ARCHAISTIC CHIMERA COUPE.

Mid-Late Qing Dynasty, China. Nephrite: light yellow-green (celadon) with brown patches. There is a lengthy history behind this type of animal coupe, from the Eastern Han (Beijing, #94), through post-Han (Green, p. 34; ACGB, #178, #185), through the Ming, when “Water pots of this type are mentioned in every notebook by later Ming scholars …” (Watt 2, p. 132, #109; and see also Spink, #163; Hai, p. 105, #105, a Freer example). It appears for the same “scholar’s desk” purpose in the Qing (Poor, #7). Over the centuries it has been fashioned from a variety of materials, most often bronze and hardstones. Attempts to definitively name the beast have brought about a number of designations, including bixie (usually, if not accurately, translated as “chimera”), or simply, “mythical beast” or “winged fabulous animal”. Although there are slight variations on the animal’s form, it is generally distinguished by the double horns behind large eyebrows (which may be striated), the bared teeth, a crouching flattened body which may be strongly sculpted, sprawling back feet, and bifid (or, “bifurcated”) tail. The fur may be indicated by hatching or, as here, by small star-like incised marks to either side of the sculpted opening in the back. When used as a water container, the beast has a hole in the back, and an open mouth which sometimes has a cup-like appendage such as a bei, or “eared” cup (BSL, p.13, #9). There may be a round or mushroom form lid for the hole. The hole on this example is a slightly undercut drilled tubular shape, and the body itself is not hollowed out. This water coupe possesses the standard physical attributes, and exhibits as well a rather winsome expression, heightened by color added to the eye area. A strange striated necktie-like tongue (?) lies flat along the belly. The work is hard to date, since the tradition for such forms survives over a succession of centuries, but the particular material and finish indicate a mid- or late-Qing date. Reference: The Yangtze River Collection, Later Chinese Jades published by Helga Wall-Apelt, 1993. SIZE: 2″ x 6″ x 3.5″. (5.1 x 15.2 x 8.9 cm.) CONDITION: With natural fissures. Flea bites to edge of left ear. Otherwise good. 9-95079 (8,000-10,000) – Lot 1

Auction: FAAA - Wall-Apelt Collection - March 2015

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1	$8,887.50	Revised: 3/6/2015 There is a very small and minor old area of abrasian ARCHAISTIC CHIMERA COUPE. Mid-Late Qing Dynasty, China. Nephrite: light yellow-green (celadon) with brown patches. There is a lengthy history behind this type of animal coupe, from the Eastern Han (Beijing, #94), through post-Han (Green, p. 34; ACGB, #178, #185), through the Ming, when “Water pots of this type are mentioned in every notebook by later Ming scholars …” (Watt 2, p. 132, #109; and see also Spink, #163; Hai, p. 105, #105, a Freer example). It appears for the same “scholar’s desk” purpose in the Qing (Poor, #7). Over the centuries it has been fashioned from a variety of materials, most often bronze and hardstones. Attempts to definitively name the beast have brought about a number of designations, including bixie (usually, if not accurately, translated as “chimera”), or simply, “mythical beast” or “winged fabulous animal”. Although there are slight variations on the animal’s form, it is generally distinguished by the double horns behind large eyebrows (which may be striated), the bared teeth, a crouching flattened body which may be strongly sculpted, sprawling back feet, and bifid (or, “bifurcated”) tail. The fur may be indicated by hatching or, as here, by small star-like incised marks to either side of the sculpted opening in the back. When used as a water container, the beast has a hole in the back, and an open mouth which sometimes has a cup-like appendage such as a bei, or “eared” cup (BSL, p.13, #9). There may be a round or mushroom form lid for the hole. The hole on this example is a slightly undercut drilled tubular shape, and the body itself is not hollowed out. This water coupe possesses the standard physical attributes, and exhibits as well a rather winsome expression, heightened by color added to the eye area. A strange striated necktie-like tongue (?) lies flat along the belly. The work is hard to date, since the tradition for such forms survives over a succession of centuries, but the particular material and finish indicate a mid- or late-Qing date. Reference: The Yangtze River Collection, Later Chinese Jades published by Helga Wall-Apelt, 1993. SIZE: 2″ x 6″ x 3.5″. (5.1 x 15.2 x 8.9 cm.) CONDITION: With natural fissures. Flea bites to edge of left ear. Otherwise good. 9-95079 (8,000-10,000) – Lot 1 Auction: FAAA - Wall-Apelt Collection - March 2015 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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ARCHAISTIC CHIMERA COUPE.