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A SMALL AND RARE AMBER PENDANT IN THE FORM OF A RECLINING TIGER, LIAO DYNASTY
奥地利
09月12日 下午5点 开拍 / 09月10日 下午3点 截止委托
拍品描述

Description

A SMALL AND RARE AMBER PENDANT IN THE FORM OF A RECLINING TIGER, LIAO DYNASTY

Northwest China, 916-1125. Finely carved, the feline depicted in a recumbent pose, with its hind legs neatly tucked beneath its body and its forelimbs comfortably extended, crossed one over the other. The tail gracefully swept to one side, while the head slightly raised and turned in the same direction, gazing forward with an attentive expression. The ears laid back against the head, the nose delicately shaped, and the jaws closed. A small perforation present for suspension.

Provenance: Italian private collection, 2015. Collection of Dr. Koos de Jong, acquired from the above. A Dutch art historian and collector, Dr. Koos de Jong has worked across several cultural institutions in the Netherlands from 1976, serving as the director of the European Ceramic Work Center in Den Bosch between 1999-2009, before retiring in 2009. He has authored hundreds of articles and several books on Dutch fine and decorative arts from the Middle Ages to the modern era. His scholarly interests expanded to Chinese material culture, culminating in the 2013 publication of Dragon & Horse: Saddle Rugs and Other Horse Tack from China and Beyond, a pioneering study on Chinese equestrian gear. Continuing this line of inquiry, his more recent book published in 2021, Small China: Early Chinese Miniatures, explores the largely overlooked world of Chinese miniature objects, combining archaeological research with art historical insight.
Condition: One minuscule nick to the back of the figure. Otherwise, excellent condition with only minor wear and natural imperfections.

Weight: 5.3 g
Dimensions: Length 4.0 cm

Amber, known in China as ‘hupo’ or the soul of the tiger, is the fossilized resin of the prehistoric pine ‘Pinus succinafera’ and, like git, is classified among the organic semi-precious stones. From as early as the Shang dynasty, amber was imported from Burma as well as from the Baltic region through Russia, which made it an exceptionally valuable material. Its association with the tiger endowed it with symbolic meanings of courage and health, accounting for its widespread use both as a medicinal substance and as personal adornment. The earliest known amber miniature is a pendant from the Six Dynasties period, although most early examples date from the Liao dynasty onward. These objects primarily consist of pendants and small boxes intended to be suspended from the belt and often depict animals such as tigers, lions, fish, and birds, as well as mythical creatures including dragons and phoenixes.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related small amber figure of a sitting man, China, Yuan dynasty, dated 1279-1368, 3.6 cm high, illustrated in: Koos de Jong, Small China: Early Chinese Miniatures, 2021, p. 130, fig. 107.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 17 September 2008, lot 345
Price: USD 8,750 or approx. EUR 11,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A small amber carving of a recumbent duck, Liao dynasty, 907-1125
Expert remark: Compare the related manner of carving and material. Note the similar size (3.8 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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