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Lot Essay
Though wild parrots and parakeets were native to certain parts of China, they gained popularity in the Tang dynasty and there are records of gifts of exotic parrots from Indonesia and Indochina.
Because of their colourful plumage, their intelligence, and their ability to 'speak', parrots, parakeets and lories have long been admired in China. The parrot is also a symbol of filial piety, featuring in various Buddhist texts, including Guanyin and the Filial Parrot (also known as 'The Precious Scroll of the Parrot' Yingge Baozhuan).
It is likely that the present lot is intended to represent a Fairy Lorikeet (Charmosyna pulchella) or a Chattering Lory (Lorius garrulus), either of which could have been brought to China from Indonesia.
An almost identical but slightly shorter parrot (22 cm. high) was sold at Christie's London, 5 November 2013, lot 280. Compare also with another cloisonné enamel figure of a cockatoo modelled in a similar style, sold at Christie's London, 7 November, 2017, lot 112.
Because of their colourful plumage, their intelligence, and their ability to 'speak', parrots, parakeets and lories have long been admired in China. The parrot is also a symbol of filial piety, featuring in various Buddhist texts, including Guanyin and the Filial Parrot (also known as 'The Precious Scroll of the Parrot' Yingge Baozhuan).
It is likely that the present lot is intended to represent a Fairy Lorikeet (Charmosyna pulchella) or a Chattering Lory (Lorius garrulus), either of which could have been brought to China from Indonesia.
An almost identical but slightly shorter parrot (22 cm. high) was sold at Christie's London, 5 November 2013, lot 280. Compare also with another cloisonné enamel figure of a cockatoo modelled in a similar style, sold at Christie's London, 7 November, 2017, lot 112.