Alastair Gibson Auctions
Lot 1
Finely carved after a Western Han Dynasty form jade ‘ear’ cup, ‘Jian Guangzhi’, carved with a three column archaic inscription in bronze script to the base, the translucent horn of rich honey and dark-chocolate brown, emanating around the base
Applied paper label dated 20th June 1930
來源 :
H.G. Beasley 私人珍藏
1930年6月20日 標籤
Height: 5cm
Length: 13cm
Width: 8.5cm
Weight: 127g
The inscriptions reads: ‘in the year of the Ram, stone fire, star fire, copy of Han dynasty Jade Jianguang Zhi’.
篆書刻文：“葵末秋日，石火星火土，倣漢玉建光巵”
It is rare to find a dated Rhinoceros horn ear-cup and only six appear to have previously been recorded.
The ‘Jian Guangzhi’ cup (fig.1) is recorded in the Gujin Tushu Jicheng’, known as the Imperial Encyclopedia, written during the reign of the Kangxi and Yongzheng Emperors, begun in 1700 and completed in 1725.
Three signed examples are known by the famous Yangzhou carver, Bao Tiancheng: two from the Angela Chua Collection, both illustrated by T.Fok, Connoisseurship of Rhinoceros Horn Carving in China, Hong Kong, 1999, p.106. no.58 and the third from the Fowler Museum, Los Angeles, was sold at Christie’s London, 7th November 2006, lot 53 for £120,000.
In addition to the three noted above, only two others appear to be published: see T.Fok, ibid., pp.99 and 102, not 51 and 54. The first from the Harvard University Art Museums, dated 16th century, with an inscription which translates as ‘modelled after Han style jades in mid-spring in the cyclical year renshen, with seals Jiyu Gushi; the second dated 17th century, signed You Kan and with a further inscription and another sold at Poly Auction, Beijing, 06/12/2011, lot 520, signed You Kan Gong.
The H.G. Beasley cup adds a seventh to this small and interesting group of archaistic cups, (the only one recorded in bronze script) with their wish to emulate the perceived virtues of antiquity, underscored in the inscription.
Condition ReportThe ‘Jian Guangzhi’ cup has developed a beautiful patina over the years and sits well in the hand. There are two small ‘dents’ to one side, one to the ear itself, and slightly to the left of it, each approx. 3mm. It would appear that one end of the cup has been slightly reduced, where the patina is a slightly lighter colour, however it was done many years ago and the area is well patinated too. The other ear has a few small ‘dents’ too, but nothing significant. The interior with a few minor dents, and some fine age lines to the base.
