A ROCK CRYSTAL

A RARE ROCK CRYSTAL 'RECUMBENT HORSE' SCROLL WEIGHT, QIANLONG
China, 1735-1796. The flawless material is sublimely carved to depict the seventh animal of the Chinese zodiac cycle. Mane, tail and feet show minute incision work whereas body and head are left plain to amplify the utter unfolding of the crystal's natural beauty.

Provenance: From the private collection of an English connoisseur.
Condition: Excellent condition with only a small nick to one ear.One minimal scratch to backside.

Weight: 300.5 g
Dimensions: Length 9.8 cm

Note the finely carved hoofs with their unique design closely based on lingzhi.

Literature comparison: This fine, flawless paper or scroll weight of simple design appears to be related to other small flawless rock crystal scholar's table articles produced by the Palace Workshops (Zaobanchu), including two plain cylindrical brush pots with four-character Qianlong yuyong marks (made for the personal use of the Qianlong Emperor). One is published by G. Tsang and H. Moss, Arts from the Scholar's Studio, Oriental Ceramic Society, Hong Kong, 1986, pp. 156-7. no. 130, the other in The Literati Mode, Sydney L. Moss Ltd., London, 1986, no. 115. Not only might these pieces have graced a desk or table in the imperial palace, but they are the types of items that might have been included in one of the Qianlong Emperor's treasure boxes. Other crystal table articles in the Qing court collection, Beijing, are illustrated in The Complete Treasures of the Palace Museum - Small Refined Articles of the Study, Shanghai, 2009, no. 92, a mountain-form brush rest; no. 266, two mountain-peaked seals; and no. 281, a square seal paste box.

罕見水晶臥馬鎮紙，乾隆
中國，1735-1796。完美無瑕的材料經過精雕細刻中國十二生肖中的第七隻動物，馬。 鬃毛、尾巴和腳顯示出精湛的雕刻工藝，身體和頭部則保持原狀，以擴大晶體自然美的展現。

來源：英國專業私人收藏
品相：品相極好，僅在一耳上有一處小劃痕。背後有一個小刮痕。

重量：300.5 克
尺寸：長9.8 厘米