MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)

Details

AN IVORY COURT TABLET, HU
MING DYNASTY (1368-1644)
The long arched tablet is of tapering form, and the ivory ranges from a warm caramel colour to a paler honey tone.
19¼ in. (48.9 cm.) long

Provenance

Sold at Bonhams London, 3 December 1997, lot 29.

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

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Lot Essay

In Gerard Hawthorn Ltd Oriental Art's exhibition catalogue Oriental Works of Art, 1997, the London dealer notes their 19 3/8 in. (49.2 cm.) high hu is one of the largest court tablets the firm has ever handled. This example is just fractionally smaller.
The exhibition catalogue also states that the author Yang Boda, writes that ivory hu were used by Ming dynasty officials of the first to the fifth rank.

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