energetic and accentuated style. Depending on location, this text includes from 4 to 15 characters within the height.
This artwork seems being very well maintained despite its age: Huang died 905 years ago. The online catalog does not provide information on the contents of the text. Unlike most lots of this important sale, the estimate is not published.
POST SALE COMMENT
It is a triumph for culture. It was registered in China on a Chinese piece, by a Chinese auction house: 390 million RMB hammer price, RMB 436 million including premium. The buyer has paid the equivalent of U.S. $ 63.8 million.
After this success, I found some additional information on the lot itself.
Completed around 1095 of our calendar, it contains 600 characters of which some examples are presented in the article shared by China Daily. Titled Di Zhu Ming, it is a copy of a Tang poem.
It was originally a little over 8 meters long, and was enlarged to 15 meters by comments. It includes a small portrait of the calligrapher artist.
Exactly one year ago, Poly sold a fine collection of Qing calligraphy made in very large letters by the emperors themselves in order to spread moral slogans. Such imperial calligraphy is a very ancient tradition as some writings by the second Tang emperor are known.
A scroll of paper from Song period is for sale at Beijing by Poly International Auction on June 3. 37 cm high with a length exceeding 8 meters, it is completely covered with characters drawn in ink by Huang Tingjian, one of the most famous master calligraphers of his time. It is a fine example of his art consisting of semi-cursive letters in an energetic and accentuated style. Depending on location, this text includes from 4 to 15 characters within the height.
This artwork seems being very well maintained despite its age: Huang died 905 years ago. The online catalog does not provide information on the contents of the text. Unlike most lots of this important sale, the estimate is not published.
POST SALE COMMENT
It is a triumph for culture. It was registered in China on a Chinese piece, by a Chinese auction house: 390 million RMB hammer price, RMB 436 million including premium. The buyer has paid the equivalent of U.S. $ 63.8 million.
After this success, I found some additional information on the lot itself.
Completed around 1095 of our calendar, it contains 600 characters of which some examples are presented in the article shared by China Daily. Titled Di Zhu Ming, it is a copy of a Tang poem.
It was originally a little over 8 meters long, and was enlarged to 15 meters by comments. It includes a small portrait of the calligrapher artist.
1180 The Year of the Drought
2011 SOLD 1.76 M$ including premium
The humanist doctrines of Confucius had a profound and lasting influence on the life and mentality of the Chinese.
Zhu Xi was one of the foremost among the masters who enriched and transmitted the thought of Confucius. Under the Song dynasty, he offered a rationalist approach that was a revolution in its time, but he managed to impose it.
In China, a writer must also be a calligrapher. Zhu was one of the best. His handwriting is unique, balanced and energetic, the line is broad and powerful.
Occasionally, he wrote poems in wide characters. Signed and dedicated, a handscroll is for sale on September 15 at Christie's in New York, lot 817. 34 cm high, over 1 meter long, it contains 102 of the 150 characters of a travel poem, enriched according to the tradition with colophons from later poets and with collector seals.
Zhu tells that he is ill, in this seventh year of Chunxi (1180 in our calendar), but his disciples understand that the disease is mainly the empathy of the philosopher with the inhabitants of Jiangnan who are victims of a terrible drought.
This outstanding autograph poem is estimated $ 1.5 M.
POST SALE COMMENT
It was a good opportunity to remember a great philosopher of the ancient times. The poem was sold $ 1.76 million including premium.
Zhu Xi was one of the foremost among the masters who enriched and transmitted the thought of Confucius. Under the Song dynasty, he offered a rationalist approach that was a revolution in its time, but he managed to impose it.
In China, a writer must also be a calligrapher. Zhu was one of the best. His handwriting is unique, balanced and energetic, the line is broad and powerful.
Occasionally, he wrote poems in wide characters. Signed and dedicated, a handscroll is for sale on September 15 at Christie's in New York, lot 817. 34 cm high, over 1 meter long, it contains 102 of the 150 characters of a travel poem, enriched according to the tradition with colophons from later poets and with collector seals.
Zhu tells that he is ill, in this seventh year of Chunxi (1180 in our calendar), but his disciples understand that the disease is mainly the empathy of the philosopher with the inhabitants of Jiangnan who are victims of a terrible drought.
