Description:

A Large Carved Realgar Quatrefoil Bowl, Qing Dynasty, 18th/19th Century
清 十八/十九世纪 雄黄'洞石牡丹'纹花口大盌

Formed of variously shaped pieces of orange-red realgar veneered on a pewter core, carved with leafy vines and a key-fret bordered rim, with fitted wood stand
bowl 5.7 x 11.9 x 11.9 in — 14.5 x 30.3 x 30.2 cm

Estimate: $2,000—4,000 CAD

  • Provenance: Niagara-on-the-Lake Estate Collection containing inventory from the Royal Ontario Museum deaccessioned in 1969
    来源:
    尼亚加拉湖滨庄园旧藏,含1969年安大略皇家博物馆退藏藏品
  • Dimensions: bowl 5.7 x 11.9 x 11.9 in — 14.5 x 30.3 x 30.2 cm
  • Notes: Objects crafted from realgar, a sulfur compound of arsenic found in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Gansu Provinces, are exceedingly rare, with very few examples in museum or private collections. Notable pieces include a 18th/19th century realgar cup and 19th century realgar figure of Budai, kept at the National Museum of Scotland, accession numbers A.1924.478 and A.1925.414, and a realgar figure of Shoulao at the British Museum, accession number 1913,0408.1. Furthermore, there is a Qianlong mark realgar inkcake dated to 1737 from the Qing Court Collection at the Beijing Palace Museum, accession number Gu00129724-7/26.

    Realgar was so highly valued that the yellow-orange arsenic sulfide mineral was frequently replicated in glass. This includes items made for the Imperial Court during the Qianlong reign, such as imitation-realgar glass vases, wine cups, and snuff bottles.

    Compare with similar examples from Sotheby's Hong Kong, April 7, 2013, lot 3158; and Bonhams London, November 2, 2021, lot 20, price realised 6,375 GBP.

    自古以来,以雄黄制成的器物极为罕见。雄黄是一种含砷的硫化物矿石,产自云南、贵州及甘肃省,现存于博物馆及私人收藏中的实例寥寥无几。其中较为知名的藏品包括苏格兰国家博物馆收藏的一件十八/十九世纪雄黄杯及一件十九世纪雄黄布袋佛像(馆藏编号A.1924.478及A.1925.414),以及大英博物馆收藏的一件雄黄寿老人像(馆藏编号1913,0408.1)。此外,北京故宫博物院清宫旧藏中还保存有一方带乾隆款、可追溯至1737年的雄黄墨(藏品编号Gu00129724-7/26)。

    雄黄因其珍贵价值,常被仿制于玻璃器物之中,尤其是在乾隆朝,宫廷所制的仿雄黄玻璃器极为精美,包括花瓶、酒杯及鼻烟壶等。

    类似一例可参考苏富比香港2013年4月7日,拍品编号3158,以及邦瀚斯伦敦2021年11月2日,拍品编号号20,成交价6,375英镑。

    https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2013/fine-chinese-ceramics-and-works-of-art-hk0461/lot.3158.html
    https://www.bonhams.com/auction/27340/lot/20/two-exceptionally-rare-realgar-cups-18th-century-2/

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April 3, 2025 2:00 PM EDT
Toronto, ON, CA

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
CA$0 CA$199 CA$10
CA$200 CA$499 CA$20
CA$500 CA$999 CA$50
CA$1,000 CA$1,999 CA$100
CA$2,000 CA$4,999 CA$200
CA$5,000 CA$9,999 CA$500
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