A GUANGDONG CARVED IVORY PLEASURE BOAT QING DYNASTY, CIRCA 1840

intricately carved and pierced, the deck with a long screened room enclosing figures dining and at leisure, with further figures seated and standing on the prow eating and listening to musicians, the upper deck similarly carved with screened rooms and a promenande lined with jardinieres of plants and bonsai trees, all supported on a carved ivory stand, profusely decorated with landscape panels between palmette and wave bands

One figure missing from the group taking lunch at the bow of the boat. A food bowl missing to the centre of the table. The party accompanied by four seated musicians, all very well carved. left hand side a piece of ivory missing along the prow. ivory plank to side a little loose. Four small holes along the side where figures would have been placed, now missing. The interior well carved with a further eight figures, with furniture, hanging lanterns, flowering jardinieres. The rudder slightly damaged. Some damage and holes to upper deck, some vases of flowers missing. The detachable cabin section holed to one side, approx 5cm. (See additional photographs for damage to upper deck.) Otherwise a fine model, crisply carved, and rarer than the normal smaller examples of pleasure boats carved.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This intricately carved boat illustrates the extraordinary skill displayed by the Chinese ivory carvers. Their use of a variety of drilling and carving tools produced a wide range of techniques suited to pierced screens and complicated scenes of figures carved in relief.

Pleasure boats were well known to the European merchants, who were otherwise confined to the Factories, or Hongs, along the waterfront at Canton, and they plyed the maze of channels and estuaries between Canton and Whampoa carrying music parties and dinner parties and other pleasurable pursuits. An almost identical ivory boat from the Collection of the Philadelphia Maritime Museum is illustrated by Carl L. Crossman in The Decorative Arts of the China Trade, Suffolk, 1991, pl. 177.