17th Oct, 2024 11:00
TWO-DAY AUCTION: Fine Asian Art, Buddhism and Hinduism
93
A RARE HAIR CRYSTAL CARVING OF A CAT, 18TH CENTURY
Sold for €3,900
including Buyer's Premium
Published: Paul Ruitenbeek, ‘Objects of the Ming and Qing’, Amsterdam, Holland, 2022, no. 49. Exhibited and vetted at TEFAF Maastricht 2024.
China. Expertly carved from a premium piece of hair crystal, this recumbent feline rests its front paws delicately atop one another, its tail flicked to the side and curling upwards. With ears laid back and head gently bowed, the cat's alert eyes convey a sense of tranquil vigilance. The crystal's good clarity, interwoven with fine streaks of sparse tourmaline needles, enhances the cat's appearance, imbuing it with a spiritual aura that seems to animate the figure, giving it an otherworldly presence.
Provenance: From a private collection in the Netherlands. Paul Ruitenbeek, Chinese Art. The matching wood base with a label, ‘Paul Ruitenbeek – Chinese Art – W54.’ Paul Ruitenbeek is a member of the Royal Association of Fine Art Dealers in the Netherlands and is the director of the gallery Paul Ruitenbeek Chinese Art, which he founded in 2021. The son of a former auction house director and museum curator, Paul has extensive experience in the field of Chinese ceramics and works of art. His specialty is Ming and Qing dynasty porcelain, scholarly objects, and snuff bottles. He regularly exhibits at TEFAF Maastricht and other prominent fairs.
Condition: Superb condition with only minimal wear and natural imperfections.
Weight: 177.9 g (incl. stand), 147.6 g (excl. stand)
Dimensions: Length 7.1 cm
With an associated fitted wood stand. (2)
Rock-crystal carving reached new heights of popularity at the Qing Imperial court, where ample material supply and strong patronage fueled a thriving decorative arts industry. Needle-like black tourmaline inclusions, typically reserved for snuff bottles and scholar's objects—referred to as ‘hair crystal’—are rarely seen in figural carvings. This vibrant cat exemplifies the masterful use of exceptional materials to create subtle yet mesmerizing effects, showcasing the keen observation and accomplished skills of an 18th-century master carver.
Cats were clearly part of domestic Chinese life from early times onwards, and, like dogs, seem to have been as beloved in 18th century China as in the West. Cats are found in export ceramics first as nightlights, in 18th century blanc-de-chine, and in hardstone carvings like the present lot, although examples in hair crystal are extremely rare, if not unique.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams London, 7 November 2013, lot 63
Price: GBP 10,625 or approx. EUR 20,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rock crystal ‘three rams’ group, 18th/19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related pose and material. Note the similar size (8.5 cm).
Published: Paul Ruitenbeek, ‘Objects of the Ming and Qing’, Amsterdam, Holland, 2022, no. 49. Exhibited and vetted at TEFAF Maastricht 2024.
China. Expertly carved from a premium piece of hair crystal, this recumbent feline rests its front paws delicately atop one another, its tail flicked to the side and curling upwards. With ears laid back and head gently bowed, the cat's alert eyes convey a sense of tranquil vigilance. The crystal's good clarity, interwoven with fine streaks of sparse tourmaline needles, enhances the cat's appearance, imbuing it with a spiritual aura that seems to animate the figure, giving it an otherworldly presence.
Provenance: From a private collection in the Netherlands. Paul Ruitenbeek, Chinese Art. The matching wood base with a label, ‘Paul Ruitenbeek – Chinese Art – W54.’ Paul Ruitenbeek is a member of the Royal Association of Fine Art Dealers in the Netherlands and is the director of the gallery Paul Ruitenbeek Chinese Art, which he founded in 2021. The son of a former auction house director and museum curator, Paul has extensive experience in the field of Chinese ceramics and works of art. His specialty is Ming and Qing dynasty porcelain, scholarly objects, and snuff bottles. He regularly exhibits at TEFAF Maastricht and other prominent fairs.
Condition: Superb condition with only minimal wear and natural imperfections.
Weight: 177.9 g (incl. stand), 147.6 g (excl. stand)
Dimensions: Length 7.1 cm
With an associated fitted wood stand. (2)
Rock-crystal carving reached new heights of popularity at the Qing Imperial court, where ample material supply and strong patronage fueled a thriving decorative arts industry. Needle-like black tourmaline inclusions, typically reserved for snuff bottles and scholar's objects—referred to as ‘hair crystal’—are rarely seen in figural carvings. This vibrant cat exemplifies the masterful use of exceptional materials to create subtle yet mesmerizing effects, showcasing the keen observation and accomplished skills of an 18th-century master carver.
Cats were clearly part of domestic Chinese life from early times onwards, and, like dogs, seem to have been as beloved in 18th century China as in the West. Cats are found in export ceramics first as nightlights, in 18th century blanc-de-chine, and in hardstone carvings like the present lot, although examples in hair crystal are extremely rare, if not unique.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams London, 7 November 2013, lot 63
Price: GBP 10,625 or approx. EUR 20,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A rock crystal ‘three rams’ group, 18th/19th century
Expert remark: Compare the related pose and material. Note the similar size (8.5 cm).
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