China - Ming Dynasty Bronze / copper alloy Bronze...

Rare and expressive Chinese scholar's weight in bronze, attributed to the Ming dynasty, probably 16th-17th century. This remarkable small desk sculpture develops a particularly lively composition: a Taoist immortal, wearing a long robe and holding a scroll, is paired with a formidable supernatural tortoise with a long tail, the whole resting on a very elongated and partially openworked rock base. In Chinese culture, the turtle is traditionally associated with longevity, endurance, and immortality. The object thus belongs to the rich symbolic repertoire of items destined for the scholar's table. Its low, stable form and considerable weight identify it as a scholar's desk weight (zhen), potentially usable as a brush rest. The casting possesses a lot of character: freely and nervously modeled, irregular reliefs, openwork passages, and a beautiful brown‑black patina, lighter on the protruding parts naturally subject to handling. The reverse also preserves the characteristic irregularities of the casting. The attribution to the Ming period is further supported by an old, well-documented British provenance, the object having belonged to a private collection in the United Kingdom before its current acquisition. A small-format yet strongly sculptural scholar's bronze, uniting function, Taoist iconography, and patina quality. Dimensions: 15 × 5 × 4.2 cm Weight: 267 g Very good overall condition considering its age, with wear and small irregularities compatible with its antiquity. Mimosa certificate of study provided with the object. Video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/gpkhjim6wfsrs6odueubi/AFfI9tD_YL_UyT9pTtj8RVY?rlkey=vbayvxglf1ujorislndp32o5u&dl=0

Estimate:£1,694.44

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