CHINE
XVIIe/XVIIIe SIèCLE
Rare coupe libatoire en corne de rhinocéros sculptée, de belle couleur miel, la paroi ornée d’un décor en léger relief représentant des branches de prunus émergeant de rochers et se développant sur un c?té ainsi qu’à l’intérieur de la coupe, où elles forment la prise, un oiseau est perché sur l’une des branches.
H. 10,5 cm
L.?18,7 cm
l.?11,7 cm
Poids?: 442 gr.
Expert : Cabinet Philippe Delalande Expertise - Qinghua Yin
Provenance:
Collection parisienne, acquis au cours des années 1920-1930 (par réputation).?
Notice:
Mentionnées dès le Shijing (Livre des Odes), les coupes en corne de rhinocéros occupent une place singulière dans l’histoire des arts décoratifs chinois. Si leur usage est attesté dès les premiers textes classiques, c’est sous les dynasties Ming (1368-1644) et Qing (1644-1912) qu’elles atteignent leur plus haut degré d’accomplissement, s’imposant parmi les créations les plus raffinées de la sculpture sur matières organiques. L’essor du commerce maritime à partir du XVIe siècle favorise l’importation de cornes provenant principalement d’Asie du Sud-Est, mettant à la disposition des ateliers chinois un matériau d’une rareté et d’un prestige exceptionnels.
Prisées des lettrés comme des hauts dignitaires, ces coupes séduisaient autant par la noblesse de leur matière que par l’excellence de leur exécution. La chaude translucidité de la corne, ses nuances ambrées et le délicat réseau de stries naturelles qui anime sa surface offraient aux sculpteurs un matériau d’une remarquable richesse plastique, dont ils s’attachaient à exalter les qualités intrinsèques plut?t qu’à les dissimuler.
Les ateliers du Jiangnan portèrent cet art à un degré de perfection rarement égalé. Fidèles au principe de respecter la forme originelle de la corne, les artisans en épousaient les courbes avec une remarquable sensibilité, donnant naissance à des coupes dont les volumes semblent découler naturellement de la matière elle-même. Certaines demeuraient d’une sobriété volontaire, révélant toute la beauté du matériau, tandis que d’autres recevaient un décor sculpté d’une grande finesse, alternant bas et haut relief, voire de subtils ajours. Rochers, paysages, lotus, orchidées, bambous et prunus y composent un univers poétique directement inspiré de la peinture de lettrés, où l’équilibre de la composition répond à la spontanéité apparente de la nature.
Sous les Qing, cet art conna?t son plein épanouissement. Les compositions gagnent en ampleur comme en virtuosité, jouant avec une remarquable ma?trise des contrastes entre reliefs profondément sculptés, modelés délicats et réserves laissées intactes afin de tirer le meilleur parti des qualités naturelles de chaque corne. Parmi les thèmes les plus prisés figure le prunus en fleurs, dont les rameaux noueux et les corolles délicates incarnent la persévérance, la pureté et le renouveau. Souvent associé à des oiseaux annon?ant le retour du printemps, il exprime avec une rare poésie l’idéal d’harmonie entre l’homme et la nature qui imprègne profondément l’esthétique et la pensée chinoises.
Purchased lots will become available only after full payment has been made. The sale will be conducted in Euros. In addition to the hammer price, the buyer agrees to pay a buyer’s premium along with any applicable value added tax. From 1 to 150 000 € the buyer’s premium is 25% + VAT amounting to 30% (all taxes included). Over 150 001 €: 23% + VAT amounting to 27.6% (all taxes included).
NB : + Auction by order of the court further to a prescription of the court, buyers fees 14,40% VTA included. ° Lots on which the auction house or its partners have a financial interest * Lots in temporary importation and subject to a 5,5 % fee in addition to the regular buyer’s fees stated earlier.. # An appointment is required to see the piece ~ This lot contains animal materials. Import restrictions are to be expected and must be considered. The legislator imposes strict rules for the commercial use of inert animal species. The international regulations of March 3, 1973 (CITES) requires for different annexes a correlation between the specimen and the documentation proving the origins to be lawful. This regulation transcribed in European Community law (Annexes A/B/C) in Rule 338/97 of 9/12/1996 permits commercial use of regulated specimens (CITES) upon presentation of documentation proving lawful origin; these documents for this variation are as follows: ? For Annex A : C/C provided outlining the specimen’s history (for specimens of recent date) ? For Annex B : Bird specimens are either banded or equipped with transponders, and are accompanied by documents of licit origin. The auction’s sale record must be conserved as it contains the complete history of every specimen. All cases concerning specimens of recent date that are protected under the French Environmental Code and which were born and raised in captivity are permitted by the derogation clause AM of 14/07/2006. As such, they can be used commercially provided traceability between the specimen and the documentation proving licit origins. Other specimen cases dating prior to clause AM of 21/07/2015 can, due to this fact, be used commercially. Specimens dating before 1947 included in this auction sale benefit from clause 2M of the derogatory Rule 228/97 of 9/12/1996, permitting their use for trade. However, exporting them outside of the EU them requires a pre-CITES Convention agreement. For huntable species of the European continent and elsewhere, commercial use is allowed under certain conditions. Domesticated species (D) included in this auction sale are free for trade. Old specimens from before the Convention (i.e. before 1975) comply with the conditions of the AM of 23/12/2011 and, as such, are free for trade. The other specimens in this auction sale are not subject to NR regulations and are free for commercial use and trade. The auction record will substantiate their licit origin. To leave the EU, with regards to the Annexes I/A, II/B et III/C, a CITES re-export document at the expense of the acquirer will be necessary.
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Law and Jurisdiction In accordance with the law, it is added that all actions in public liability instituted on the occasion of valuation and of voluntary and court-ordered auction sales are barred at the end of five years from the hammer price or valuation. These Conditions of purchase are governed by French law exclusively. Any dispute relating to their existence, their validity and their binding effect on any bidder or buyer shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of France.
We recommend that buyers pay by credit card or electronic bank transfer. In compliance with Article L.321-14 of French commercial law, a property sold at auction can be delivered to the buyer only once the auction firm has received payment or complete guarantee of payment. Legally accepted means of payment include: ? Cash (article L.112-6, L.112-8 and Article Article L.112-8 paragraph 2 of the Monetary and Financial Code) · max. 1 000 € · max. 15 000 € for private individuals who have their tax domicile abroad (upon presentation of a valid passport) ? Payment on line (max 3 000 €) http://www.aguttes.com/paiement/index.jsp ? Electronic bank transfer The exact amount of the invoice from the buyer’s account and indicating the invoice number. (Note: Bank charges are the buyer’s responsibility.)
Banque de Neuflize, 3 avenue Hoche 75008 Titulaire du compte : Claude AGUTTES SAS Code Banque 30788 – Code guichet 00900 N° compte 02058690002 – Clé RIB 23 IBAN FR76 3078 8009 0002 0586 9000 223 – BIC NSMBFRPPXXX
? Credit cards (except American Express and distance payment) ? Cheque (if no other means of payment is possible) · Upon presentation of two pieces of identification · Important: Delivery is possible after 20 days · Cheques will be deposited immediately. No delays will be accepted. · Payment with foreign cheques will not be accepted.
