17TH CENTURY

Details

AN UNUSUAL SOAPSTONE CARVING OF TWO FENGHUANG
17TH CENTURY
The caramel-brown soapstone finely carved in the form of two fenghuang, one reclining with its head turned to look up at the other perched above on a large cluster of lingzhi, its head turned back to return the gaze, both with long tails partially obscuring the rocky base
2½ in. (6.3 cm.) long

Provenance

Sydney L. Moss Ltd., 1983.

Lot Essay

This variety of soapstone appears to be lianjianghuang, or 'lotus-river yellow', which bears a resemblance to tianhuang soapstone from Shoushan. Although rarer than tianhuang, it is surprisingly less sought after. A seal carved from what appears to be the same variety of soapstone with a similar fenghuang perched on a cluster of lingzhi, possibly by the same hand as the present piece, was sold at Christie's, London, 19 February 1986, lot 359.

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