明末/清十八世紀 黃花梨胡人牽象圖臂擱

This rare clip is related to other examples that are carved from bamboo rather than huanghuali. All of the published examples have been dated to the 17th century and the hinged clip is surrounded by rockwork. Two were included in the Hong Kong Museum of Art exhibition, Chinese Bamboo Carving, Part I, 1982, no. 22, from the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art and no. 23, from the collection of Dr. Ip Yee. Two others were included in Part II of Chinese Bamboo Carving, 1982: no. 41, with a bamboo clip and zitan base, signed Sansong, from the collection of Dr. S.W. Kwan, and no. 41, from the collection of Feng-lo Chu-jen.