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拍品專文
The creature here is probably intended as a dragon-carp, the symbol of a candidate passing the metropolitan examinations and qualifying as an official. This mythical creature and its symbolism are based upon observation of Yellow River carp swimming upstream and leaping over the falls at the ‘Dragon gate’ (Longmen), a particularly arduous task following a long, upriver journey, hence symbolising the final triumph of the student. The carp is thought to be transformed into a dragon, while the student becomes a scholar, qualifying automatically for official service. As a rule, such dragon-carp would be expected to have two horns, but such details are flexible in mythical expression and the head here is sufficiently dragon-like with or without two horns to carry the required symbolism.
Compare to a bottle in the same material, but in the form of a carp, also with rather impractical protruding detail and probably from the same school of carving, sold at Christie’s London, 12 October 1987, lot 356.
Compare to a bottle in the same material, but in the form of a carp, also with rather impractical protruding detail and probably from the same school of carving, sold at Christie’s London, 12 October 1987, lot 356.