Audio (English): A Magnificent and Very Rare Pair of Large Imperial Zitan Lantern Stands and Zitan and Softwood Lanterns, Tiao Gan Deng Jia
Audio (Chinese): A Magnificent and Very Rare Pair of Large Imperial Zitan Lantern Stands and Zitan and Softwood Lanterns, Tiao Gan Deng Jia
A MAGNIFICENT AND VERY RARE PAIR OF LARGE IMPERIAL ZITAN LANTERN STANDS AND ZITAN AND SOFTWOOD LANTERNS, TIAO GAN DENG JIA
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PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA COLLECTION
A MAGNIFICENT AND VERY RARE PAIR OF LARGE IMPERIAL ZITAN LANTERN STANDS AND ZITAN AND SOFTWOOD LANTERNS, TIAO GAN DENG JIA

18TH CENTURY

Details
A MAGNIFICENT AND VERY RARE PAIR OF LARGE IMPERIAL ZITAN LANTERN STANDS AND ZITAN AND SOFTWOOD LANTERNS, TIAO GAN DENG JIA
18TH CENTURY
Each zitan lantern stand constructed from a square, heavily weighted plinth, the waist carved with interlocked scroll centred by a small floret, between borders of ruyi heads and above the shaped aprons carved with further ruyi heads repeated on the short, cabriole feet, each plinth surmounted by zitan vase-form supports finely carved with a 'cracked'-ice pattern and continuous borders of ruyi heads, flanked by upright 'tassled' ruyi scepter-form spandrels, the vases issuing tall, cylindrical zitan poles with elaborately carved phoenix-form terminals, each suspending a two-part zitan and painted and lacquered softwood lantern of octagonal form inset with finely painted glass panels depicting scenes of boys at play and garden settings, framed by gilt borders and a carvedopenwork ground, each lantern suspending silk tassels from silk brocade aprons
102 in. (259 cm.) high, 16 7/8 in. (42.7 cm.) square overall (2)
Provenance
Bela Lugosi (1882-1956) Collection.

Brought to you by

Christopher Engle
Christopher Engle

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Lot Essay

This magnificent pair of zitan lantern stands and zitan and softwood lanterns was once in the collection of the legendary actor Bela Lugosi (1882-1956), famous for his role in the 1931 movie Dracula. In gratitude for a long friendship and years of assistance, the present pair of lanterns was gifted to the grandmother of the present owner in the 1950s, shortly prior to Lugosi's death, and have remained in the family home ever since.

These types of imperial lantern stands and lanterns would certainly have been amongst the lavish Palace furnishings of the early-mid 18th century. They are superb examples, owing to their size, style and quality of carving, and substantial use of precious zitan. This may also suggest a date of Yongzheng or early Qianlong period, as such refinement is not often seen on later examples. The present pair of lantern stands is very similar to another zitan lantern stand preserved in the Palace Museum, illustrated in Ming Qing Gong Ting Jia Ju Da Guan, Beijing, 2006, pp. 392-93, no. 413, where it is dated to the middle Qing period. (Fig. 1). Both the present pair and the illustrated example feature phoenix-form terminals, cylindrical centre sections, and vase-shaped bases on square plinths. However, the Palace lantern stand, while supporting a slightly more elaborate lantern, is less elaborate in its carved ornamentation.

Lantern stands and lanterns of this kind were used to illuminate one of the myriad rooms in the Palace. See, for example, the pair of closely related lanterns suspended above and flanking a zitan throne chair in the Chang Chun Gong (Hall of Eternal Spring) in the Forbidden City, illustrated in Palaces of the Forbidden City, New York, 1984, p. 104. In the same image, also flanking the above mentioned throne, one can see a pair of feather ornaments on similartall zitan pole supports and bases, and it is quite possible that the present pair of lantern stands and lanterns were intended to be used in similar fashion, flanking a large throne chair in one of the Palace chambers.

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