This outstanding autograph poem is estimated $ 1.5 M.
POST SALE COMMENT
It was a good opportunity to remember a great philosopher of the ancient times. The poem was sold $ 1.76 million including premium.
< Yuan - The Master of Chinese Calligraphy
2010 SOLD 308 M RMB yuan including premium
China Guardian prepares the sales of 20 to 23 November, to be held in Beijing. The auction house devotes a whole release to a Chinese treasure.
This is a poem by Wang Xizhi, on the theme of a security wish. This sheet has been separated into two pieces in ancient times, and the part presented for sale contains 4 lines on a surface of 24.7 x 13.9 cm.
Wang lived 1,650 years ago, under the Jin dynasty. He is considered as the leading innovator of calligraphy, because he departed from existing models to change calligraphy into an art.
The Chinese emperors ever attached a high importance to calligraphy. I do not know whether the specimen for sale is actually an autograph, but it is not later than the Song and its cursive script is much in the style of Wang.
The auction house checked its provenance up to the time of the Yuan, who preceded the Ming. Later, under the Qing dynasty, Qianlong inscribed this manuscript twice. He considered it as important, same as a script by the same author on the subject of the sunshine after heavy snow that was in the Imperial Collection.
POST SALE COMMENT
This piece of calligraphy has reached a very high price consistent with its prestige: 308 million yuan. The estimate, which was not published, appears to have been much lower since the bidding was started at 55 million yuan. This result just below the price of the Song calligraphy sold by Poly in June (390 million yuan excluding fees) is logical, however.
The prices published by this auction house in their list of results include premium. The result released by the press at 308 million yuan includes premium.
308 million yuan are worth U.S. $ 46.4 M.
This is a poem by Wang Xizhi, on the theme of a security wish. This sheet has been separated into two pieces in ancient times, and the part presented for sale contains 4 lines on a surface of 24.7 x 13.9 cm.
Wang lived 1,650 years ago, under the Jin dynasty. He is considered as the leading innovator of calligraphy, because he departed from existing models to change calligraphy into an art.
The Chinese emperors ever attached a high importance to calligraphy. I do not know whether the specimen for sale is actually an autograph, but it is not later than the Song and its cursive script is much in the style of Wang.
The auction house checked its provenance up to the time of the Yuan, who preceded the Ming. Later, under the Qing dynasty, Qianlong inscribed this manuscript twice. He considered it as important, same as a script by the same author on the subject of the sunshine after heavy snow that was in the Imperial Collection.
POST SALE COMMENT
This piece of calligraphy has reached a very high price consistent with its prestige: 308 million yuan. The estimate, which was not published, appears to have been much lower since the bidding was started at 55 million yuan. This result just below the price of the Song calligraphy sold by Poly in June (390 million yuan excluding fees) is logical, however.
The prices published by this auction house in their list of results include premium. The result released by the press at 308 million yuan includes premium.
308 million yuan are worth U.S. $ 46.4 M.
1345 The Lotus Sutra
2016 SOLD for HK$ 31.6M including premium
The Lotus Sutra is a fundamental text of Mahayana Buddhism, announcing the eternal nature of Buddha and defining the bodhisattvas. Translated into Chinese, it is the basis of the teaching of Buddhism in the Far East. All living beings can attain the quality of a bodhisattva. The white lotus is an immaculate flower that manages to thrive while having its root in the mud.
On May 30 in Hong Kong, Sotheby's sells as lot 368 a set of seven calligraphic albums 32 x 22 cm with fifty to sixty leaves each, constituting the whole of this sutra in the translation of Kumarajiva which was one of the earliest. Its writing in gold on dark blue paper displays an extreme luxury. The seventh album is dated to the fifth year of the Zhizheng period corresponding to 1345 in our calendar.
Under the Mongolian Yuan dynasty, Buddhism has almost the rank of an official religion in China. Zhizheng is the fourth era of the reign of Toghon Temür. Korea was a vassal state of the Yuan. Its king belonged to the Goryeo Dynasty.
The 28th Goryeo king had ceased to please the powerful Emperor of China, but all hopes were placed in his eldest son pushed to the throne in 1344 at the age of six. The Sutra manuscript was certainly prepared for the use of the young prince who died after a reign of four years.
