Adam's Fine Asian Art Preview 23 November 2021

82 THIEU TRI EMPEROR (1841-1847) SILVER LANG, 1 LANG VIETNAM, DATING TO THE REIGN OF THE EMPEROR Obverse: On the upper part, the sun, the moon, five planets and five auspicious clouds. On the lower part, the earth surrounded by crashing waves. Inscribed with a poetry reading “紹 治通寳萬世永賴 ”, lit. “Jade and cinnabar jewelleries in 1000 years transmute. The purest gold last forever. To reward the merit and to acknowledge the virtue. Wisdom being the sole virtue recognized as precious.” Reverse: Inscribed with a long-lasting calligraphy reading as follow: “玦澒千年化盪鏐萬世傳酬勳彰有德所寶者惟賢 ”, lit. D: 6,4 cm Weight: 38,4 cm €2,000 - 4,000 A RARE BRASS AND SILVER INLAID MONK’S CAP WATER PIPE VIETNAM, NGUYEN DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY Shaped after a Tibetan monk’s cap ewer (duomuhu), this water pipe is made of copper embellished with silver and brass inlays as well as applied chiselled plaques. The inlaid design depicts a bird of paradise perched on a flowered branch as well as a flying sparrow. It also consists of a long-lasting calligraphy. The applied silver plaques are chiselled, one with a coiled dragon, the other with a bird amidst flowers. H: 20 cm €3,000 - 6,000 NOTES: 1. Vietnamese water pipes of similar shape made of mother-of-pearl in- laid wood are common on the market. Less common and more valuable are the bleu de Hue porcelain ones which regularly achieve good prices at public auction. 2. Our water pipe is the only example made of metal we have handle over more than a decade on the market. It stands out fir the quality of its inlays introducing a nice polychrome effect. It also stands out by the of the chiselling of its silver plaques. 3. For a blue de hue porcelain water pipe of related form at auction, see the one offered at Drouot Paris, France, 2019/06/14, lot 250, sold for €9.274 BP incl. Also see another related pipe offered at Drouot Paris, France, 2019/12/09, lot 206, sold for €8.060 BP incl.