TWO BOXWOOD LIBATION CUPS QING DYNASTY

one modelled in the form of a furled leaf, carved with grapevines around the exterior and a squirrel clambering on the rim; the other carved as a pine tree trunk, detailed with a bird of prey perching on a burl

The cups are in overall good condition. With expected surface wear and occasional age cracks, including one larger crack opening in the interior of the squirrel cup. The carving of two cups is overall very good.
"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."

FOREWORD

The acquisition of 'Scholar’s Items' for the Peony Collection began in the mid 1970s. There were keen collectors who were well supplied by a relatively small number of specialist dealers in Hollywood Road and also in the Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui. Travelling in the region also turned up scholar's items which in those days were not really noticed by collectors and – strangely in many ways – there was no real collectors’ interest or passion for the arts in China itself where so much of the country was principally concerned in the 1970s and early 1980s both with the dead hand aftermath of the Cultural Revolution with its violent destruction of ancient things and was also unavoidably focused on its own extreme poverty.  The huge changes in China since then have brought Chinese collecting back to a vigorously renewed full circle enthusiasm in competition with Hong Kong and wider world collectors – the 1970s seem a very long time ago.

But then collector interest was reserved to Hong Kong and through Hong Kong to tightly focused dealers in Europe (particularly London and Paris) and in New York and San Francisco in the United States.

In those days Hong Kong was a low profile city. The towering buildings of today did not exist and the entire thinking of the local community was much less obsessed with property development and manipulation although this was beginning.

Accordingly, through developing relationships with the few dealers in Hong Kong’s Hollywood Road and Ocean Terminal very interesting acquisitions of Scholar’s Items of all kinds could be made.  A particular focus was rare woods and bamboo but other materials were also important ranging from jade, through ceramics to bronze and lacquer.  To be interested in the peaceful discourse of scholars in the manner of the AD 353 Six Dynasties Lanting Gatherings in the Orchid Pavilion near Shaoxing dictated a yearning to become as closely associated as possible with such studious appreciation in a tradition which by the 1970s was 1,500 years old. In all collecting there were excellent opportunities which were taken advantage of.  There were of course also occasions – fortunately limited – where hesitation was a fatal diversion from acquisition because after due cogitation and return for purchase the piece had gone.  There were also other possibilities of 'losing' a piece.  This was even the case to the point that a particular piece was acquired and, as was common practise, left with the dealer to make wooden stand for it.  On return to collect the piece after the appointed time for making the stand it was not the happy moment to be informed by the dealer with a certain amount of pseudo distressed hand wringing that the piece itself was 'lost'.  The dealer in question put all blame on the stand maker who was not directly accountable to the collector and whose alleged 'negligence' was the cause of the 'loss'.  In fact the strong suspicion was that while the piece was still with the dealer prior to collection by the stand maker an alternative customer came, saw the piece, enthused over it and the dealer sold it to him! – of course at a huge mark up from the original contracted sale price.

The Chinese scholar contentedly positioning himself in contemplative pursuit of literary accomplishment in poetry and calligraphy necessarily equipped himself with the tools of the trade basically meaning production of the “Four Treasures” of the studio.  Very careful and scholarly appreciation of all the aids to scholastic production had throughout history developed in themselves increasing skill and beautiful work and it was in a spirit of appreciation of such things that the Peony Collection extended itself to and around them for a forty year zeal of which some of the fruits are present in this sale.

The Keeper of the Peony Collection
Hong Kong, April 2018