On May 30 in Hong Kong, Sotheby's sells as lot 368 a set of seven calligraphic albums 32 x 22 cm with fifty to sixty leaves each, constituting the whole of this sutra in the translation of Kumarajiva which was one of the earliest. Its writing in gold on dark blue paper displays an extreme luxury. The seventh album is dated to the fifth year of the Zhizheng period corresponding to 1345 in our calendar.
Under the Mongolian Yuan dynasty, Buddhism has almost the rank of an official religion in China. Zhizheng is the fourth era of the reign of Toghon Temür. Korea was a vassal state of the Yuan. Its king belonged to the Goryeo Dynasty.
The 28th Goryeo king had ceased to please the powerful Emperor of China, but all hopes were placed in his eldest son pushed to the throne in 1344 at the age of six. The Sutra manuscript was certainly prepared for the use of the young prince who died after a reign of four years.
1430 Imperial Wisdom
2018 SOLD for HK$ 240M including premium
The calligraphy of the Sutras of Mahayana Buddhism is an act of piety welcomed for education and enlightenment. When the patron or the user is an emperor, the manuscript reaches a luxury unmatched in its class.
A gold ink on dark blue paper is sumptuous. A Lotus Sutra handwritten in 1345 CE for the education of a child emperor of Korea was sold for HK $ 31.6M including premium by Sotheby's on May 30, 2016. The lot consisted of seven big albums.
Buddhism is essential for the consolidation of the Ming dynasty. After the death of the warrior emperor Yongle, his Buddhist advisers organize a period of peace. The very short reign of the Hongxi emperor initiates the necessary reforms. His son the Xuande emperor can satisfy his artistic talents and grant to Buddhism a preference devoid from political intents.
During the fifth year of his reign, 1430 CE, Xuande commissioned an Elder of the State named Huijin to calligraphy four great Sutras. The paper is covered with dark indigo ink mixed with goat brain. This thick, brilliant and strong layer allows the gold to stay on the surface without diffusing into the paper fibers. This biological constituent is an emulsifier similar to egg white in the tempera paint.
All the four Sutras are realized. Two are kept at the National Palace Museum in Taipei. The third was probably early lost in a fire after being presented to a monastery founded with Xuande's sponsorship.
Two cases containing five consecutive albums each from the Sutra of transcendent wisdom or prajnaparamita have survived. In addition to the calligraphy, the work includes illustrations in thin gold lines of Buddhist, imperial and esoteric figures including Buddhas, dragons and demons. This set will be sold by Sotheby's in Hong Kong on April 3, lot 101. The rest of this very long Sutra is lost.
Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's.
A gold ink on dark blue paper is sumptuous. A Lotus Sutra handwritten in 1345 CE for the education of a child emperor of Korea was sold for HK $ 31.6M including premium by Sotheby's on May 30, 2016. The lot consisted of seven big albums.
Buddhism is essential for the consolidation of the Ming dynasty. After the death of the warrior emperor Yongle, his Buddhist advisers organize a period of peace. The very short reign of the Hongxi emperor initiates the necessary reforms. His son the Xuande emperor can satisfy his artistic talents and grant to Buddhism a preference devoid from political intents.
During the fifth year of his reign, 1430 CE, Xuande commissioned an Elder of the State named Huijin to calligraphy four great Sutras. The paper is covered with dark indigo ink mixed with goat brain. This thick, brilliant and strong layer allows the gold to stay on the surface without diffusing into the paper fibers. This biological constituent is an emulsifier similar to egg white in the tempera paint.
All the four Sutras are realized. Two are kept at the National Palace Museum in Taipei. The third was probably early lost in a fire after being presented to a monastery founded with Xuande's sponsorship.
Two cases containing five consecutive albums each from the Sutra of transcendent wisdom or prajnaparamita have survived. In addition to the calligraphy, the work includes illustrations in thin gold lines of Buddhist, imperial and esoteric figures including Buddhas, dragons and demons. This set will be sold by Sotheby's in Hong Kong on April 3, lot 101. The rest of this very long Sutra is lost.
Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's.
