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Lot 236*
A very rare quartz carving of the Hehe Erxian on a 'dragon' boat Qing Dynasty
Amended
16 May 2019, 10:30 BST
London, New Bond Street£8,000 - £12,000
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A very rare quartz carving of the Hehe Erxian on a 'dragon' boat
Qing Dynasty
The boat modelled in the form of a scaly dragon with the powerful head as the prow and the upturned bushy tail as the stern, the hull depicted with Hehe Erxian, one boy holding a box and the other holding a lotus stalk, the third boy in a kneeling position propelling the boat with an oar, each with a jovial expression, all above swirling waves on the underside, wood stand. 16.7cm (6 1/2in) long (2).
The boat modelled in the form of a scaly dragon with the powerful head as the prow and the upturned bushy tail as the stern, the hull depicted with Hehe Erxian, one boy holding a box and the other holding a lotus stalk, the third boy in a kneeling position propelling the boat with an oar, each with a jovial expression, all above swirling waves on the underside, wood stand. 16.7cm (6 1/2in) long (2).
Footnotes
清 晶石雕仙童龍舟船形擺件
Provenance:
A distinguished European private collection, acquired by the grandparents of the present owner and thence by descent
來源：
顯赫歐洲私人收藏，由現藏家祖父母獲得並由其家族繼承
The present lot is superbly carved, cleverly utilising the different natural colours of the translucent quartz stone, with the warm tones differentiating the Immortals and boy from the colder pale green tones of the dragon boat.
The use of this exceptional stone and the subject matter of the Hehe Erxian in a dragon boat is very rare. The Hehe Erxian, known as the Two Immortals of Harmony and Unity, were often represented carrying a lotus and a box. The lotus (he 荷) is a homophone for the words for togetherness (he 合) and harmony (he 和). The Dragon Boat Festival traditionally occurs near the summer solstice, commemorating fealty and filial duty. A boat race is held during the Festival as a re-enactment of a legendary event that happened in Chinese history when people in boats searched for the drowned body of the patriotic statesman Qu Yuan (c.343-277 BC). The race is held annually on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar to commemorate Qu's death, and a loud noise of drums and paddles splashing on water is made to ward evil spirits away. Food is thrown into the water as an offering to distract the fish from eating his body.
See a jade dragon boat, late 18th/ early 19th century, of similar size, which was sold at Christie's Hong Kong, 1 June 2011, lot 3748.
Saleroom notices
Please note that Import Duty Low Rate and thus subject to an additional 5% charge.