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† A FUJIAN ‘IMITATION-BRONZE’ LACQUERED WOOD GROUP DEPICTING LAN CAIHE AND CAO GUOJIU, 19TH CENTURY
奥地利
06月27日 下午5点 开拍
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Description

? A FUJIAN ‘IMITATION-BRONZE’ LACQUERED WOOD GROUP DEPICTING LAN CAIHE AND CAO GUOJIU, 19TH CENTURY

China. Cleverly lacquered to simulate various metals, the seated Lan Caihe holding a flower basket aloft, accompanied by Cao Guojiu who stands in a dynamic pose, one leg before the other, cradling a set of castanets in his hands, all raised on a greenish bronze-colored stand in the form of craggy rocks, separated by a large stem of lingzhi.

Provenance: The private collection of Jules Speelman, London, United Kingdom. Sotheby’s London, 1 November 2023, lot 253, estimate GBP 3,000 or approx. EUR 3,700 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Jules Speelman, a world-renowned dealer and collector of East Asian art, has over 60 years of experience. He joined his late father, Alfred, in 1964, continuing a family business that dates back three generations to 19th-century Holland and later expanded to England. Originally dealing in European antiques, A & J Speelman gradually shifted its focus to Asian art, particularly figurative sculpture and works of art from the past 2,000 years. Under Jules Speelman’s direction, the firm is now among the foremost in the field. In 2024, the 28-lot sale of the Jules Speelman Collection at Bonhams totaled €15.2 million, far exceeding its €4.2 million estimate. Asaph Hyman, Global Head of Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art at Bonhams, praised Speelman as “one of the greatest and most respected dealers and collectors,” renowned for his keen eye for rarity and quality.
Condition: Good condition with wear and natural imperfections. Small losses and some chips to the extremities. Minor losses to the gilt and flaking to the lacquer. Small old repairs.

Weight: 651 g
Dimensions: Size 24.7 cm x 23 cm

Imbued with utmost spirituality and dynamism, these figures showcase the outstanding workmanship of Fujian lacquer craftsmen. They depict two of the Eight Immortals in the Daoist pantheon, Lan Caihe and Cao Guojiu.

Lan Caihe, whose emblem is a basket of flowers, is considered the patron of florists and gardeners, and is the only one of the Eight Immortals whose gender is ambiguous. Lan is not generally thought to be based on a historical person, but is traditionally said to have been born sometime during the Tang dynasty, and lived as a homeless street entertainer, who wandered all over China, singing philosophical songs.

Cao Guojiu, literally ‘Imperial Brother-in-law Cao’, is believed to be a descendant of Cao Bin, a general of the early Song dynasty, and a younger brother of Empress Cao, the wife of Emperor Renzong of the Song dynasty. Cao's younger brother, Cao Jingzhi, abused his relationship with the imperial family by bullying others and engaging in corrupt practices. Cao tried to persuade his brother to change his ways but he did not listen. In the meantime, he also used his family fortune to help the poor and tried to make up for his brother's misdeeds. One day, Cao Jingzhi was accused by other officials in the imperial court of corruption and abuse of power. Cao Guojiu felt so ashamed and disappointed by his brother's misconduct that he gave up his official career and went to the countryside to lead a reclusive life. During this time, he met the immortals Zhongli Quan and Lu Dongbin, who taught him Daoist magical arts. After many years of practice and cultivation, Cao himself also became an immortal.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s London, 12 July 2005, lot 134
Price: GBP 8,400 or approx. EUR 20,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: An unusual imitation-bronze lacquer figure of Guanyin, Fujian, 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related technique and related subject. Note the size (25.5 cm).



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价格信息

拍品估价:500 - 1,000 欧元 起拍价格:500 欧元  买家佣金: 35.00%

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