Kangxi - Qing Calligraphies
2009 SOLD 6.5 M RMB yuan including premium
PRE SALE DISCUSSION
Calligraphy has certainly started at the same time as writing, of which the oldest known examples exceed five millennia. This is less an archaeological than a logical argument. To be understood, which is the purpose of writing, it is best to write neatly and nicely.
Thus, the calligraphy is an ancient major art. In countries that use an alphabet with few letters, this art has fallen into disuse after the invention of printing. As against, for our greatest pleasure, Islamic and Chinese calligraphies continued to prosper.
In China, writing is linking all ethnic groups. Each sign represents a word, which is expressed verbally in different ways depending on the region. For this reason, the emperors themselves expressed with calligraphies. On May 28 at Beijing, Poly Auction sell fifteen of these works, created by eight emperors of the Qing dynasty.
The most beautiful, estimated 800 KRMB, is a tablet of silk 49 x 122 cm in three parts, each part being centered by an elegant thick sign in black ink, about 40 cm high. The Kangxi emperor released this message: "Be honest, be cautious, be diligent." This is good advice, still valid after three centuries!
POST SALE COMMENT
The estimate of 800 KRMB for a beautiful calligraphy from the hand of the Emperor seemed however very low.
Here is the result: 6.5 MRMB (about 650 K €) including fees.
The next lot of the same sale, a calligraphy of Yong Zheng, sold 4.7 MRMB inclusive.
Calligraphy has certainly started at the same time as writing, of which the oldest known examples exceed five millennia. This is less an archaeological than a logical argument. To be understood, which is the purpose of writing, it is best to write neatly and nicely.
Thus, the calligraphy is an ancient major art. In countries that use an alphabet with few letters, this art has fallen into disuse after the invention of printing. As against, for our greatest pleasure, Islamic and Chinese calligraphies continued to prosper.
In China, writing is linking all ethnic groups. Each sign represents a word, which is expressed verbally in different ways depending on the region. For this reason, the emperors themselves expressed with calligraphies. On May 28 at Beijing, Poly Auction sell fifteen of these works, created by eight emperors of the Qing dynasty.
The most beautiful, estimated 800 KRMB, is a tablet of silk 49 x 122 cm in three parts, each part being centered by an elegant thick sign in black ink, about 40 cm high. The Kangxi emperor released this message: "Be honest, be cautious, be diligent." This is good advice, still valid after three centuries!
POST SALE COMMENT
The estimate of 800 KRMB for a beautiful calligraphy from the hand of the Emperor seemed however very low.
Here is the result: 6.5 MRMB (about 650 K €) including fees.
The next lot of the same sale, a calligraphy of Yong Zheng, sold 4.7 MRMB inclusive.
< 1745 The Poem of the Ten Stones
2012 SOLD 70 MHK$ including premium
In China, the best literary and artistic works transcend time. The emperors themselves have contributed over the centuries to transmit and highlight the most outstanding of them.
A scroll of Qianlong period, for sale by Sotheby's in Hong Kong on October 9, finds its cultural roots in the deepest ages.
The Shaanxi province is considered as one of the cradles of Chinese culture. About 2500 years ago, Qin scribes have engraved in granite short poems on the themes of fishing, hunting and war.
The discovery during the Tang dynasty, 1200 years ago, of a group of ten drum-shaped carved poem-sculptures created an intense cultural emotion, an evidence of the importance that the Chinese already granted to their past. Even more amazing: the Chinese science was already the subject of publications. The Confucian philosopher Han Yu is one of those who wrote texts in tribute to the ten stones, the Shigu ge.
Now jump nine centuries. Zhang Zhao is a poor minister but a recognized scholar and Qianlong, rather than having him executed after a failed mission, sends him back to his beloved studies. This is probably after this incident that he copied the Shigu ge of Han Yu.
Zhang died suddenly during the tenth year of the reign of Qianlong. The Emperor continued to admire above all the cursive calligraphy of Zhang.
During the gengxu year, the 55th of his reign, 1790 of our calendar, Qianlong ordered to preserve the text of the ten stones threatened by abrasion and renewed his interest in the Shigu ge of Zhang. He added a preface and inked the mark of 33 imperial seals attesting to all the reasons of his admiration for this scroll.
