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AN EMBELLISHED ARCHAISTIC ZITAN CUP Signed Fang Yunhong, dated Jimao year corresponding to 1759 or 1819 and of the period image 1
AN EMBELLISHED ARCHAISTIC ZITAN CUP Signed Fang Yunhong, dated Jimao year corresponding to 1759 or 1819 and of the period image 2
Lot 77

AN EMBELLISHED ARCHAISTIC ZITAN CUP
Signed Fang Yunhong, dated Jimao year corresponding to 1759 or 1819 and of the period

14 May 2025, 10:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

£5,000 - £8,000

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AN EMBELLISHED ARCHAISTIC ZITAN CUP

Signed Fang Yunhong, dated Jimao year corresponding to 1759 or 1819 and of the period
Of cylindrical shape supported on three lingzhi-head feet, set with a ruyi-shaped handle inlaid with silver wire forming an inscription of eight-characters in seal script, the body carved with archaistic taotie masks separated by vertical flanges, all between two bands inlaid with jadeite, lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl in the form of shou roundels and ruyi clouds.
6.5cm (2 1/2in) high.

Footnotes

清己卯年(1759或1819年) 紫檀嵌寶饕餮紋盃

The inscription reads: 己卯仲冬,倣允弘製

Which may be translated as: 'In the second month of winter in the Jimao year, made by Fang Yunhong.'

The taotie masks on the present lot are modelled after the decorative motifs found on ancient bronzes. The Qianlong Emperor, renowned for his admiration of antiquity, expressed this sentiment in his own words: 'Gradually desiring to draw it closer to antiquity, hoping thereby to return to its origins' (漸慾引之古,庶其返以初). The Emperor's preference for archaistic aesthetics significantly shaped the design and production of wood and bamboo works at the Qing Court. See a related bamboo-veneered 'taotie' masks vase, Qing dynasty, in the Qing Court Collection, Palace Museum, Beijing (acc.no.故0012359).

Compare with a related silver-inlaid zitan libation cup similarly decorated with taotie masks, 18th century, which was sold at Bonhams London, 15 May 2014, lot 455.

Additional information

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