A LARGE ZITAN ‘IMMORTALS’ BRUSH POT, BITONG, CHINA, 18TH CENTURY

Expert’s note:
This brush pot is finely carved in a manner that closely adheres to the Imperial language of the mid-18th century, including crashing waves, layered rockwork issuing lingzhi, and densely scrolling clouds. Furthermore, it is made from Zitan wood, a material that was highly prized during this period.

Of cylindrical form, the exterior deeply carved in low relief with Li Tieguai balancing on his crutch and holding a calabash gourd, Liu Hai riding his three-legged toad, the He-He twins skimming and rafting over crashing waves, and Shoulao riding a crane, all amid craggy rockwork issuing lingzhi mushrooms and below thick swirling clouds. The Zitan wood of an attractive grain with characteristic crab’s claw marks and a rich, dark burgundy color.


Provenance
: From an English private collection.

Condition
: Very good condition with expected old wear, resulting in a naturally-grown lustrous patina overall. Expected age cracks, tiny nicks and losses, and light scratches. The base with extensive wear and larger age cracks.

Weight: 3,015 g
Dimensions: Height 21.4 cm, Diameter 24.5 cm


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s London, 10 May 2011, lot 171
Price: GBP 12,500 or approx.
EUR 23,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large carved zitan brushpot
Expert remark: Compare the related form and manner of carving, albeit depicting the Eighteen Luohan. Note the slightly smaller diameter (19.4 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Bonhams San Francisco, 15 December 2009, lot 8203
Price: USD 19,520 or approx.
EUR 25,500
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A Zitan brush pot, Bitong, 19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related form and manner of carving, albeit arguably more simplistic and depicting scholars. Note the 19th century dating for the brush pot and the slightly shorter height (17.1 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 3 December 2021, lot 3060
Price: HKD 1,875,000 or approx.
EUR 225,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A superbly carved Zitan ‘River Landscape’ brushpot, Qianlong period
Expert remark: Compare the related form. Note the smaller size (14.5 cm).

This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.




十八世紀大型紫檀仙人筆筒

圓柱體，外壁深浮雕，拄拐杖拿著葫蘆的李鐵拐、騎三足蟾蜍的劉海、驚濤駭浪中的和合二仙、騎鶴的壽老。福山壽海，靈芝祥雲。紫檀木紋理迷人，典型的蟹爪紋和濃鬱的深酒紅色。


來源：
英國私人收藏。

品相：
狀況極好，有磨損，整體自然包漿。預期的老化裂紋、微小的刻痕和損失以及輕微的劃痕。底座大面積磨損和較大的年代裂縫。

重量：3,015 克
尺寸：高 21.4 厘米, 直徑 24.5 厘米


拍賣結果比較：


形制：非常相近
拍賣：倫敦佳士得，2011年5月10日， lot 171
價格：GBP 12,500（相當於今日
EUR 23,500
）
描述：紫檀筆筒
專家評論：比較相近的外形、雕刻風格，以及呈現十八羅漢。請注意直徑 (19.4 釐米)稍小。


拍賣結果比較：


形制：非常相近
拍賣：舊金山邦瀚斯，2009年12月15日，lot 8203
價格：USD 19,520（相當於今日
EUR 25,500
）
描述：十九世紀紫檀筆筒
專家評論：比較相近的外形、雕刻風格，以及呈現學者圖。請注意此筆筒為十九世紀，高度較低 (17.1 釐米)。


拍賣結果比較：


形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港佳士得，2021年12月3日，lot 3060
價格：HKD 1,875,000（相當於今日
EUR 225,000
）
描述：清乾隆方琮款紫檀淺刻山水人物圖筆筒
專家評論：比較相近的外形。請注意尺寸較小 (14.5 釐米)。