China - Minor Arts

Chapman, Jan The Art of Rhinoceros Horn Carving.
London, Christie's, 1999, First Edition, Quarto, Hardcover, book condition: As new, dust jacket condition: As new. 288 Pages, text in English. Richly illustrated with full colour images.
This book is an outstanding survey of carved rhinoceros horn objects from some of the worlds greatest private and public collections. Through literary research and drawing from archaeological resources, this book has become a reference work on the subject. Many images show the intracate and delicate carvings and through first hand knowledge concerning the carving of the objects it will give the reader a good insight into the art form.
This book is a joy to read.
Item nr: 9298

Chinese University of Hong Kong The Quintessential Purple Stone: Duan Inkstones Through the Ages.
Hong Kong, Chinese Univeristy of Hong Kong, 1995, Second, Octavo, Soft Cover, book condition: New. 166 Pages, over 120 colour photographs and numerous black and white images. Chinese and English text.
This definitive catalogue studies and illustrates Duan inkstones from the Song to Qing dynasties, including those inscribed by important scholars and officials.
Item nr: 2440

Editorial Committee of Zhongguo Meishu Quanji Zhongguo Meishu Quanji 45: Gongyimeishubian 11 Zhu Mu Ya Jiaoqi - Treasury of Chinese Fine Arts 45: Arts & Crafts Section Volume 11 Bamboo, Wood, Ivory and Horn Carvings.
Beijing, Wenwu, 1996, First edition, Quarto, Hardcover (No slipcase), book condition: Fine, dust jacket condition: Near fine. 259 Pages, 212 pieces illustrated in colour, text in Chinese.
Volume 45 of the Zhongguo Meishu Quanji Series, Volume 11 of Arts & Crafts Section focuses on bamboo, wood, ivory and horn articles. A section of scholar's art include fine hardwood, bamboo and ivory brushpots, vessels and scholar's articles. The book also has a good selection of rhinoceros horn carvings from various museums. A section on furniture includes 81 prime Ming and (mainly) Qing examples from the Palace Museum, Beijing and the Summer Palace. They include inscribed and inlay (with jade and mother-of-pearl) pieces, lacquer furniture and red lacquer throne. Rare bamboo veneer chests and decorative items for imperial use are also illustrated.
Item nr: 9998

Mak, Philip The Art of Chinese Wooden Stands: The Songde Tang Collection - Chengfang zhanya: Songde Tang zang mudiao zuozi.
Hong Kong, HKMA, 2008, First edition, Quarto, Hardcover, book condition: New, dust jacket condition: New. 347 Pages, 131 full page colour plates, many with additional smaller view, references, terms in Chinese and English, text in English and Chinese.
Over 130 examples of Chinese stands dating from the Tang to the Qing dynasties from the Songde Tang collection are illustrated in this wonderful catalogue. Most of the exhibits are exquisite wood carvings with a small number made of other materials such as bronze, bamboo, porcelain or ivory. The aim of this unique exhibition was to encourage greater interest in a branch of Chinese art that has remained largely unrecognised.
Wood carving has an important place in Chinese material culture. Considered as a miniature piece of wooden furniture, the carving techniques of stands, particularly the mortise-and-tenon technique, derive from the making of antique Chinese furniture. In the Qing dynasty, stand-making reached a pinnacle of fine design and workmanship with emphasis on the natural beauty of the wood itself. Zitan, huali and blackwood are the most commonly used materials in Chinese stand-making. Stands can be constructed from several pieces of wood or carved from a single block. Qing stands are more imposing than earlier ones, with elaborate latticework and openwork carving. Other widely admired examples combine gold and silver thread or mother-of-pearl inlay on a lacquer ground. Many of the decorative designs feature traditional or auspicious Chinese patterns. Influenced by China's growing overseas trade, floral patterns of foreign origin were also adopted in stand designs.
Compared with other scholar's objects, stands have rarely been recognised as artworks in their own right. Because of their function, attention has focused on the beauty of the objects that they support rather than the significance of the stands. Each stand featured in this exhibition is unique, taking the features of the main work as their object. The stands not only function as supports, but are custom made to reflect the beauty of its object.
Item nr: 11240

Randall, Chr. The Brush & the Stone - The Dr. Dean Edell Collection of Chinese Art.
Chicago, AMR, 1998, First Edition, Quarto, Decorative Cloth, book condition: New, dust jacket condition: New. 142 pages, 200 colour illustrations. Beautifully produced, this comprehensive catalogue of 100 selected items from Dr. Dean Edell Collection consists of two sections: 32 Chinese works of art both imperial and scholarly, including screens, brushes, inkstones, jade carvings and related items, and a separate section devoted to Chinese snuff bottles. The bottles are largely Imperial workshop jade snuff bottles of the Qianlong period, offering various shape and design associated with Palace workshops. Incised poetry by Emperor Qianlong fully translated offers an insight to period thoughts. The Collection also includes some items from the famous Erik Hancock Collection and those illustrated in Bob Steven's Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles.
Item nr: 333

Shanghai Museum Bamboo Carving.
Shanghai, Shanghai Museum, 1986, First edition, Octavo, Softcover, book condition: Near fine. 12 Pages, 25 objects depicted in black and white. Chinese text and loose English text insert.
A nice little catalogue on mostly bamboo brush pots and wrist rests.
Item nr: 11302