The Shigu ge is 55 cm high and 7.90 m long, extended by the frontispiece of the emperor, 46 x 103 cm. This scroll is estimated HK $ 50M. Here is the link to the catalog.
POST SALE COMMENT
This very precious and remarkably documented calligraphy was sold HK $ 70M including premium.
A scroll of Qianlong period, for sale by Sotheby's in Hong Kong on October 9, finds its cultural roots in the deepest ages.
The Shaanxi province is considered as one of the cradles of Chinese culture. About 2500 years ago, Qin scribes have engraved in granite short poems on the themes of fishing, hunting and war.
The discovery during the Tang dynasty, 1200 years ago, of a group of ten drum-shaped carved poem-sculptures created an intense cultural emotion, an evidence of the importance that the Chinese already granted to their past. Even more amazing: the Chinese science was already the subject of publications. The Confucian philosopher Han Yu is one of those who wrote texts in tribute to the ten stones, the Shigu ge.
Now jump nine centuries. Zhang Zhao is a poor minister but a recognized scholar and Qianlong, rather than having him executed after a failed mission, sends him back to his beloved studies. This is probably after this incident that he copied the Shigu ge of Han Yu.
Zhang died suddenly during the tenth year of the reign of Qianlong. The Emperor continued to admire above all the cursive calligraphy of Zhang.
During the gengxu year, the 55th of his reign, 1790 of our calendar, Qianlong ordered to preserve the text of the ten stones threatened by abrasion and renewed his interest in the Shigu ge of Zhang. He added a preface and inked the mark of 33 imperial seals attesting to all the reasons of his admiration for this scroll.
The Shigu ge is 55 cm high and 7.90 m long, extended by the frontispiece of the emperor, 46 x 103 cm. This scroll is estimated HK $ 50M. Here is the link to the catalog.
POST SALE COMMENT
This very precious and remarkably documented calligraphy was sold HK $ 70M including premium.
1773 Calligraphy Scrolls by the Qianlong Emperor
2014 SOLD for RMB yuan 116M including premium by Poly
Link to press release (not illustrated)
1782 Imperial Learning
2011 SOLD 205 K$ including premium
PRE SALE DISCUSSION
Qianlong was not just a patron of the arts. This universal mind was also interested in all knowledge.
A coherent set of ten gray-green jade tablets reminds in incised characters a visit of the Emperor at the library of the Wenshuoge pavilion in 1782 of our calendar. The back of the plaques is decorated with golden dragons.
At that date, the great Siku Quanshu encyclopedia is in progress. It will include 3,500 articles covering 79,000 chapters divided in four categories of learning: the classics, history, philosophy and literature. Seven libraries including Wenshuoge received a copy.
24x10 cm in size, the tablets are kept in a precious box adorned with a yellow silk brocade. The lot is estimated $200K, for sale by Freeman's in Philadelphia on September 10.
Guided by Freeman's catalog, I found a lot of two tablets of similar design, 13 x 29 cm, sold for $ 300K including premium by Sotheby's on March 23, 2011 from an estimate of $ 30K. Dated from gengxu year, 1790 of our calendar, they are devoted to a philosophical thought of the emperor.
Qianlong was not just a patron of the arts. This universal mind was also interested in all knowledge.
A coherent set of ten gray-green jade tablets reminds in incised characters a visit of the Emperor at the library of the Wenshuoge pavilion in 1782 of our calendar. The back of the plaques is decorated with golden dragons.
At that date, the great Siku Quanshu encyclopedia is in progress. It will include 3,500 articles covering 79,000 chapters divided in four categories of learning: the classics, history, philosophy and literature. Seven libraries including Wenshuoge received a copy.
24x10 cm in size, the tablets are kept in a precious box adorned with a yellow silk brocade. The lot is estimated $200K, for sale by Freeman's in Philadelphia on September 10.
Guided by Freeman's catalog, I found a lot of two tablets of similar design, 13 x 29 cm, sold for $ 300K including premium by Sotheby's on March 23, 2011 from an estimate of $ 30K. Dated from gengxu year, 1790 of our calendar, they are devoted to a philosophical thought of the emperor.
