DAOGUANG (1821-50)

Details

AN IMPERIAL IVORY LABEL TABLET
DAOGUANG (1821-50)
The circular tablet surmounted by a shallow relief dragon flange pierced at the top and surrounded by six double vajra, inscribed on one side with an inscription in regular script, and on the reverse with a Manchu inscription, traces of original gilt and polychrome remaining
4 5/8 in. (11.8 cm.) long

Provenance

Rev. Victior Farmer

Literature

Arts of the Ch'ing Dynasty, London, 1964, plate 37, no. 88

Exhibited

Oriental Ceramic Society Exhibition, Arts of the Ch'ing Dynasty, 1964, no. 88

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Sale room notice

Please note that the date for this lot should read: Daoguang (1821-50)

Lot Essay

The inscription could be translated as:
Key (tablet) for the books of the Grand Emperess Dowager

It is noted in the Oriental Ceramic Society that this tablet possibly belonged to the grandmother of the Daoguang Emperor. It appears that plaques such as the present lot were used in the Imperial storerooms in the Palace to label the location of objects. They were attached to these objects by a cord, such as the example shown in The Forbidden City, Rotterdam, 1990, no. 76, p. 225, which is still tied to the original jade seal it is made for.

Compare also the example sold in our Hong Kong Rooms, 29 April 2002, lot 588; and another sold in these Rooms, 18 June 2002, lot 130

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