Live Auction 20849Important Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art
A RARE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL MODEL OF A PARROT AND STAND
Lot 3058THE ROBERT CHANG COLLECTION

A RARE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL MODEL OF A PARROT AND STAND

QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY

Closed29 November 2022

Estimate

HKD 1,000,000–1,800,000

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A RARE CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL MODEL OF A PARROT AND STAND
QING DYNASTY, 18TH CENTURY
The parrot is naturalistically modelled with eyes inset with glass beads. The red and turquoise feathers of the body are finely depicted and the wings are infilled with green, blue, and black enamels. The bird is perched on a T-shaped stand decorated with scrolling foliage and finished with patterned gilt-bronze terminals. The square base of the stand is elaborately decorated with stylised lotus scrolls, supported on four ruyi-shaped feet.
9 1/4 in. (23.5 cm.) high overall

The Property of a Scottish Gentleman, sold at Christie’s London, 7 November 2017, lot 111

Specialist note

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.