China, 1820-1920. The Emperor seated cross-legged on an intricately carved dragon throne, wearing a dragon robe and a long, beaded necklace as well as a finely incised headdress. The ivory carving is mounted on a fitted hardwood base with incised and silver-inlaid scroll motifs. (2)
Condition: Good condition with some wear, minor age cracks, small chips and losses, slight warping. Provenance: Koller Auktionen, Zürich, May 2011. An old French private collection, acquired from the above. A copy of the original invoice accompanies this lot.
CITES: This lot is accompanied by a copy of a CITES re-export certificate associated with the aforementioned auction purchase, Certificate Number 11CH049554, issued on May 31 2011, expired 29 November 2011, stamped and signed by the Swiss CITES Management Authority.
Weight: 1,480 g in total Dimensions: Height 23.5 cm (the figure) and 27.5 cm (incl. base)
The queue hairstyle indicates that this must be a Qing dynasty emperor (the queue being the traditional hairstyle of the Manchu ruling class), while the beard and facial features are clearly those of the Yongzheng Emperor.
The Yongzheng Emperor (13 December 1678 – 8 October 1735), born Yinzhen, was the fifth Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the third Qing emperor to rule over China proper, reigned from 1722 to 1735. A hard-working ruler, the Yongzheng Emperor’s main goal was to create an effective government at minimal expense. Like his father, the Kangxi Emperor, the Yongzheng Emperor used military force to preserve the dynasty’s position. His reign was known for being efficient and vigorous. Even late into the Qing dynasty, he remained a very popular Emperor as his era was a period of peace and prosperity.
Auction result comparison: Compare with a related pair of slightly larger figures, depicting an Emperor and Empress, sold by Bonham’s London (New Bond Street) in Export and Decorative Art of the China Trade on 9 March 2004, lot 123, for GBP £11,950.
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