TONGZHI-GUANGXU PERIOD (1862-1908)

Details

A LARGE ZITAN-FRAMED INSCRIBED CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL PLAQUE WITH THREE SHEEP
TONGZHI-GUANGXU PERIOD (1862-1908)
The panel depicts a group of two adult sheep, one suckling a lamb, within a rocky landscape below calligraphy in the upper section, all in imitation of a scroll painting by the Qianlong Emperor, with various seals including Tiandi yijia chun. The blue sky is of 'cracked-ice' pattern and the plaque is set within a zitan frame carved with eight tasseled Daoist objects on the sides and square spirals at each corner.
38 ½ in. (97.8 cm.) high, 21 7/8 in. (55.6 cm.) wide

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.

Lot Essay

The motif of the three sheep refers to an auspicious start to the New Year, and originates in the ancient Book of Changes. The composition of the present lot appears to be an imitation of a painting by the Qianlong Emperor dated 1772, now in the collection of the National Palace Museum in Taipei (ref.000762N000000000). The inscription that appears on the painting and the present panel is an essay written by the Qianlong Emperor in the same year, discussing auspiciousness during the New Year celebration. The Qianlong painting is itself a response to a painting by the Ming Emperor Xuande (1426-1435) and also follows a similar group by Giuseppe Castiglione (1688-1766), a Jesuit painter at the Qing court.

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