A CARVED AND RETICULATED BAMBOO PARFUMIER, CHINA, 18TH CENTURY
Of cylindrical form, intricately carved in openwork with four ladies gathered around a table as one of them practices calligraphy on a scroll, surrounded by numerous playful boys in a palace garden filled with flowering trees and craggy rockwork. Enclosed by a fence decorated with wan symbols, with a two-story pagoda in the background, all framed by neatly incised key-fret bands. The black-striated bamboo shows a nice grain and attractive color overall.


Provenance:
Collection of Captain André Le Gac, acquired in China in the 1920s, during which time he was the captain of a Yangtze River gunboat, and thence by descent in the same family. André Jules Gabriel Le Gac (1895-1960) was born in Brest, France. He joined the French Navy in 1914 and was awarded the Chevalier de la Legion d’ Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honor). He was present for the German surrender at Saint-Nazaire in 1945. Throughout his travels with the navy, which also included a station in Hong Kong, Le Gac assembled a large collection of fine Chinese art which he brought home to France, thence remaining in the family for almost 100 years.

Condition:
Very good condition with some old wear, minor nicks and traces of use. The buffalo-horn fittings with small chips and natural imperfections including small age cracks. Very good, naturally grown patina.

Weight: 203.4 g
Dimensions: Height 22.7 cm

Two buffalo-horn mounts are neatly fitted to bottom and top of the hollow parfumier. The base is additionally fitted with a hongmu wood stand. All four pieces are original to the lot and not later additions. (4)


The carver of this parfumier paid close attention to detail
while creating this piece. Not only is the parfumier masterfully carved with extensive openwork, but the many charming scenes show great artistic inspiration, depicting groups of playful boys engaging in different games, all of which are captivating and expressive, and mostly emulate adult behavior. Three boys stand facing each other playing instruments with delighted expressions. Below them, a single boy performs a handstand, lifting his legs straight into the air. To his right, four boys are gathered around a table praying before an altar. In the center, three boys are depicted carting a fourth boy dressed up in imperial costume; one boy pushes the cart, another devotedly lifts a large tree branch over the boy Emperor’s head, and the third walks ahead carrying a banner. Above them, two boys point their bows up at ducks flying overhead amid swirling clouds; one boy has met his mark. Two boys are depicted running near the four scholarly ladies, with one chasing after the other.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s London, 11 November 2022, lot 66
Price: GBP 18,900 or approx.
EUR 26,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A carved and reticulated bamboo parfumier, Qing dynasty, 18th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related manner of carving (albeit arguably less elaborate and inspired than the present lot), openwork, and incised key-fret borders. Note the near-identical size (22.3 cm).




十八世紀竹雕香筒


圓柱形香筒採用鏤空浮雕，輔以陰刻等技法製成，筒身畫面通景式構圖。四位婦人圍坐在一張桌子旁，其中一位在紙上寫字，周圍是幾個頑皮的孩童。花園里滿是花樹和假山。背后是一座寶塔。上下邊緣一周雷紋。刀法變化多樣，人物衣著行雲流水，樹木枝葉則鏤挖出層次。整個筒身包漿濃厚，皮色暗紅穩重。


來源：
André Le Gac船長的收藏，於 1920 年代在中國購得，當時他是一艘長江砲艇的船長，在同一家族保存至今。André Jules Gabriel Le Gac（95-1960 年）出生於法國布雷斯特。 1914年，他加入法國海軍，並被授予Chevalier de la Legion d’ Honneur（榮譽軍團騎士）。 1945 年，他出席了德國在聖納澤爾的投降儀式。在隨海軍旅行期間（其中還曾在香港設有駐地），Le Gac收集了大量中國精美藝術品，並將其帶回法國，留在家族已經有近100年的歷史了。

品相：
狀況極好，有一些磨損、輕微劃痕和使用痕跡。水牛角配件帶有小缺口和自然瑕疵，小裂縫，自然包漿。

重量：203.4 克
尺寸：高 22.7 厘米

香筒頂部和底部分別為水牛角。紅木底座，非後期製作。 (4)


雕刻師在雕刻時非常注重細節
，描繪了一群頑皮的男孩在遊戲，生動活潑，有很多模仿成人的行為。三個男孩面對面站著，一臉高興地演奏著樂器。在他們下方，一個男孩正在倒立，將雙腿伸直到空中。在他的右邊，四個男孩聚集在一張桌子周圍，在祭壇前祈禱。中間描繪了三個男孩推著第四個穿著皇家服裝的男孩。一個男孩推著車，另一個虔誠地把一根大樹枝舉過少年的頭頂，第三個拿著旗幟走在前面。 在他們上方，兩個男孩用弓箭指向頭頂上飛過的大雁，大雁在旋轉的​​雲彩中飛翔。一個男孩已經到達目標地。 畫中兩個男孩在四位婦人身邊奔跑，一追一趕。


拍賣比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：倫敦蘇富比，2022年11月11日，lot 66
價格：GBP 18,900（相當今日
EUR 26,000
）
描述：清十八世紀竹雕人物故事圖香筒
專家註釋：比較非常相近的雕刻風格、鏤空雕刻、雷紋。請注意幾乎相同尺寸 (22.3 厘米)。