18TH-19TH CENTURY

Details

A CARVED BAMBOO POEM SLIP CONTAINER
18TH-19TH CENTURY
The slender container is raised on three low feet, the sides are well carved in liuqing technique with a moonlit scene of two cranes standing on either side of a rushing stream beside a large rock that partially obscures bamboo and flowering prunus branches that extend behind a towering pine tree with lingzhi growing near its base, the moon above is partially hidden by trailing clouds.
4 ¾ in. (12.1 cm.) high

Provenance

Private collection, Germany.
Nagel Auktionen, Stuttgart, 'From the Scholar's Studio, 88 Objects for Use and Inspiration', 6 June 2005, lot 239.
Private collection, America, 2005-2013.
Nicholas Grindley, London, June 2014.

Literature

Grindley, N., June 2014, London, no. 8.

Brought to you by

Olivia Hamilton

asianartny@christies.com +1 212 636 2180

Lot Essay

The scene on this poem slip container is filled with symbols of longevity which are associated with birthday gifts and congratulations. Pine, bamboo and prunus are known as the 'Three Friends of Winter', as both bamboo and pine are evergreens and prunus or plum is the first tree to bloom each year, and all are known to last a long time. The pine (song) and cranes (he) together also symbolize longevity, and the pine tree (song), bamboo (zhu), rock (shoushi) and fungus (lingzhi) together represent the wish 'May the aged pine honor you with longevity (songling gongshou).

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