Adam's FINE ASIAN ART Part I 28th & Part II 29th June 2022

120 220 A ‘XI SHANG MEI SHAO’ AND ‘THREE FRIENDS OF WINTER’ CARVED CINNABAR LACQUER BRUSH AND COVER CHINA, MING DYNASTY, 16TH TO 17TH CENTURY The cylindrical shaft delicately carved in deep relief with the theme of the ‘Three Friends of Winter’ (bamboo, plum and pine) as well as with a magpie, the cover is also finely decorat- ed with the same iconographies, the roundel to the end of the lid decorated with a flying crane, the roundel to the end of the grasp decorated with stylised waves and a swastikas, the base of the lid and the base of the brush adorned with keyfrets. L: 25 cm Notes: 1. The brush ( 毛筆 ) is the oldest of the ‘Four Treasures of the Study’ ( 文房四寶 ) - the other being the ink, the inkstone and the paper - with archaeological evidence dating to Zhou dynasty, during which it was illustrated on bones. 2. Because they all can flourish during the winter, the pine, plum tree and bamboo are known as the ‘Three Friends of Winter’. One can say ‘There is a happy magpie on the tip of the plum branch’, lit. ‘Xi Shang Mei Shao’ ( 喜上梅稍 ) which sound exactly like ‘Xi Shang Mei Shao’ ( 喜上眉稍 ), lit. happiness up to one’s eyebrows. “ 喜上眉梢 ” ， “ 岁寒三友 ” 朱漆雕刻带盖毛笔 中国，明代， 16-17 世纪 € 6,000 - 8,000 221 A LARGE CINNABAR LACQUER ‘BIRDS AND FLOWERS’ OFFERING BOX CHINA, QING DYNASTY, POSSIBLY QIANLONG PERIOD Of foliate shape, that of a mauve flower. The outer part is carved with a decor combining medallions with birds and flowers, keyfrets designed as coiled kui dragons as well as a nice lotus petal frieze. H: 12,4 - D: 31,6 cm Provenance: - a private collection; - purchased from a private Midlands collection, UK (by repute). € 6,000 - 8,000 219 PROPERTIES FROM A NOTED COLLECTOR OF CHINESE EXPORT SILVER *A CHINESE EXPORT LACQUER BRISE FAN CHINA, CANTON / GUANGZHOU, LATE QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY Very finely lacquered in gilt against a black ground with numerous Daoist sages and ladies as well as pavilions and auspicious symbols. L: 26 cm Provenance: a noted collector of Chinese Export Silver wares. IMPORTANT NOTICE: *This lot is under tempo- rary importation. An extra VAT will be applied to the final invoice. The rate will depend on the final country of destination. The sole buyers based in Ireland will be subject to an extra 13,5% VAT. Please contact our office (yuchen@adams.ie ) for further information. 中国出口漆扇 中国，广州，晚清， 19 世纪 € 400 - 600 +