Lot Essay
For a larger ivory tusk dating to c.1850 in the Peabody Museum carved with a landscape and figurative scene see Carl L Crossman, The China Trade, Suffolk, 1991, colour plate 105, p305.
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CIRCA 1820
Details
A LARGE CARVED AND PIERCED IVORY TUSK
Circa 1820
The tusk is intricately carved with scenes from Chinese legend; the main decoration depicts an animated battle scene from The Legend of the White Snake in which White Snake, Bai Su Zhen leads a charge of armed sea spirits emerging out of shells, riding on the backs of crabs, fish and turtles and racing towards two monks standing before the gateway of the Jin Shan Si temple, two heavenly warriors on clouds are carved above the roof of the upper temple at the foot of mountains; the reverse is peopled to the upper section with a monk, warriors, and a standard bearer carrying a flag below the Shao Guan city gate, the lower section is carved with the same monk attending rams, the ivory is of a creamy buff tone.
The tusk 28 in. (71.1 cm.) long, carved and pierced wood stand
Circa 1820
The tusk is intricately carved with scenes from Chinese legend; the main decoration depicts an animated battle scene from The Legend of the White Snake in which White Snake, Bai Su Zhen leads a charge of armed sea spirits emerging out of shells, riding on the backs of crabs, fish and turtles and racing towards two monks standing before the gateway of the Jin Shan Si temple, two heavenly warriors on clouds are carved above the roof of the upper temple at the foot of mountains; the reverse is peopled to the upper section with a monk, warriors, and a standard bearer carrying a flag below the Shao Guan city gate, the lower section is carved with the same monk attending rams, the ivory is of a creamy buff tone.
The tusk 28 in. (71.1 cm.) long, carved and pierced wood stand
Provenance
Acquired by the vendor's grandfather in the Far East in the early 20th century and thence by descent in the family.
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.
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