Bonhams presents Hong Kong's first-ever fine Chinese works of art thematic auction dedicated to music. The sale of 'Eternal Resonance: Music in Chinese Art', to be held on 1 December 2020, surveys a vast range of music-themed works from across time in Chinese culture, spanning from the Bronze age to the present time. Highlights include musical instruments from archaic bronze drum and ritual bell to guqin and bamboo flutes, alongside other works of art embellished with musical elements in the varied medium of jade, porcelain, lacquer, painting, calligraphy, cloisonné-enamel and many more.
Xibo Wang, Head of Bonhams Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art in Hong Kong, commented: "Music has played many vital roles throughout Chinese history, be it ritual, spiritual, social or for leisure. This sale is curated to demonstrate that music is not simply aural aesthetics within the context of Chinese art, but a motif which can be understood and felt across time, mediums and senses. With this sale, we aim to showcase to collectors the significant – but sometimes overlooked – legacy of music in Chinese art."
Highlights include:
'Taigu yuanyin': an important and rare Confucius-style huanghuali and zitan inlaid hundred-patch guqin
Estimate: HK$1,500,000 - 2,000,000
Within the Chinese traditional musical instrument ensemble, the qin holds a principal place with its history stretching from at least as early as the Zhou dynasty (and possibly earlier) to this date. In 2003, the qin was even declared by UNESCO to be a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This Zhong Ni style (also known as Confucius-style) guqin, decorated with various woods cut hexagonally, was crafted in an extremely rare technique known as 'bai na' (which translates as 'hundred patches'), referring to the patchwork vestment worn by Buddhist monks. At present, there are only two known bai na constructed qins in China's public museums that are similar in age and craftsmanship to the present lot. They are in Beijing Palace Museum and Sichuan Provincial Museum respectively.
A rare and large archaic bronze ritual bell, yongzhong
Early Western Zhou
Estimate: HK$400,000 - 600,000
According to Zhou Li, the Rites of Zhou from the Eastern Zhou, only kings, marquises and other selected aristocratic groups were entitled to possess such bronze bells, and the number of sets allowed depend on one's royal title. Only a few sets of early Western Zhou yongzhong bells were found in archaeological settings. This bell on offer appears to be one of the earliest known examples of two-tone bells, with motifs decorated to indicate the striking point for a second tone.
A rare Lushan phosphatic-splashed brown-glazed stoneware drum
Tang Dynasty
Estimate: HK$250,000 - 350,000
This drum is an extremely rare surviving example of the phosphatic glaze-splashed ware produced in Lushan county, Henan province, during the Tang dynasty. Its hourglass-shaped form was inspired from a waisted wooden musical instrument adopted from the Central Asian region of Kucha to the members of Tang aristocracy. Instead of carrying around, a ceramic drum such as this would have been placed on a wood stand, with drumheads made of animal skins.
A very rare inscribed kunqu opera bamboo flute, dizi
Jiajing, dated Guichou year (1553), signed Zhao Gaozi
Estimate: HK$200,000 - 300,000
Dizi is a Chinese transverse flute and one of the longest surviving major Chinese musical instruments seen across genres of Chinese folk music and opera. Although bamboo later became the common material for the dizi, very few examples could have survived due to the decadent nature of the material. Known for its longer, more mellow lyrical tone, a bamboo dizi such as this one on offer was used as the lead melodic instrument for kunqu – a regional opera form in Southern China.
A rare celadon-glazed 'figure' whistle, xun
Song Dynasty or earlier
Estimate: HK$70,000 - 100,000
This is a rare variation of the clay or ceramic whistles known as xun – one of the oldest musical instruments in China. The xun was initially made of baked clay or bone in an egg-shaped form, usually containing three finger holes at the front and two thumb holes at the back. Glazed ceramic whistles of this type, which are modelled to depict a foreigner, seem to have been produced at kilns in Northern China from the Tang dynasty.
Highlights from Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Sale
Also to be held on 1 December 2020 is Bonhams' Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Sale, led by a pair of exceptionally rare Late Tianshun/Early Chenghua yellow-glazed anhua 'Dragon' Saucer-dishes. The dishes are each moulded around the interior cavetto in anhua with a pair of dragons pursuing flaming pearl amidst fire and cloud scrolls. It is believed that yellow monochromes were reserved for the sole use of the imperial court, whereas a yellow-coloured dragon with five claws, as a decorative motif, would have been restricted exclusively for decorating items for the emperor's personal use. The dishes, hitherto unknown and hailing from the Athens collection of Thekla and Costa Marinidis from the 1950s, will be offered as two individual lots, estimated at HK$600,000 - 800,000 each.