Beschreibung:

China, 18th-19th century. The stone is naturalistically carved as a lotus pond with many veined and furled leaves borne on stippled stems as well as pods and flowers, further with segmented bamboo stalks and many aquatic animals, including fish, crabs, ducks, and one unusual mole-like beast on a leaf. Provenance: From a notable private collection in the United Kingdom. Condition: Excellent condition with wear, some weathering, minor old repairs, minuscule nicks here and there, light scratches. Both the washer and the stand with an elegant, naturally grown patina overall. Weight: 4,614 g (excl. base) Dimensions: Length 27 cm, Height 20 cm (incl. base) With a matching Chinese openwork base, similarly carved from hardwood with lotus and aquatic animals, most likely of the period. (2) Expert’s note: It’s rare to find a duan stone basin of this incredible size, which may still be used as a brush washer. The present lot not only has a wooden base mirroring the carving of the basin, but the lapidary utilized the manifold natural inclusions and shadings of the mineral so cleverly to accentuate the aquatic animals and plants, that an overall mesmerizing sea-life scene is the pleasant result. Auction result comparison: Compare a related duan stone brush washer of much smaller size (8.5 cm long), also dated 18th-19th century and with a similar hardwood base, at Christie’s New York in Fine Chinese Ceramics, Jades and Works of Art on 19 September 2007, lot 22, sold for USD 16,250. 清代大型端石“魚戲荷花”盆 中國，十八至十九世紀。端石隨形而雕刻一片荷葉為池，巧妙利用端石特別的顔色進行雕刻，大小荷葉翻捲，荷莖以及蓮蓬和荷花纏繞，水中可見魚和河蟹而在荷花葉莖之間嬉戲，荷葉上可見青蛙，荷葉之下可見小貝殼，生動活潑，野趣盎然。 來源：英國知名私人收藏 品相：狀況極好，磨損，一些風化，輕微的舊時維修，到處都有微小的刻痕和細微的劃痕。 盆和底座都有著細膩自然的光澤。 重量：4,614 克 (不含底座) 尺寸：長27 厘米，總高 20 厘米(含底座incl. base) 相配的中國鏤空雕刻的硬木底座，蓮葉以及水中小動物等，應來自同一時期 (2) 專家注釋：極難找到這麼大的端石盆，也可以用作筆洗。 本拍品不僅有相似荷花池魚紋木底座，而且還巧妙地利用石料的脈絡與内沁來突出水生動物和植物，場景生動，令人愉悅。 拍賣結果比較：一件相近端石筆洗（長8.5 厘米)，同樣為十八至十九世紀，相似硬木底座，見紐約佳士得 Fine Chinese Ceramics, Jades and Works of Art 2007年9月19日 lot 22, 售價USD 16,250。